Work Modifications Using Administrative Controls

Ergonomics involves concepts from many disciplines including: physics, anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, human psychology and engineering. The sciences concede that muscle effort and concurrent muscle work-recovery intervals are suspect in contributing to work-related musculoskeletal injuries. The research supports the concept that when work tasks require a higher percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC), sustained muscular contractions or higher repetition rates, the work becomes an ergonomic stressor. Thereby, the more frequent or longer the worker is exposed to the ergonomic stressor, the longer the recovery interval needs to be in order to avoid local muscles fatigue. This muscle fatigue, which if repetitive and/or long term, can lead to work-related musculoskeletal injuries. The way the work is organized directly affects the amount of exposure; the worker has to the ergonomic stressor.

Several variables of work organization cannot be controlled, such as worker age, race and personality characteristics. On the other hand, several of the variables of work organization can be controlled, some of these variables include: work schedules, overtime, production rates, management style and work pace. The goal of the practice of ergonomics is to promote a productive and healthy workplace by reducing exposure times to ergonomics stressors, thereby reducing local muscle fatigue, the adverse effects of fatigue and enhancing worker productivity. When ergonomic stressors are identified, work modifications may need to be made in order to meet the goal.

Administrative Controls are work organization factors that are designed to limit daily exposures to ergonomic stressors by changing in the way the work is managed or organized. Possible administrative controls that can change the way the work is performed, include: changing management style, implementing job rotation, which involves rotating the workers every few hours or few days, implementing stretch breaks, readjusting quotas or work rest cycles, changing shift schedules from 12 hour days to 8 hours days, or changing the method or amount of supervision in a department. Administrative controls affect the way the work is managed, these changes or work modifications will ultimately result in higher productivity, and lower fatigue and injury rates by effectively reducing the exposure time of the worker to the ergonomic stressors.

REF: ErgoRehab Inc
www.ergorehabinc.com

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Nicole Matoushek, PT, MPH, CSHE, CEES

ErgoRehab, Inc.

More information about ErgoRehab, Inc. courses

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