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CSU Widget Factory

Student’s Name:

University:

Course Code:

Instructor:

Date:
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CSU Widget Factory

QUESTION 1
The CSU Widget Factory has been experiencing an increase in back and shoulder injuries due to
manual lifting of boxes in the warehouse. You have observed that the workers may not
understand the importance of body mechanics when lifting a load. Prepare a paragraph that
explains how to lift a load properly, including a discussion of the forces on various parts of the
body when lifting is done incorrectly. As an additional illustration, calculate and compare the
load moment for lifting a 12-pound electrical motor held close to the body with the load moment
for lifting the same motor held 20 inches from the body. Show all calculations.

Your response should be a minimum of 200 words in length.

QUESTION 2
Based on your recent analysis of injuries related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) at the CSU
Widget Factory, your boss wants to try to reduce the amount of manual material handling,
especially in the warehouse. Using the hierarchy of controls, propose at least five control
measures that would help reduce the amount of manual lifting and/or reduce the likelihood of
injuries caused by manual lifting. Explain clearly how each of these proposed controls would
reduce the risk of injury, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and what new hazards, if
any, might be created if the control is implemented.

Your response should be a minimum of 500 words in length.

QUESTION 3
Your analysis of injuries at the CSU Widget Factory has revealed that 98 employees were
required to take time off last year due to issues related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs),
mostly back and shoulder injuries. Discuss a variety of strategies that can be used to identify
operations or processes with the potential to create or aggravate MSDs. Keep in mind that
employees do not always recognize MSD symptoms as work-related, and may also be reluctant
to report symptoms. There is no need to propose solutions—we are just trying to identify the
sources of the problems.

Your response should be a minimum of 500 words in length.

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Answer 1
Body mechanics is the study of how the human body moves in relation to the
environment around it. When lifting a load, proper body mechanics helps to minimize the risk of
injury by using the body’s natural strength and alignment. There are four main principles of
proper lifting mechanics:
Use Your Legs, Not Your Back.
When lifting a load, bend at the hips and knees to lower your center of gravity and to bring the
load closer to your body. Avoid rounding your back, which puts unnecessary strain on the spine.
Use your leg muscles to lift the load, keeping your back straight.
Keep the Load Close to Your Body.

The further away from your body a load is, the more strain it puts on your muscles. Keep the
load close to your center of gravity, which is typically around your belly button.
Avoid Twisting Your Body.
When lifting a load, keep your feet planted firmly on the ground and your shoulders squared.
Avoid twisting your body, which puts unnecessary strain on the spine. If you need to turn, move
your feet first, then your whole body.
Use Your Arms to Help Balance the Load.
Your arms should be used to help balance the load, not to lift it. Keep your elbows close to your
body and your hands close to the load.
The following are some additional tips for proper lifting mechanics:
• Warm up before lifting. Cold muscles are more likely to be injured.
• Use a wide stance for stability.
• Use a hand-over-hand grip.
• Exhale as you lift the load.
• Avoid lifting objects overhead.
• Get help if the load is too heavy.
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The load moment for lifting a 12-pound electrical motor held close to the body would be:
12 lb * 0.5 ft = 6 ft-lb
The load moment for lifting the same motor held 20 inches from the body would be:
12 lb * 1.667 ft = 20 ft-lb
The load moment is significantly higher when lifting the motor further from the body. This is
because the load is further from the center of gravity and therefore creates a greater lever arm.
This puts more strain on the muscles and increases the risk of injury.
Answer 2
One control measure that could be implemented to reduce the amount of manual lifting
and the likelihood of injuries is to provide lifting equipment such as carts, dollies, and conveyor
belts. This would reduce the amount of lifting that employees would need to do, and would also
help to reduce the risk of injuries.
Advantages: Engineering controls can be very effective at reducing the amount of manual lifting
required in a job. They can be designed to fit the specific needs of the job and the workers.
Disadvantages: Engineering controls can be expensive to implement and may not be possible in
all cases. They also require buy-in from management in order to be effective.
Another control measure that could be implemented is to redesign the work station to
allow for easier and safer lifting of materials. This could involve adding shelves or racks at an
ergonomic height, installing conveyor belts, or adding ramps or other features to reduce the
amount of lifting that needs to be done.
Advantages: An ergonomic assessment program can identify jobs that are particularly hazardous
and make specific recommendations for how to improve them. This can be a cost-effective way
to reduce the risk of MSD injuries.
Disadvantages: Ergonomic assessment programs can be time-consuming and expensive, and they
may not be able to identify all hazardous jobs. They also require buy-in from management in
order to be effective.
Additionally, measures could be implemented is to provide employees with lifting aids
such as back supports, lift assist devices, or mechanical lifting devices. This would help to
reduce the amount of lifting that employees need to do, and would also help to reduce the risk of
injuries.
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Advantages: Engineering controls can be very effective at reducing the amount of manual lifting
required in a job. They can be designed to fit the specific needs of the job and the workers.
Disadvantages: Engineering controls can be expensive to implement and may not be possible in
all cases. They also require buy-in from management in order to be effective.
A fourth control measure that could be implemented is to create a lifting and handling
policy that outlines how materials should be lifted and moved. This policy could include
specifying the maximum weight that can be lifted, the number of people needed to lift heavy
items, and the use of lifting equipment.
Advantages: Work practice controls can be less expensive to implement than engineering
controls. They can also be designed to fit the specific needs of the job and the workers.
Disadvantages: Work practice controls may not be as effective as engineering controls in
reducing the amount of manual lifting required. They also require buy-in from management in
order to be effective.
The final hierarchy are measures that could be implemented is to provide employees with
training on proper lifting and handling techniques. This training could include information on
how to lift properly, how to use lifting equipment, and how to avoid injuries.
Advantages: Training can be a cost-effective way to reduce the risk of MSD injuries. It can also
be customized to the specific needs of the job and the workers.
Disadvantages: Training may not be as effective as engineering or work practice controls in
reducing the amount of manual lifting required. It also requires buy-in from management in
order to be effective.
Answer 3
There are a variety of strategies that can be used to identify potential sources of MSDs.
This includes things like visual inspection, review of injury and illness records, employee
surveys, workplace observations, physical demands analysis, and job task analysis. Visual
inspection.
One strategy that can be used to identify potential sources of MSDs is visual inspection.
This involves looking at the work environment and observing the work being done in order to
identify any potential hazards. This can be done by a safety professional, a manager, or even the
employees themselves. When doing a visual inspection, it is important to look for anything that
could potentially cause an MSD. This includes things like awkward postures, forceful exertions,
repetitive motions, and contact stress. It is also important to look at the workstation design, as
poor ergonomics can also lead to MSDs.
Review of Injury and Illness Records.
Another strategy that can be used to identify potential sources of MSDs is to review injury and
illness records. This can be done by looking at both the company's own records and public
records, such as Workers' Compensation claims. Looking at injury and illness records can give
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you a good idea of which types of MSDs are most common in the workplace. This can help to
identify any patterns, such as a high incidence of shoulder injuries in a particular department. It
can also help to identify any potential risk factors, such as working long hours or lifting heavy
objects.
Employee surveys.
This can be done either through paper surveys or through interviews. Surveying employees can
be a good way to get a snapshot of how widespread MSD symptoms are in the workplace. It can
also help to identify any potential risk factors, such as workstation design or work tasks that are
particularly stressful.
Workplace Observations.
This can be done either by a safety professional or by a manager. When observing the workplace,
it is important to look for anything that could potentially cause an MSD. This includes things like
awkward postures, forceful exertions, repetitive motions, and contact stress. It is also important
to look at the workstation design, as poor ergonomics can also lead to MSDs.
Physical Demands Analysis
This strategy involves looking at the physical demands of the job and comparing them to the
physical capabilities of the employees. This can help to identify any jobs that are particularly
physically demanding, such as jobs that require lifting heavy objects or jobs that involve a lot of
repetitive motions. It can also help to identify any potential risk factors, such as a lack of
ergonomic equipment.
Job Task Analysis.
Task analysis can be used to identify potential sources of [Link] involves looking at the
work tasks that are being done and assessing the risks associated with them. This can help to
identify any tasks that are particularly stressful or physically demanding. It can also help to
identify any potential risk factors, such as a lack of ergonomic equipment or a lack of break time.
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References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Musculoskeletal disorders.
[Link]
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2018). Ergonomics and musculoskeletal
disorders. [Link]
U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). Hierarchy of controls.
[Link]