Page 12 - OHS, Feb/Mar 2024

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY Preventing Ergonomic Injuries on the Construction Site Think ergonomic injuries are only for those with a desk job? Think again. BY SHAWN GREGG When it comes to hazards on the construction site, elec- trical contractors are very familiar with the risks that OSHA dubs the “fatal four” — electrocu- tions, falls, struck-by and caught-in/be- tween. The industry generally does a good job of utilizing training, safety equipment and other initiatives to help limit the risks of these occurring. However, many safety programs don’t have as much of a focus on the quieter dangers and risks posed by er- gonomic injuries. Unlike the injuries mentioned above, ergonomic injuries, which can affect joints, tendons, nerves and muscles, often build up over an extended period of time and may seem trivial at first. A good example is wearing uncomfortable shoes. Wearing these shoes could not only result in a pos- sible acute injury on the job site but could also result in the worker developing a mus- culoskeletal disorder (MSD) over time. And while many think of ergonomics as only a “desk job” concern, the reality is that ergonomic issues can occur any- where. In the field, ergonomic injuries are a leading cause of employee safety issues and can be very costly. Research from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics has found that nearly 33 percent of “days-away-from-work” cases are due to ergonomics-related injuries, and worker compensation claims tied to MSDs cost U.S. employers more than $20 billion per year1. Plus, these injuries can linger and potentially hinder a return to the job site. This is especially relevant for electri- cal contractors. In fact, OSHA points out that as the age of the work population in- creases and the scope of work broadens, electrical contractors are at a higher risk of developing ergonomic injuries2. While much of their work is still concentrated in construction, many also work in build- ing maintenance, or in data or networking installation applications that present ergo- nomic risk factors. On the construction site, addressing ergonomics requires a delicate balancing act of managing worker capabilities with the demands of the job. By understanding and identifying the risk factors and imple- menting a series of controls, your safety team can reduce the risk of ergonomic injuries to this critical faction of the con- struction labor team. The Five Ergonomic Risk Factors There are five primary ergonomic risk factors to address on a job site: 1) High force: This refers to the amount of physical effort required to per- form a task. That may include the type of grip needed, the weight of an object and body posture all relative to the type of activity performed. Any time you have increased force, you also increase the de- mands on the body. Prolonged or recur- rent experiences in this instance can lead to fatigue and muscular or skeletal injury. 2) Awkward and prolonged postures: Any position of the body that deviates significantly from the neutral position while performing work activities can lead to problems. Twisting, bending, reach- ing and pulling with an awkward or poor posture can cause issues. This can be an especially common source of ergonomic injuries for electrical contractors, who of- ten have to work within confined spaces or with equipment that’s not easily accessible. 3) Repetition: Performing the same motion over and over stresses the body. The amount of stress depends on four factors — the number of repetitions, the speed of the movement, the number of muscles involved and the amount of force required. Fatigue and muscle or tendon strain can accumulate when motions are repeated over a prolonged period, such as an eight-hour shift. 4) Contact stress: This occurs when the body is pressed against a hard or sharp edge, such as a narrow tool handle or sharp counter edge. This places undue pressure on the body and, over time, can inhibit overall nerve function and blood flow. 5) Hand-arm vibration: As the name suggests, this is caused by vibrations from power tools or other equipment. Pro- longed exposure can lead to discomfort and risk an MSD. Controls Provide Risk Reduction To combat the five ergonomic risk fac- tors, there are proven controls that can be implemented on the construction job site to reduce injury occurrence, especially when it comes to material handling. Heavy Lifting Controls. Construction materials on the job site vary in weight, 10 Occupational Health & Safety | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 www.ohsonline.com VR Studio/stock.adobe.com