Promoting a Shared Representation of Workers' Activities to Improve Integrated Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Effective and sustainable prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WR-MSDs) remains a challenge for preventers and policy makers. Coordination of stakeholders involved in the prevention of WR-MSDs is a key factor that requires greater reflection on common knowledge and shared representation of workers' activities among stakeholders. Information on workers' strategies and operational leeway should be the core of common representations, because it places workers at the center of the "work situation system" considered by the intervention models. Participatory ergonomics permitting debates among stakeholders about workers' activity and strategies to cope with the work constraints in practice could help them to share representations of the "work situation system" and cooperate. Sharing representation therefore represents a useful tool for prevention, and preventers should provide sufficient space and time for dialogue and discussion of workers' activities among stakeholders during the conception, implementation, and management of integrated prevention programs.

Functions of participatory ergonomics programs in reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders / 中华流行病学杂志

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are most commonly seen in all the occupational non-fatal injuries and illnesses for workers,especially those who are involved in labor-intensive industries.Participatory ergonomics is frequently used to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.This paper gives an overview of a historical perspective on the use of participatory ergonomics approach in reducing the health effects of labor-intensive industries.Progress,barriers and facilitators on the organization,implementation and evaluation of participatory ergonomics programs are studied.Participatory ergonomics seems a successful method to develop,prioritize measures to prevent MSDs.Participatory ergonomics can help industries reduce musculoskeletal injuries and disorders,improve workplace condition and promote health conditions of the workers.

Functions of participatory ergonomics programs in reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders / 中华流行病学杂志

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are most commonly seen in all the occupational non-fatal injuries and illnesses for workers,especially those who are involved in labor-intensive industries.Participatory ergonomics is frequently used to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.This paper gives an overview of a historical perspective on the use of participatory ergonomics approach in reducing the health effects of labor-intensive industries.Progress,barriers and facilitators on the organization,implementation and evaluation of participatory ergonomics programs are studied.Participatory ergonomics seems a successful method to develop,prioritize measures to prevent MSDs.Participatory ergonomics can help industries reduce musculoskeletal injuries and disorders,improve workplace condition and promote health conditions of the workers.

Programa de ergonomía participativa para la prevención de trastornos musculoesqueléticos: aplicación en una empresa del Sector Industrial / Participative ergonomic program for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders application in a company of industrial sector

Se propone como estrategia para el control de los Trastornos Musculoequeléticos (TME) un Programa de Ergonomía Participativa (PEP). La aplicación de este programa se divide en 5 etapas: Análisis de empresa, evaluación de riesgos ergonómicos, construcción del plan de acción, ejecución del plan de acción y verificación de medidas de control. La base que sustenta al PEP es la conformación de un Grupo de Ergonomía en la empresa (Grupo Ergo), quien estará a cargo de la identificación, evaluación e implementación de medidas de control con la asesoría de un profesional de Ergonomía. Las metodologías de evaluación de riesgos a utilizar por el Grupo Ergo serán las indicadas en la Normativa Chilena (Ley 20.001 DS N°63/2005 y Decreto N°4 que modifica el DS N°594) que exigen la aplicación de las herramientas: Manual Asessments Charts (MAC) para identificar y evaluar tareas de Manejo Manual de Carga en Levantamiento-descenso, transporte, levantamiento, descenso en equipo y las tablas de Liberty Mutual para tareas de empuje y arrastre de carga; y, por otra parte, la Norma Técnica de Trastornos Musculoequeléticos de Extremidad Superior (MINSAL, 2011) establece la aplicación de una Lista de chequeo contenida en la Norma ISO 11228-3 para la identificación y evaluación de tareas que involucren movimientos repetitivos, postura, fuerza, tiempos de recuperación y factores adicionales, respectivamente. Se presenta la aplicación del PEP en una empresa del rubro industrial chileno, planteándose como objetivo cumplir con las etapas del programa en un periodo de 4 meses. Se establece como objetivo del PEP lograr implementar un 70% de las medidas consideradas denivel "simples". Los resultados reflejaron el cumplimiento de las etapas, logrando implementar un 79% de las medidas simples y un 27% de las medidas complejas. Pese a que es una experiencia primaria en Chile, se pudieron observar beneficios indirectos en la ejecución del PEP, tales como generar una cultura en la empresa respecto a temas de Ergonomía, lograr el compromiso de los ejecutivos en la implementación de las medidas de control y el cumplimiento de legislación chilena respecto a Ergonomía.

It is proposed as a strategy to control Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) Participatory Ergonomics Program (PEP). The implementation of this program is divided into 5 stages: Company Analysis, ergonomic risk assessment, construction of the action plan, implementation of the action plan and verification of control measures. The base that sustains the PEP is the creation of a Group of Ergonomics in the company (Ergo Group), who will be responsible for the identification, evaluation and implementation of control measures with the assistance of a professional ergonomics. The risk assessment methodologies to be used by Ergo Group shall be indicated in Chilean law (Law 20,001 DS No. 63/2005 and Decree No. 4 amending DS No. 594) that requires the application of tools: Manual assessments charts (MAC) to identify and evaluate tasks Burden Handling Manual lifting-lowering, transport, lifting, lowering team and Liberty Mutual tables to pushing and load dragging tasks, and, moreover, the Technical Regulations Musculoskeletal disorders Upper Extremity (MINSAL, 2011) establishes the application of a checklist contained in ISO 11228-3 for the identification and evaluation of tasks that include repetitive movements, posture, strength, recovery times and additional factors, respectively. The implementation of PEP is presented in a company of the Chilean industrial sector, setting out as objective to comply with the program steps over a period of 4 months. It sets the objective of achieving PEP implement 70% of the measures consider of "simple" level. The results showed compliance with stages, achieving 79% implement simple measures and 27% of complex measures. Although it is a primary experience in Chile, indirect benefits could be observed in the implementation of PEP, such as a culture in the company on issues of ergonomics, to achieve the commitment of the executive in the implementation of control measures and compliance with Chilean legislation on Ergonomics.

Ergonomía participativa en cajeras de una gran tienda / Participatory ergonomics among female cashiers from a department store

El objetivo de este trabajo fue controlar los riesgos disergonómicos en cajeras de una tienda de una gran empresa del sector del retail, usando ergonomía participativa, a través del conocimiento y entendimiento del sistema de la empresa, constitución del grupo de trabajo (grupo Ergo), capacitación del grupo en temas relacionados con la ergonomía, toma de decisiones e intervenciones. La muestra estuvo compuesta de 71 participantes –en su mayoría cajeras–, las cuales en el 100 por ciento tenían compromiso músculo-esquelético, y manifestaban dolor o molestia principalmente en cuello, región lumbar, muñeca derecha y hombros. Se encontró sobrecarga postural, trabajo repetitivo, manejo manual de cargas, carga mental, disconfort ambiental, variabilidad en los horarios, jornadas prolongadas, ausencia de pausas, entre otros trastornos. En la intervención los principales cambios implementados fueron el rediseño de la estación de caja, la renovación de sillas y teclados e implementación de un sistema de rotación, así como la realización de pausas con ejercicios compensatorios. Luego de la intervención se observó una notoria mejoría de las problemáticas encontradas, concluyéndose que la ergonomía participativa es una metodología atractiva, adecuada y eficaz en la solución y control de los riesgos y problemas ergonómicos.

The objective of this paper was to control ergonomic risks among female cashiers working in a department store belonging to the retail market. Participatory ergonomics was applied through knowing and understanding how the company works, establishing the work team (Ergo group), training the team in ergonomics-related topics, andmaking decisions and interventions. The sample was composed of 71 participants –mostly female cashiers–, and all of them have a musculoskeletal compromise, declaring pain or discomfort mainly in the neck, lower back, right wrist and shoulders. Among others, following problems were found: postural overload, repetitive work, manual load handling, mental fatigue, environmental discomfort, variable work schedules, extended working days, and absence of breaks. In the intervention, the main implemented changes were theredesign of workstation, complete change of chairs and keyboards, and the implementation of a rotation system, as well breaks for compensatory exercises. After that, an evident improvement of found problems was observed, therefore it can be concluded that participatoryergonomics is an attractive methodology, appropriate and efficientfor solving and controlling ergonomic risks and problems.