Experience Ergonomics (Ergo Awareness Train-the-Trainer)

Confucius

David D Wood, MSIE, CPE

www.ErgoDave.com CPE LLC

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Purpose of Session What?

• Training activities to teach basic ergonomics principles Why?

• Better training, better understanding How?

• Do the activity• Describe the activity• Open discussion on the activity

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Introduction What’s usually covered in ergo awareness training?

• • • •

List training sins• • • •

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Outline Identifying ergo risk factors

• Wrist/hand/fingers• Tape Trick• Screw Driver demo• Binder clipping dept.

• Shoulder• Forward reach• Marker check• Therabands

• Back/Neck• Bowling ball• Marshmallows

What is ergonomics?• What’s your ergo definition• Hand tools

Why is ergonomics important?• What’s in your wallet• Iceberg

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

What’s Your Definition of Ergonomics?

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Ergonomics Definition What

• Ask the class – “What’s your definition of ergonomics”• For most groups 2 minutes seems to be enough time

Why • Adult learning, we like to share and build on our ideas

How • Small group discussion• Full class report out – write definitions on white board • Supportive comments from instructor• Then show “text book” definitions

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

What’s Your Definition of Ergonomics?

Making jobs fit people - not the other way around

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Hand Tools What

• Break the class into pairs or small groups• Provide each group a set of different hand tools

• E.G. screw drivers, pens, toothbrushes, can openers etc.• The more variety within a set the better (i.e. have at least 3 different examples of pens)

• Ask the class – “to compare and contrast the set of hand tools”• “What are the ergonomic features of each – which is more ergonomic?”• About 2 minutes seems to be enough time for most groups

Why • Adult learning, we like to share and build on our ideas• We can see ergonomics in everyday tools (risk factors and counter measures)

How • Small group discussion with full class report out• Supportive instructor comments – may add comments group forgot to mention

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

What’s in Your Wallet?? Get out your wallet

Find your Drivers License Find your cash Find a photograph - your family, pet or friend

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – What’s in Your Wallet? What

• Ask the class – “What’s in your wallet”• “Please take out your wallet”• Review reasons (yourself, your future, your family)

Why • Motivation to be a part of ergonomics and to be safe

How • Full class discussion (using slides or just your wallet)

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Iceberg What

• Draw a large iceberg and water line• Describe direct medical costs (workers compensation)• Ask the class to list hidden costs

Why • To understand hidden injury costs and cost/benefit

How• Instructor lead class discussion• White board – to record answers/comment• May want to show “text book” answer

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

…the Tape Trick...

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Tape Trick What

• Give each person about a 5” piece of tape• Place on wrist

Why – • To feel the effects of awkward posture on the wrist• Good line side intervention for bent wrist postures (bio-feed back

to employee using bad postures on task) How

• Instructor lead activity – have several rolls of tape• Place strip of tape on neutral/ flat wrist• Have class move wrist around• Leave on during other demos (to feel effects)

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

…the Grip Trick...

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Screwdrivers What

• Ask for 2 volunteers (or split class into pairs and give 1 screw driver to each pair)• Have one person (smaller/weaker) hold the handle• Have one person (bigger/stronger) pinch the tip/blade• Vertical tug-of-war

• Controlled – no injuries Why

• To see and feel the difference in strength between power and pinch grips How

• Instructor lead activity• Who will win the war?• Why/how• Repeat with other person holding the handle

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Binder Clipping What

• Provide a 1” binder clip to each student and about ½” stack of paper• Ask if anyone has severe arthritis or full blown CTS (they can be time keepers)• Review Op Standard

• Jaw must close all the way on the stack of paper• Pay is piece rate – the more they do in 60 sec the more $ they get• Provide small gift to person who does the most

Why • To feel the effects of force, repetition, and contact stress in the hand/fingers• To understand fatigue and recovery• To introduce the Hierarchy of Controls

How• Instructor lead activity• White board – to show fatigue and recovery

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Forward Reach

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Forward Reach What

• Ask the class to reach with their left arm straight• Use a timer for 90 seconds

Why • To feel effects of awkward/static posture in shoulder• To discuss shoulder posture and static posture and blood flow

How• Set up timer• Review method• White board fatigue and recovery graphs

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Marker Check What

• Ask everyone to help (or pick the tallest and shortest people)• Have a huge (4’ by 6’) piece of paper taped to wall• Have 2 good bright markers

Why • To see (feel) range of motion• To check population comfort zones (Pink women, Blue men)• To check repetitive verses occasional work zones (Green, Yellow)

How• Have some or all people repeat this procedure

• Make an arc with one marker – from knuckle height to full elbow flexion• Make a 2nd arc with the other marker from knuckle height to full overhead

extension

Plant shoulderNo back bending!

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Therabands What

• Ask for a volunteer• Have a Theraband (check internet – 50$ for 50 yards)

Why • To feel effects of force and awkward posture in shoulder• To show the effects of using larger/more muscles vs. small/few

How• Demonstration –

• stand on 1 end of band, pull on other end with 1 hand• Lift with arm fully extended – thumb up• Lift with hand in close to trunk – hand down• Which was harder - why

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Bowling Ball What

• Get a full size bowling ball (can get a trashed one from bowling alley)• Have a 10” length of pipe installed into a finger hole

Why • To feel the effect of torque/moments on joints

How• Explain that the average human head weighs 12-15 pounds (just like a

bowling ball)• The hands hold the pipe (representing the neck muscles)• Hold the ball upright 1st and then have them lean forward• Do you feel the increase in stress in your arms?• Brief discussion afterwards

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Marshmallows

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Topic – Marshmallows What

• Bring a bag of marshmallows (enough for at least 1 each) Why

• To see the effects of posture on disc (marshmallow) How

• Explain the anatomy of a disc • Hand out marshmallows to everyone• Demonstrate effect of lying, standing and bent back• Debrief discussion afterwards

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Conclusions Plan activities to

• Allow sharing of ideas• Allow Q&A• Include physical activity• Whole class participation

Try not to lecture more than about 10 minutes in row

Ergonomics Awareness Train-the-Trainer

Wrap Up Final comments and questions?

Be sure to complete course reaction survey

Thanks for attending!

David D Wood, MSIE, CPE

www.ErgoDave.com

CPE LLC