In an ideal world, we can identify and address all potential safety risks before anyone experiences an injury. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world, and it is often the occurrence of an injury that prompts us to investigate and, hopefully, mitigate these risks. Ergonomics assessments and risk screens are valuable tools for analyzing risks, whether proactively or reactively. Regardless of the approach, the recommended interventions and outcomes often enhance employees' physical comfort as they carry out their job responsibilities.

I was contacted to help conduct a risk assessment in a laboratory environment following an employee's report of experiencing significant discomfort in their shoulder while working. This individual had recently been reassigned to a different position in the lab, taking on tasks previously handled by a colleague who had retired. Despite enduring the pain, the employee remained silent until it became unbearable. Only after this unfortunate incident occurred did the risk analysis request come in.

During the evaluation, we uncovered a task that was likely a major factor in the employee's injury. The laborious task involved manually pouring buckets of fluid into a tall vat, followed by stirring and cleaning. This process required excessive reaching and overhead lifting, putting strain on the employee's shoulder. It's puzzling to think that this same task had been performed for a long time without any reports of discomfort from the retired employee. So why did this issue only arise now? Why did it affect this particular employee? These questions lingered as we delved deeper into the risk analysis.

It turns out that the retired employee was well over 6 ½ feet tall, while the employee currently experiencing a shoulder injury measured just 5’7”. Although this may seem like an insignificant difference in height, it profoundly impacted the task at hand.  A task comfortably performed below shoulder level for one employee became a challenging overhead endeavor for the other, significantly increasing the risk for the shorter employee. 

It is crucial to recognize that workers come in all shapes and sizes. By aligning job tasks with each individual's unique capabilities, we can reduce muscle fatigue, minimize discomfort, and optimize overall work performance. Taking a proactive approach to screening for potential risks in your facility can help prevent situations similar to the one I just described. OSHA offers a variety of helpful checklists on its website that you can utilize to ensure the safety and well-being of your employees.

Or, better yet, let the experts at WorkWell help you.