Evaluating the effectiveness of a participatory ergonomics approach in reducing the risk and severity of injuries from manual handling

Abstract

Manual handling is the greatest contributor to non-fatal injury and disease in the workplace, commonly accounting for one-third of national injury counts. Interventional strategies that have focused on selecting or modifying the worker have been ineffective in reducing injury risk. In recent times, participatory ergonomics has been widely adopted as a process to reduce the risk of injury from manual handling but it is not well validated as an intervention. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a participatory ergonomics risk assessment approach in reducing the rate and severity of injuries from manual and non-manual handling sustained by a cohort of 137 cleaners within a hospital setting. The date of injury and the workers' compensation claim cost and hours lost from work were obtained for each injury incurred during the 4-year pre-intervention and 3-year intervention period. The age, gender and hours worked were ascertained for every cleaner whether injured or not. Using generalized linear mixed modelling analysis, reductions of rate of injury by two-thirds, workers' compensation claim costs by 62% and hours lost by 35% for manual handling injuries were found to be associated with the intervention period. Although the cleaners experienced a significant intervention period reduction in non-manual handling injury rate, the corresponding changes in severity of injury were not significant. The success of the intervention supports the adoption of a participatory ergonomics approach in reducing the rate and consequence of injuries in the workplace.

How compliant are beverage employees to occupational health and safety regulations?

“…As with other studies (Carrivick et al, 2005;Engkvist, 2005) the majority of employees were observed to have used incorrect manual lifting techniques. In addition, most employees did not ask for additional help when lifting heavy objects or sought authorization when using lifting equipment.…”

Musculoskeletal risk factors in cleaning occupation—A literature review

“…Mitigation of musculoskeletal disorders among cleaners through ergonomic interventions have been carried out by several groups of researchers (Carrivick et al, 2005Hultman et al, 1984). Reduction of the risk of musculoskeletal injury was reported in all studies.…”

Differences in physical workload, psychosocial factors and musculoskeletal disorders between two groups of female hospital cleaners with two diverse organizational models

“…However, the prerequisite for success is a careful anchorage throughout the total organization, a participatory approach and suYcient time for implementation. Besides, participatory conditions have been shown to be worthwhile for economical, as well as for human reasons (Carrivick et al 2005). Moreover, in the practical work it is essential to further develop appropriate equipment and work technique (Kumar et al 2005b).…”