ERGONOMICS ACROSS THE GENERATIONS

Transcription

1 ERGONOMICS ACROSS THE GENERATIONS Charlotte Regional Safety and Health Conference APRIL 16, 2015 David J. Damico Board Certified Ergonomist (CPE) VP, Marsh Risk Consulting Workforce Strategies Ergonomics Practice

2 Agenda Section 1: Entertainment Section 2: Experience Section 3: Education Section 4: Summary Notes MARSH 1

3 Entertainment 2

4 Fact or Fiction? 1. There is no such thing as an ergonomic chair. 2. Ergonomics is not common sense. 3. Ergonomics is not a work-related issue. MARSH 3

5 No Such Thing as an Ergonomic Chair Which Do You Have? Adjustable Products Ergonomic Solutions MARSH Do you have a work place designed to fit your workers or are your workers cut and pasted into their work place? 4

6 Chairs, Chairs, and more Chairs. Don t fit the US population Offer some features at the risk of others Unique functionality with a hidden danger Ridiculous MARSH 5

7 Ergonomics is Not common sense? Demonstration: clear plastic bottles 60 lbs? 50 lbs? How much is this lift? - Knees are bent This glove may be a 60.1 lb lift. MARSH 6

8 Ergonomics is not a work-related issue Ergonomics is not JUST a work-related issue Work Home Play Ergonomics is a lifestyle MARSH 7

9 Experience 8

10 Pressure MARSH 9

11 Posture Assume you are in your office sitting at your keyboard. Please attempt to do the following. 1. Sit in a position that doesn t deform your spinal cord. MARSH 10

12 Posture 1. Sit in a position that doesn t deform your spinal cord. MARSH (Reference: 11

13 Posture Assume you are in your office sitting at your keyboard. Please attempt to do the following. 1. Sit in a position that doesn t deform your spinal cord. 2. Put your hand on your mouse without increasing the pressure in your carpal tunnel MARSH 12

14 Posture 2. Put your hand on your mouse without increasing the pressure in your carpal tunnel Carpal tunnel pressure increases with forearm pronation and supination. (1) Carpal tunnel syndrome is often the result of a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve... (2) Pronation: turning the hand palm-down MARSH 13

15 Posture Other Awkward Postures Head/Neck Shoulder Elbow Hand/Wrist Lower Back MARSH 14

16 Posture Supportive/Neutral Posture Neck straight Shoulders down Elbows back Wrists (palms) straight and supported Lower back against chair Legs level and supported Feet flat on floor MARSH 15

17 Repetition Its how we start a fire! MARSH 16

18 Repetition Relaxed Extended MARSH 17

19 Repetition Tendon Tendon Sheath Muscle body Bone MARSH 18

20 Duration MARSH 19

21 Activity Level Activity Level Activity Level Is Sitting the New Cancer? Hi (8a-5p) Call Center Operators Change in Activity level Lo (5p-10p/6a-8a) Not Work/Not Sleep Hi Lo Eating out is up Shopping on line exists PE in HS is down Video meetings/dating exists Video Gaming is up Re-schooling is up Online Schools Hi (10p-6a) Sleeping Change in Activity level Lo MARSH 20

22 Duration How to reduce the stress of long duration tasks Rest while you work Use break reminders Use supportive postures Design a restful workflow at Work at Home at Play MARSH 21

23 That s Ergonomics! Designing things to the capabilities and limitation of humans Ergonomic Villain s Pressure Awkward postures Repetition Duration Ergonomic Hero s Protecting soft muscle tissue Adjustability Rest Active lifestyle MARSH 22

24 Education 23

25 Generational Differences Superhero's Office Warriors Owls Age (1) (Gen Y) (Gen X) (Boomers) Motto There isn t anything I cant do Never used to hurt like this Nope I m not going to do that Spine Unnecessary stress due to lifting postures and behavior Unnecessary stress due to lack of rest breaks Intervertebral disks lose fluid and become thinner (2) Muscles Less thought about muscles stress results in more cumulative stress on the muscles. Repetition increases as does frequency of repetitious activities. Loss of mass, tone and becomes more rigid (2) The joints become stiffer and less flexible. Fluid in the joints may decrease, and the cartilage may begin to rub together and erode (2) Bones Used and abused but, good chance of recovery. Osteoarthritis common in mid 40 s (wear and tear in joints) Bone density decreases, bones become more brittle Results Less thought about muscle stress results in more cumulative stress on their muscles and spine. Less time away from the office/job results in longer durations of static postures. More cautious about strenuous activity. Lower injury rate, higher severity rate. Muscle weakness contributes to fatigue, weakness, and reduced activity tolerance. MARSH 24

26 Generation Y The number of young workers entering the workforce with pre-existing or incipient injuries is increasing. Using more handheld technology, videoconferencing tools, and in many cases, multiple computer monitors. MARSH 25

27 Generation X (1) Highly autonomous Value flexibility and equality at work Want a voice in how things are done. MARSH 26

28 Boomers Strong beliefs in themselves and their ability to set and achieve goals (1) More likely to reflect on a physical take before engaging MARSH 27

29 Generational Landscape (1) Retention of skilled workers Jobs in their working life: Gen Y (15- to 29-years-old) will change jobs every one to two years. Gen X s (30- to 45-years-old) will have 10 to 12 jobs Boomers (46- to 64-years-old) will have four to six jobs Disability reality Correlation between age and disability The incidence of disability among working-age Americans 18- to 24-year-old = 10% 45- to 54-year-old = 20% 65+ = over 40% According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, members of the workforce aged 55 and up will grow, four times faster than the growth expected for the entire workforce. (2) MARSH 28

30 Generational Differences An Ergonomics Approach to Minimizing Stress Superhero's Office Warriors Owls Age (Gen Y) (Gen X) (Boomers) General Ergonomic Approaches Evaluate the task requirements in all aspects of the job and minimize exposures to pressure, awkward posture, repetition and duration (e.g. static postures). Assess each person across their tasks for individual differences. MARSH 29

31 What is a job hazard? A hazard is the potential for harm. In practical terms, a hazard often is associated with a condition or activity that, if left uncontrolled, can result in an injury or illness. See Appendix 2 for a list of common hazards and descriptions. Ergonomics (strain): Damage of tissue due to overexertion (strains and sprains) or repetitive motion. MARSH 30

32 Generational Differences An Ergonomics Approach to Minimizing Stress Superhero's Office Warriors Owls Age (Gen Y) (Gen X) (Boomers) General Ergonomic Approaches Evaluate the task requirements in all aspects of the job and minimize exposures to pressure, awkward posture, repetition and duration (static postures) Assess each person in across their tasks for individual differences Specific Ergonomic Approaches 1. Early education 2. Relevant motivation 3. Build habits 4. Assess personal needs 5. Encourage a balanced lifestyle 6. Consider the effects of impact equipment 7. Re-evaluate more often 8. Everyone on a Stretch & Flex program MARSH 31

33 Summary Notes 32

34 Summary Notes Ergonomics Across Generations Issues and Resolutions 1. I: Leaning forward is an awkward posture whether your standing or sitting. R: Raise the item I have to lift by putting a shelve/pallet/counter under it. 2. I: Is it realistic to assume our chairs may be the new cancer? Or should we be evaluating our increasingly sedentary lifestyle. R: Encourage an active lifestyle 3. I: A little creativity goes a long way in reducing repetitive stress. R: Voice dictation, automated equipment, maintained equipment 4. I: I may be able to redesign a task to reduce the amount of required force. R: Suspended, counterbalance hand tools, automated tools, maintained tools 5. I: Generation Y are naïve to work related stressors. R: Provide education, motivation and a program that will help build good habits 6. I: Generation X works excessively and has built up cumulative stresses for years. R: Provide assessment of personal needs and encourage a balanced lifestyle 7. I: Boomer s body is less flexible and more susceptible to impacts and strain. R: Provide: encouragement to make stretch and flex a lifestyle activity MARSH 33

35 David J. Damico, MA, CPE, Vice President MARSH RISK CONSULTING Workforce Strategies Ergonomics Practice Sr. Consultant 3560 Lenox Rd., 24 th Floor, Atlanta, GA Work Cell Questions? This document and any recommendations, analysis, or advice provided by Marsh (collectively, the Marsh Analysis ) are intended solely for the entity identified as the recipient herein ( you ). This document contains proprietary, confidential information of Marsh and may not be shared with any third party, including other insurance producers, without Marsh s prior written consent. Any statements concerning actuarial, tax, accounting, or legal matters are based solely on our experience as insurance brokers and risk consultants and are not to be relied upon as actuarial, accounting, tax, or legal advice, for which you should consult your own professional advisors. Any modeling, analytics, or projections are subject to inherent uncertainty, and the Marsh Analysis could be materially affected if any underlying assumptions, conditions, information, or factors are inaccurate or incomplete or should change. The information contained herein is based on sources we believe reliable, but we make no representation or warranty as to its accuracy. Except as may be set forth in an agreement between you and Marsh, Marsh shall have no obligation to update the Marsh Analysis and shall have no liability to you or any other party with regard to the Marsh Analysis or to any services provided by a third party to you or Marsh. Copyright 2015 Marsh LLC All rights reserved. 34