The ACGIH TLV for Low Back Risk - Fundamentals and Assessment Tools for Occupational Ergonomics - page 977

VERTICAL

POINT OF
PROJECTION

TOP VIEW

HORIZONTAL

HORIZONTAL
LOCATION

H

LATERAL

MID-POINT BETWEEN
INNER ANKLE BONES

VERTICAL
LOCATION

V

HORIZONTAL

H
HORIZONTAL
LOCATION

MID-POINT BETWEEN
INNER ANKLE BONES

POINT OF PROJECTION

FIGURE 50.2 Graphic representation of hand location.

economics will dictate the appropriate task redesign strategy. The following hierarchy of controls is
suggested when redesigning manual material handling tasks.

1. Eliminate unnecessary lifting. Whenever possible, eliminate manual materials handling by combin-
ing operations or shortening the distances that material must be moved. Look at material flow
through the facility, and eliminate any unnecessary lifts. By doing so, we eliminate worker
exposure to the musculoskeletal disorder risk factors. In addition, the overall efficiency of a facility
is generally improved as time previously required to manually handle materials can be used for
other productive tasks.
2. Automate or mechanize lifting. If it is not possible to eliminate the lift, consider automating the
lifting task or using a mechanical lifting device. Devices such as hoists, cranes and manipulators
can eliminate the forces on the spine associated with manual materials handling. Therefore, the
likelihood of back injuries is also reduced.
3. Modify the job to fit within worker capabilities. If material must still be handled manually (or until
one of the above approaches can be implemented), design the task to reduce the stress on the body
as much as possible, with emphasis on ensuring that the weight lifted is below the Lifting TLV.
Some strategies for job design include:
. Allow for lifting loads as close to the body as possible. Some techniques to reduce reaching dis-
tances are: (a) eliminate any barriers such as the sides of bins or boxes, (b) use a turn table for
loads on pallets, and (c) use a tilt table to allow for better access into bins.