A FIVE STEP PROCESS FOR FINDING WMSDs IN THE WORKPLACE



A FIVE STEP PROCESS FOR FINDING WMSDs IN THE WORKPLACE
Work related Musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are occupational injuries that affect connective tissues such as muscles, nerves, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Examples of WMSDs are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Low Back pain, Tendinitis, Tennis elbow. This disorder is due to some jobs which include tasks that can produce injuries from Lifting, awkward postures, forceful gripping, repetitive motions and hand-arm vibration.
 The five step process for detecting WMSDs are:                                                                                      (1) Identify jobs that may have hazards.
(2) Educate employees and also get them involved.                                                                                     (3) Evaluate jobs for hazards.                                                                                          
(4) Identify and implement solutions                                                                                                            (5) Re-evaluate to ensure solutions are effective.                                                                                                      
(1) IDENTIFY JOBS THAT MAY HAVE HAZARDS.                                                                     The first step entails identifying jobs with injuries, bottlenecks, quality problems, employer/supervisor concerns.                                                                                                                                                  
(2) EDUCATE EMPLOYEES AND ALSO GET THEM INVOLVED.                                          One way of educating the employees in your workplace is to give them basic awareness of ergonomic principles. It is also vital that employees be allowed to participate in finding and implementing solutions to hazards in their jobs. They are the most knowledgeable persons about their jobs.                                                                                                                                                            (3) EVALUATE JOBS FOR HAZARDS.                                                                                               This can be done using tools such as checklists, employee interviews, photographs or videos , minutes from the safety committee meetings, claims history. You can ask employees in your company the following questions:  (a) How long does this job take? (b) Why do you do this job this way? (c) Do you get tired or usually feel any discomfort? (d) Any ideas of ways to do it better? 
Questions that you can ask supervisors include: (a) Are there jobs that people do not like to do? (b) Any symptoms of injury? (c) Any bottlenecks or quality problems? The use of photos and videotapes in evaluating WMSDs helps one to get a pictorial view of what the job tasks entail.                                    
 (4) IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS.                                                                          The solution tools that can be used are catalogs, ergonomics ideas bank etc. You can also create tools in-house.                                                                                                                                                   (5) RE-EVALUATE TO SEE IF SOULTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE.                                             Ensure that you use checklists and other tools to make sure you eliminated the hazards. Make sure that you did not create new hazards. Ask employees if they feel better or notice positive differences. Review your ergonomics activities once in a year.
Till I come your way again, this is Goke Akingbade ( your Safety guide). Do have a great week ahead.
Regards
gokeakingbade2@gmail.com

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