On-Line Ergonomics Solutions for General Industry

Details

• Personal Author:
  MacLeod D
• Description:
  This project created a website knowledge base of roughly 5000 practical solutions for common causes of workplace Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in general industry. These disorders constitute the leading type of all workplace injuries and illnesses, and account for about 70% of total workers' compensation costs. These solutions were adapted from actual improvements in industrial settings based on consulting projects performed in over 1500 individual workplaces. Emphasis is placed on showing low-cost solutions, including items that can be fabricated in-house. Over 3000 photographs of solutions are included, adding practicality and ease-of-use to the website. Descriptions are written in a down-to-earth style, making the site accessible to both non-professionals in small companies and professionals in large organizations. The solutions are divided into several categories: workstations, material handling, machine operations, hand tools, maintenance, and warehousing. Each of these categories is further divided into topics that contain the specific solutions. Background explanatory material is provided at each level to guide users in proper application. Nearly all of these solutions provide for better production efficiency as well as prevention of injuries. The solutions are both fundamental to common production operations and are comprehensive. Thus, the website serves as a de facto primer on setting up production operations intelligently. Several portals are provided. Each of these has a different orientation for different users and purposes, but all are based on and link to the various solutions in the knowledgebase: 1. How to set up production systems 2. How to design equipment to prevent MSDs 3. Principles of human-friendly design 4. Training Consequently, users have the option of browsing the categories or using the portals to obtain a step-by-step introduction to the solutions. Usability studies were conducted as part of the project to help optimize ease-of-use in accessing the large knowledgebase and the portals. Results confirmed that the system is understandable and usable. In some cases the feedback led to improvements in the website design. Additionally, new technology became available during the course of this project that enables on-going, semi-automated usability testing. This capability was integrated into the website to conduct studies continuously in the future. This is unique and marks a milestone in the evolution of workplace ergonomics. The information is expected help employers reduce injuries as well as improve efficiency. The grant recipients are proceeding with full commercialization, plus are submitting a paper about the project for an international ergonomics conference in 2014. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Computer Software Ergonomics Information Dissemination Information Systems Injury Prevention Manufacturing MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Website
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-28
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052648
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2018-101658
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R44-OH-009354, 2013 Nov; :1-28
• Contact Point Address:
  Dan MacLeod, President, Dan MacLeod LLC, 305 E. Catherine St., Milford, PA 18337
• Email:
  dan@danmacleod.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• Performing Organization:
  Dan MacLeod, LLC, Milford, Pennsylvania
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20071201
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20130831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f386120159ee9339394c5156a15f6f7354ef3dd3367826f439458b01761ad059a4a1b953dedee3f91ab1984751ff0043f5e9fec67114a3bdbcdcbc31023f1a9c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/218716/cdc_218716_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 137.42 KB ]