Jobs, tasks or working conditions that combine risk factors increase the risk for developing discomfort or a musculoskeletal disorder. The level of risk of any one worker is a function of duration (how long), frequency (how often) and intensity (how much) as well as the worker's genetic make-up and their physical condition.

Ergonomic Intervention Strategies

There are two ways to improve work safety in terms of ergonomics. You can reduce or eliminate the ergonomic risks and/or you can reduce or eliminate the worker's exposure to the risks. This can be done through engineering and administrative controls and the use of personnel protective equipment.

Whenever feasible, risks should be eliminated through implementing effective engineering controls, such as redesigning or replacing equipment to improve safety. When a risk cannot be eliminated through the redesign process, other controls should be considered. For example, a reduction in risk exposure time can be achieved by implementing task rotation that allows time for sufficient muscle recovery. Although training workers on how to correctly use equipment and educating them on "best work practices" is very important it is short sighted to think that this alone will eliminate the risk potential in all cases.

Engineering Controls: These controls modify the work, the work environment and/or the tools, equipment and machinery used. Examples include:

• Modify workstation layouts and heights
• Redesign tools to reduce or eliminate awkward postures
• Alter the method of performing tasks
• Redesign process, schedules and work routines

Administrative Controls: These controls serve to reduce the duration (how long), frequency (how often), and intensity (how much) of exposure to a risk.

• Rotate worker's tasks and jobs to reduce the exposure time to any one risk
• Enlarge or enrich the scope of the work
• Automate processes
• Provide training programs to increase worker awareness
• Encourage early reporting of symptoms
• Provide early intervention services to include proper medical care and job assessment
• Increase rest breaks for workers
• Provide informational aids
• Maintain tools regularly

Personal Protective Equipment: The focus of this type of intervention is to provide the worker with equipment that will improve their safety and reduce their exposure to risk.

• Safety glasses
• Protective cloths; gloves, hard hats, and footwear.
• Ear protection
• Ventilation and Respiratory devices

The best method of control is to eliminate the risk!

The Program Approach

To effectively insure that ergonomic concerns are addressed and will continue to be addressed in the future, an on-going process in the form of a program with appropriate checks and balances must be employed. To make it really simple, you have to do the BIG THREE;

Identify	Modify	Measure

Let's see how the BIG THREE line up with NIOSH's seven-step "pathway" for evaluating and addressing musculoskeletal concerns in the workplace.

1. Looking for signs of a potential musculoskeletal problem in the workplace, such as frequent worker reports of aches and pains, or job tasks that require repetitive, forceful exertions. Identify.
2. Showing management commitment in addressing possible problems and encouraging worker involvement in problem-solving activities. Modify
3. Offering training to expand management and worker ability to evaluate potential musculoskeletal problems. Modify
4. Gathering data to identify jobs or work conditions that are most problematic, using sources such as injury and illness logs, medical records, and job analyses. Measure
5. Identifying effective controls for tasks that pose a risk of musculoskeletal injury and evaluating these approaches once they have been instituted to see if they have reduced or eliminated the problem. Identify and Measure
6. Establishing health care management to emphasize the importance of early detection and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders for preventing impairment and disability. Modify
7. Minimizing risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders when planning new work processes and operations. It is less costly to build good design into the workplace than to redesign or retrofit later. Modify

By following these simple steps it is easy to identify, reduce and measure risks that contribute to MSDs. By including workers as an integral part of the process you can expect to reap other rewards as well. You may see more worker commitment, an increase in overall job satisfaction, a reduction in turn over, improved productivity and improved morale.

Remember: We Are All "Workers"