ROLE OF PTA: REINTEGRATION TO HOME, COMMUNITY, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Ergonomic Assessments assess risk factors for potential injury associated with work behaviors and habits. Work environments, habits, the tasks and overall health of the worker are addressed and adjustments are made in the work setting when necessary to reduce symptoms and risk factors.

This information is incorporated into physical therapy interventions because we are working with individuals that may have got injured at their job and are trying to get back to work. By performing ergonomic assessments for our patients, we can help provide resources and tips to prevent injury or re-injury. We want to make sure that they are able to get back to work so by picking out specific interventions related to their job, it will help them get back to work faster and prevention of re-injury. Physical therapy interventions are very important that they be tailored to our job specific task.

Work-related MSDs can be prevented. Ergonomics- fitting a job to a person, helps lessen muscle fatigue, increases productivity and reduces the number and severity of work-related MSDs.

Examples of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tendinitis
Rotator cuff injuries (affects the shoulder)
Epicondylitis (affects the elbow)
Trigger finger
Muscle strains and low back injuries

Impact of MSDs in the Workplace

Work related MSDs are among the most frequently reported causes of lost or restricted work time.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2013, MSD1 cases accounted for 33% of all worker injury and illness cases.

Ergonomic Assessment Tools

Applying a scientific, evidence-based approach to your ergonomics process is important. The goal is to identify ergonomic risk factors, quantify then, and then make measurable improvements to the workplace, ensuring that jobs and tasks are within workers' capabilities and limitations.

The best approach for doing that is to make ergonomics an ongoing process of risk identification and risk reduction based on objective, scientific analysis of your workplace.

WISHA Lifting Calculator

Developed by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and based on NIOSH research related to the primary causes of back injuries. This lifting calculator can be used to perform ergonomic risk assessments on a wide variety of manual lifting and lowering tasks, and can be also used as a screening tool to identify lifting tasks which should be analyzed further using the more comprehensive NIOSH Lifting Equation.

NIOSH Lifting Equation

This is a tool frequently used by occupational health and safety professionals for a more comprehensive assessment (when compared to the WA State Lifting Calculator) of manual material handling risks associated with lifting and lowering tasks in the workplace. The primary product of the NIOSH equation is the Recommended Weight Limit (RWL), which defines the maximum acceptable weight (load) that nearly all healthy employees could lift over the course of an 8 hour shift without increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) to the lower back.

For Pushing, Pulling and Carrying

Snook Tables

The Snook Tables outline design goals for various lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, and carrying tasks based on research by Dr. Stover Snook and Dr. Vincent Ciriello at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety. The tables provide weight/force values, for specific types of tasks that are deemed to be acceptable to a defined percentage of the population. This is done by comparing data for each of the specific manual handling tasks against the appropriate table.

For Upper Body Posture

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)

This diagnostic tool assesses biomechanical and postural load requirements of job tasks/demands on the neck, trunk and upper extremities. A single page form is used to evaluate required body posture, force, and repetition. Based on the evaluations, scores are entered for each body region in section A for the arm and wrist, and section B for the neck and trunk. After the data for each region is collected and scored, tables on the form are then used to compile the risk factor variables, generating a single score that represents the level of MSD risk.

For Entire Body Posture

Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)

This tool uses a systematic process to evaluate whole body postural MSD and ergonomic design risks associated with job tasks. A single page form is used to evaluate required body posture, forceful exertions, type of movement or action, repetition, and coupling. A score is assigned for each of the following body regions: wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders, neck, trunk, back, legs and knees. After the data for each region is collected and scored, tables on the form are then used to compile the risk factor variables, generating a single score that represents the level of MSD risk.

DOWNLOAD Ergo...nt-0.docx

References

ergo-plus.com/select-ergonomic-risk-assessment-tool/

functionagain.com/ergonomic-assessments/

www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/

ergo-plus.com/ergonomic-assessment-tools/