The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has added Electronic Compliance Assistance Tools (eCATs) to its Web site that addresses ergonomic recommendations for common situations in selected industries. The initial illustrated eCATS for ergonomics are for the baggage handling, grocery warehousing, nursing home and sewing industries. OSHA anticipates more industries will be added in the near future. The tools are designed to assist businesses in identifying workplace hazards and abatements.
Airline employees handle customer baggage at several points between customer departure and arrival. At each point the weight of the luggage, awkward body postures assumed while lifting, and fast work pace combine to create potentially serious ergonomic hazards. These hazards have caused a higher rate of OSHA-recordable lost work days in these operations. This eCAT describes common hazards and possible solutions for baggage handling.
Grocery warehouse operations perform three main functions: receiving bulk goods from suppliers; order picking to select desired goods from within the warehouse; and shipping goods to the customers. This eCAT describes example ergonomic hazards and solutions related to Order Picking, which accounts for a large number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Today nursing homes and personal care facilities employ approximately 1.6 million workers at 21,000 work sites. Among U.S. industries, they have the third highest rate of nonfatal injury or illness cases: 16.8 injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers. This eCAT addresses common hazards and controls found in this industry.
This eCAT is also available as a downloadable file
Sewing and Related Procedures
Workers involved in sewing activities, such as manufacturing garments, shoes, and airplane or car upholstery, may be at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Sewing-related injuries have been documented in the areas of sewing stations, performing fine work or scissor work, and material handling, among others. This eCAT provides example ergonomics solutions specific to sewing.