Term
|
Definition
|
| Engineering controls |
Developing or modifying tools, machinery, workstations and/or materials, and product designs to reduce worker exposure to risk factors. |
| Administrative controls |
Management determined policies which reduce worker exposure by making changes to the worker's job tasks, through measures such as: 1) job rotation 2) increasing break frequency or duration 3) broadening or varying the employee's tasks 4) changing shift length or reducing overtime. |
| Work practice controls |
Management determined work practices and policies including specific training in: 1) work processes (i.e. two person lifting in certain circumstances) or; 2) machinery or tool use designed to reduce or prevent exposures to physical risk factors. Work practice controls usually contain some element of behavior change of the operators. |
| Awkward posture |
Deviation from the neutral positions of the different body parts. Awkward postures typically include reaching above, behind, twisting, forward or backward bending, pinching, squatting and kneeling |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome |
Inflammation due to high compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the heel of the hand. |
| Ergonomics |
The science and practice of designing jobs or workplaces to match the capabilities and limitations of the human body. It is the scientific study of human work. The term comes from the Greek words "ergos" meaning work, and "nomos" meaning natural laws of. Ergonomics considers the physical and mental capabilities and limits of the worker as he or she interacts with tools, equipment, work methods, tasks and the working environment. |
| Fatigue |
A condition that results when the body cannot provide enough energy for the muscles to perform a task. |
| Full time equivalent (FTE) |
The equivalent of one person working full time for one year (2000 worker hours per year). For example two persons working half time count as one FTE. |
| Hand-arm vibration |
Vibration (generally from a powered hand tool) that goes through the hand, and then travels through the rest of the arm. |
| Hazard prevention and control |
Eliminating or minimizing the hazards identified in the worksite analysis. It is changing the jobs, workstations, tools or environment, work organization or work practices to fit the worker. Hazard prevention and control is an element of an ergonomics program. |
| Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) |
Illnesses and injuries that affect one or more parts of the musculoskeletal system. |
| Musculoskeletal system |
The soft tissue and bones in the body. The parts of the musculoskeletal system are bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, nerves and blood vessels. |
| Neutral posture |
Recommended working posture in which joint angles do not contribute to excessive stress on the body. For example, when standing, the head is aligned over shoulders, shoulders aligned over hips, hips aligned over ankles, and elbows are at the side of the body. |
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) |
Gloves, kneepads and other equipment that may help reduce the impact of the hazards to the operator. These can be implemented to supplement existing controls. |
| Repetition |
Performing the same motions over and over again. The severity of risk depends on the frequency of repetition, speed of the movement or action, the number of muscle groups involved and the required force. |
| Risk factors |
An aspect of a job that increases the worker's chance of developing a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD). Risk factors include: awkward postures, high hand force, highly repetitive motion, repeated impact of the hand or knee, heavy, frequent or awkward lifting, and moderate to high hand-arm vibration. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) |
Work-related disorders that involve soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, blood vessels and nerves. They are caused or made worse by forceful or repetitive exertions, particularly in combination with awkward postures or vibration. Examples include: Muscle strains and tears, ligament sprains, joint and tendon inflammation, pinched nerves, degeneration of spinal discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and rotator cuff syndrome. For purposes of the ergonomics rule, WMSDs do not include injuries from slips, trips, falls, motor vehicle accidents or being struck by or caught in objects. |
