Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) Prevention Manual

Section I Introduction

1. What is an MSD?
2. How do MSDs occur?

Section II Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk Factors

1. Force and Contact Stress
2. Repetition and Duration
3. Posture
   1. Static Loading
4. Grip
5. Temperature and Vibration
   1. Temperature
   2. Vibration
6. Multiple Risk Factors
7. Summary of Risk Factors

Section III Manual Material Handling (MMH)

1. Lifting and Lowering
   1. Determining Safe Lifting Limits Part 1: The Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation
      How to use the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation
      Limitations to the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation
   2. Determining Safe Lifting Limits Part 2: Liberty Mutual Tables
      How to use the Liberty Mutual MMH Tables
      An Example in How to use the Liberty Mutual Tables for Lifting and Lowering Tasks
   3. Suggested Lifting Techniques for Common MMH Tasks
      What type of clothing should be worn?
      Things to Consider Before Starting the Lift
      Lifting Techniques
      Compact Loads
      Compact Bags and Heavy Sacks
      Sheets of Material (Glass, Plywood, Plastic)
      Drums
2. Pushing and Pulling
   1. Pushing and Pulling using Hand Carts
3. Carrying and Holding
   1. Using the Liberty Mutual Tables for Carrying and Holding Activities
      An Example in Using the Liberty Mutual Tables for Carrying and Holding

Section IV Job Design versus Workplace Design

1. Job Design
   1. Job Rotation
   2. Job Enlargement
   3. Task/Machine Pacing
   4. Breaks
   5. Teams
2. Workplace design
   1. Workplace Surfaces
   2. Materials Flow
   3. Mechanical Aids
   4. Tools
      • Tool Handles
      • Tool Weight

Section V Developing an MSD Control & Reduction Program

1. Planning
   1. Management commitment
   2. Define Roles, Responsibilities and Training
   3. Communication Strategies
   4. MSD Reduction and Control Team
2. Identify & Assess
   1. Pre-assessment (Gathering information)
   2. Communication of pre-screening efforts
   3. Performing a Physical Demands Analysis
3. A Sample PDA
   1. Task 1 – Computer Use
   2. Task 2a – Scanner Use
   3. Task 2b – Scanner programming
   4. Task 3 – Lift truck operation
   5. Task 4 – Manual moving of boxes
4. Controls
   1. Prioritizing Hazards
   2. Identifying Root Causes
      1. Process
      2. Equipment/Tools
      3. Materials
      4. Environment
      5. Human
   3. The Hierarchy of Controls Model
      1. Elimination
      2. Substitution
      3. Engineering Controls
      1. Alternating how materials, products and parts are transported through processes
      2. Alternating the work station layout to suit the process being performed
      3. Alternating the way parts, tools and materials are manipulated
      4. Administrative
      5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
   4. Using the Hierarchy of Controls Theory to Choose the Appropriate Control
      1. Example: Manually Carrying Boxes
         • Elimination
         • Engineering controls
         • Substitution
         • Administrative Controls
         • Summary
      2. Example: Computer Use/Wrist concerns
         • Elimination
         • Engineering controls
         • Administrative Controls
         • Summary
      3. Example: Operation of a Forklift
         • Elimination
         • Engineering controls
         • Administrative Controls
         • Summary
   5. Choosing the Appropriate Control
   6. Follow-up

Section VI Conclusions