Discussion Response

 1 page response AMA format for citations

Pretend that you are the safety committee/company owner, what are your reactions to the findings and recommendations to the presentation below?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw1AUVrWiSU&feature=youtu.be

classmate Zimmerman

Presentation Speaker Notes

Introduction [SLIDE 1]

My name is Michael Zimmerman and I will be providing a succinct summary of the hazard analysis done for the University of New England’s Biddeford campus mechanic shop. I will be covering the historic and current contexts of the site, then occupational context with state data from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) to discover what adverse health events are most common. We will identify some occupational hazards that exist at the facility, and finally offer some recommendations to improve occupational health conditions and mitigate risks for employees.

Context for the Site [SLIDE 2]

The mechanic shop employs 15 full time workers who perform automotive maintenance and repair for the university's fleet vehicles. The employees range in age from 30 to 65 years. Thirteen of the employees are male and two are female. Most of the employees at the mechanic shop have an educational attainment at the high school level, while several have obtained some college education. The employees engage in their regular duties from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the exception of two fifteen-minute breaks and a full hour for lunch. In a five year period there have been three occupational injuries which required employees to miss ten days of work. The source of these injuries was not recorded, but the nature of each was injury to the employee's back.

[SLIDE 3]

The site presented as any other auto mechanic and repair shop might. Hydraulic lifts that allow employees better access to the vehicle while performing work were found utilized during the visit to the site. Material safety data sheets were found posted in the facility and employees have access to a wash sink inside the vehicle bay. An automated ventilation system runs for the duration of the employees' working hours. Lighting in the shop was measured at 122 lux, or 11.3 foot-candles (ftc) and is above the recommended 10 ftc by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA.1

State Data [SLIDE 4]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics data for the state of Maine in 2016 shows that automotive technicians and mechanics suffered the most from sprains, strains, and tears.2 Other injuries for this industry included soreness, pain, fractures, lacerations, punctures, and contusions.2 By far, the causal event for the most amount of injuries was overexertion and bodily reaction. Though, it is worth noting that injuries from falls on the same level outnumbered those from overexertion by lifting or lowering alone at a ratio of 4:3.2

Keep these injuries in mind as we next examine those hazards identified at the Biddeford campus’ mechanic shop.

Identifying Hazards [SLIDE 5]

OSHA lists bending while lifting, heavy lifting, and bad body mechanics as just a few in a more exhaustive list of causes for back disorders and injuries.3 During the observation of Mr. Hicks’ procedures for changing a tire on a vehicle elevated by the hydraulic lift, he was observed lifting a 10-ply tire weighing approximately 50 lbs off of the floor. This kind of activity can cause injury in muscles, ligaments, vertebrae, and/or discs.3

One important observation made on site that is corollary with common injuries for workers in this occupation is that the air hose for the impact wrench was discarded on the shop floor after initial use. One can imagine other objects that can present tripping hazards such as drip pans or steel hand tools on the smooth concrete floors as are often found in these types facilities. It is easy to traverse a shop floor without paying attention to the objects on floor being distracted by secondary tasks, as was observed during the tire change demonstration. Also relevant here is that Mr. Hicks was not wearing gloves while performing his tasks during observation.

Recommendations [SLIDE 6]

While the hydraulic lifts do prevent workers from bending or kneeling, they require that objects, such as heavy tires, be lifted back to the height of the vehicle. To mitigate this risk, it is recommended that wheeled utility carts be used underneath the tire so that they do not have to be lifted from the floor. If this engineering control cannot be implemented, an alternative is to require two persons for this type of lift, which would be an administrative control.

To prevent falls from the same level, it is recommended that the shop purchase coiled or retractable air lines for the impact wrench. These types of devices prevent lines from stretching across the shop floor presenting a greater tripping hazard. It is also recommended that the policy be adopted that all tools be returned to a stowing position when not in use.

Painting hazard zones on the shop floor around the hydraulic lifts and implementing a policy that Kevlar gloves are warn while performing regular duties will greatly reduce the risk of injuries associated with pinch points, such as punctures, and lacerations.

Finally, use of the impact wrench presents a risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. Gripping the tool while it is under load and in operation causes hand transmitted vibration which can subsequently cause inflammation in the wrist if exposed to this activity for a substantial period of time. This graph shows how long employees can use the tool, which accelerates at 17.6 m/s2, before risk of injury is present. It is then recommended that employees be limited to 30 minutes of impact wrench use per day, to prevent injury.

The accompanying report includes a more detailed assessment of the hazards I’ve discussed here. I greatly appreciate your time today and look forward to working together to in order to secure the health of your workforce. Thank you.

References

1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR 1926.56(a): Minimum Illumination Intensities in Foot-Candles. United States Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10630. Accessed December 3, 2017.

2. Occupational Injuries and Illnesses and Fatal Injuries Profiles: Private Automotive Repair and Maintenance Industry, Maine 2016. Bureau of Labor Statistics website. https://www.bls.gov/iif/. Accessed December 3, 2017.

3. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA Technical Manual: Section VII, Chapter 1, Back Disorder and Injuries. United States Department of Labor website. https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_vii/otm_vii_1.html. Accessed December 4, 2017.