# Presentation: 560134

## OSHA/AIRLINES INDUSTRY Ergonomic Alliance

- National Safety Congress
- Session #34
- September 13, 2004 New Orleans, LA
- 1:30 - 3:00

## Slide 2

## Presenters

- Ray McCleary
- 		US Airways
- Cheryl Beasley
- 		Air Tran Airways
- Linda Christopherson
- 		America West

- Lee Anne Jillings
- 		OSHA
- Penny Prince
- 		American Airlines

## The History of Ergonomics In Aviation

**Notes:**
Ever since man first mastered the science of heavier than air flight, it has become apparent that being able to travel with unheard of speed in a manner had been previously reserved for birds of the feather, just wasn’t good enough unless you could bring all of your “stuff” along with you. The more the better, too. You never know what you are going to need whenever you land at wherever you are going. 
If you listen closely, you can almost hear Wilbur calling out to his brother in this historic moment... “Orville! You forgot your carry on!!!”

## Baggage Handling Process 50 years ago

**Notes:**
The advent of passenger airlines in the late 40’s brought new challenges in not only in how to meet the increasing demands of a people who wanted to be somewhere else in a hurry, but how to get their luggage and their belongings there with them.
Airlines looked to the other most commonly used forms of transportation, railroads and ocean liners, for techniques in baggage and cargo handling.

## Baggage Handling Process50 years ago

- Carts and tugs
- Beltloaders
- Conveyor Systems

**Notes:**
Basic material handling techniques were utilized to assist employees in transferring baggage, including various carts and powered tow vehicles.
There were belt loaders to carry the bags into the aircraft cargo bins. 
Later, elaborate systems of conveyors were installed to sort, separate and  carry them even further.

## Baggage Handling ProcessToday

**Notes:**
Fast forward to today. Air travel is common place and each year passenger traffic records are broken. What was once considered a luxury  for an elite few is now the most popular and available form of long distance travel. Aircraft designs incorporate the latest technology in aerodynamics, engineering and performance, and baggage handling processes now involve...

## Baggage Handling ProcessToday

- Carts and tugs
- Beltloaders
- Conveyor systems

**Notes:**
Carts and Tugs, beltloaders and various conveyor systems ....virtually the same as were used 60 years ago! While automation and ergonomics infiltrated every other industry, developments in airline baggage handling stagnated. 

## Human Transfer points

- From Ticket counter to conveyor
- From Conveyor to Bag cart
- From cart to Beltloader
- From beltloader to aircraft bin
- And reverse (Exception- ticket counter)

**Notes:**
- Airline employees must lift and twist when transferring baggage from the ticket counter bag well to the conveyor behind them.
- other employees must lift the bags off on the conveyor and stack them on carts for transport to the aircraft
- still other employees are required to manually unload baggage piece by piece from the carts and place them on mobilized conveyors called beltloaders.
- And arguably the most ergonomically unsound lifting occurs with employees on their knees in the cramped confines of an aircraft cargo bin
All of this occurs, only to have the process reversed by other employees once the aircraft arrives at its final destination.

## BLS 2002 Injury Rates per 100 full time employees, by Industry

**BLS 2002 Injury Rates per 100 full time employees, by Industry**

**Notes:**
This has lead to airline baggage handlers and airlines having the highest total recordable injury rate of all other industries every year according to BSL statistics! Each year you can look at the National Safety Council’s INJURY FACTS publication and see a chart similar to the one here, where industries are broken down by Standard industrial classification. With an injury rate exceeding 12 injuries per 100 employees in 2002, working at an airline is mire hazardous than Basic steel production, Lumberjacking, Heavy Construction, and more than double the average of all industries in the private sector combined! This problem is not limited to airlines employees – any employees that work in the travel industry such as bell hops; TSA agents; courtesy bus drivers; rental car, cruise line, train, and bus employees, 
This, in a industry that has proven to be without a doubt the safest mode of transportation ever. (With the possible exception of elevators and escalators)

## Historical Perspective

- Flight Safety is every airline’s highest priority
- Ground Employee Safety not as recognized
- FAA compliance
- Role of OSHA

**Notes:**
Some of the reasoning that may have allowed this to happen is that Safety is the highest priority of every airline...If we don’t get that right, nothing else that we do matters. The problem has been that “Safety “ at an airline has been interpreted as something different than at any other industry. If an airline’s safety record is in question it is typically passenger safety and safety of flight that is referenced. If a typical factory’s safety record is presented, it is employee injury rates that are referred to.
Over the years, and across all airlines, the employee ground safety programs have taken a back seat to the high profile flight and passenger safety issues that are inherent with airline operations.
Also, Airlines live and die by FAA compliance for safety, however FAA regulations do little to address employee safety and health issues.
Jurisdictional disputes and false perceptions that once existed over weather OSHA or FAA regulations apply to airlines did little to advance the cause of employee injury prevention through ergonomic methods.

Which brings us to where we are today......

## OSHA/Airline Industry Alliance

- Aviation Ergonomics - Present
- Cheryl Beasley
- AirTran Airways

## Today’s Challenges

- 9/11
- TSA
- Low Cost Carriers
- Aging Work Force
- Luggage Manufacturers

## Impact on Airlines

- Bankruptcy
- Injury Increases

## Possible Solutions

- Alliance

## OSHA/Airline Industry Alliance

- OSHA’s Perspective
- Lee Anne Jillings
- OSHA

## OSHA’s Mission

**Assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions.**

*People at Work*

## The Alliance Program

- Open to all groups
- National, Regional, Area Office State Plan States Alliances
**Benefits of Participating**
- Build a cooperative and trusting relationship  with OSHA
- Network with other organizations committed to workplace safety and health
- Leverage resources to maximize worker  protection
- Gain recognition as proactive leaders in safety and health.

## Alliance Program Goals

- OSHA and the participating organizations must define, implement, and meet a set of short- and long-term goals that fall into three categories:
- Training and education
- Outreach and communication
- Promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health

## Who’s Entering Alliances?

| General Industry
Industrial Truck Association
Society of the Plastics Industry
American Apparel and Footwear Association
American Foundry Society
Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair
National Wooden Pallet & Container Association
Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association
Graphic Arts Coalition | Construction
Construction Management Association of America
National Association of Home Builders
Construction Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers
National Electrical Contractors Association
Sealant Waterproofing Restoration Institute
Washington Group Int’l | Professional Societies
Association of Occupational Health Professionals
Board of Certified Safety Professionals
National Hearing Conservation Association
Society for Chemical Hazard Communication
American Industrial Hygienists Association
American Society of Safety Engineers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maritime
Shipbuilders Council of America
US Coast Guard Marine Safety Office
American Shipbuilding Association
National Shipbuilding Research Program
 | Academia
Ctr. For Business and Public Policy, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine | Government  Agencies
US EPA (The Reactives Alliance)
NIOSH (The Roadway Work Zone Safety & Health Coalition; National Wooden Pallet & Container Association)
Internal Revenue Service
State Consultation Projects |
| Faith-based and Community Organizations
Community Action for Social Affairs
NY State Alliance Boys and Girls Clubs
Center for Job Readiness | Labor Unions
The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition (International Union of Operating Engineers, Laborers’ International Union of North America)
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers | And many others...
National Federation of Independent Business
IWLA, the Association for Logistics Outsourcing
Airline Alliance |

## Airlines Alliance Major Milestones

- November 12, 2002 - Alliance Signed
- December 18, 2002 - Kick-off Meeting
- June 4, 2003 - VPP Presentation
- September 10, 2003 - NSC Presentation
- October 2003 - Group Performance Appraisal
- March 23, 2004 - Implementation Team Meeting
- April 21, 2004 - Alliance Renewal Signed
- July 29, 2004 - Implementation Team Meeting
- September 14, 2004 - NSC Presentation

## Goals of the Alliance Renewal

- Continue the development of an industry training manual
- Develop an industry Awareness/Education Program for passengers
- Define the process for interested parties to participate with and obtain information about the Alliance
- Periodically review and update OSHA’s Baggage Handling eTool and the Airline Industry Safety & Health Topics page
- Address ergonomic issues related to airport design
- Educate interested parties on and solicit ideas for addressing ergonomic issues associated with handling  checked baggage

## Airlines Alliance Ongoing Vision

- Reaffirm membership
- Communicate with and educate interested parties
- Continually re-evaluate and prioritize
- Identify additional safety and health issues to address in the airlines industry
- Expand awareness of the Alliance world-wide
- Continuous improvement

## Looking Ahead:  The Future of the Alliance Program

- _The Alliance Program Continues to Grow_
- Building positive relationships among industry, OSHA and government agencies
- Developing, facilitating and expanding distribution of compliance assistance resources
- Increasing exposure, communication and outreach through print and electronic media; speeches and presentations

## OSHA/Airline Industry Alliance

- Baggage Handling Training Manual
- eTool
- Penny Prince
- American Airlines

## Baggage Handling Training

- Injury Prevention
- Contributing Risk Factors for MSDs
- Safe Work Practices
- Principles of Body Mechanics
- Stretches and Exercise
- The Baggage Handling Process
- Proper Body Mechanics (task specific)
- Personal Interventions
- Use of Equipment

## Functions to Be Analyzed

- Planeside Loading and Unloading (2003)
- Ticket Counter (2004)
- Baggage Make-Up / T-point (...2005)
- Other Areas to be Addressed
- Skycap
- Gate Check-In
- Baggage Claim
- Aircraft Cargo Compartments

## Ticket Counter Section

- Inputting Information into the Computer
- Using the Keyboard, Using the Mouse, Viewing the Monitor, Using the Phone
- Passenger Interaction
- Reaching over the Counter, Tagging the Bag, Standing, Sitting
- Baggage Handling
- Handling bags, Clearing Jams, Feeder Belt Controls, Foot Pedal Controls

## Using the Phone

- Hazard
- Awkward Posture
- Fatigue
- Solution
- Do not cradle phone
- Stretches for shoulder, neck, back
- Use phone cradle,    if available

## Tagging the Bag

- Hazard
- Bending
- Reaching
- Solution
- Tag bags on scale
- Get as close to bag as possible
- Advance bag closer on belt, if available

## Baggage Handling

- Hazard
- Lifting
- Pushing & Pulling
- Solution
- Use proper body mechanics & stretches
- Ask for assistance
- Use automated bag belts, if available

## Benefits of BHT Manual

- Cost effective and consistent training materials
- Most applicable to essential job functions
- Addresses the job tasks that tend to have highest incidence of injuries
- Most usable format for each airline
- Consistent language

## eTool Overview

- Terminology specific to Airline Industry
- Format follows the process flow of airport
- Ticket Counter
- Make-Up Room
- Ramp Area
- Hazards are listed by level of automation and type of equipment utilized
- Solutions are listed according to feasibility of implementation

## eTool Status

- Ramp Section published in July 2003
- Ticket Counter and Make-Up Room Sections published in September 2003
- E-Tool annually reviewed and updated per OSHA process / Alliance objective

## Benefits of eTool

- Sharing of ergonomics best practices among airlines
- Better understanding of different processes within each company
- Better understanding of OSHA’s approach
- Documented solutions to support and validate projects within each company

## OSHA/Airline Industry Alliance

- Airline Approach – 2004 Initiatives
- Linda Christopherson
- America West Airlines

## Airline Approach

- Improve National Dialogue with airport facilities and other travel providers regarding leased work environments
- Improve traveling public’s understanding of the travel industry employees challenges to remain injury free
- Expand Awareness of the Alliance in the worldwide community

## National Dialogue Improving Awareness

- The Problem: Airports and  the installed equipment pose ergonomic hazards
- Height of conveyor belts – too hi or too low
- Ticker counters
- Baggage make-up room
- Height of bag wells at ticket counters
- Ticket counters – non-adjustable work surface  for differing heights of employees
- Shared potential for multi-employer compliance activities (i.e. Controlling/Exposed Employers)

## Ticket Counter/Lobby Area

- TSA Bomb Screening

- TSA ‘8 foot rule’ means excessive bags in one well, excessive agent handling

## Ticket Counter/Lobby Area

## Bagrooms

- Carousel too low

- Improved bollard placement and height

## National Dialogue Improving Awareness

- Airport Authorities often control every aspect of facility design and changes, driven by current security issues.
- electrical outlet configuration/repairs
- availability of GFCI protection
-  may require the Authority’s specifically identified electrical contractor or their internal electrician.
- Older airport’s conveyor systems do not accommodate easy access, lockout tagout etc.
*Sometimes there is considerable red tape  to  muddle through in  order to resolve.*

## National Dialogue Improving Awareness

***The Solution:***   Engage the Airport Executives in the understanding of design issues and the role they play for safety
- Promote increased consideration of ergonomic issues related to the airport environments in which aviation employees work.
- Offered a presentation to the “American Association of Airport Executives”  (AAAE) annual convention.
- Information well received.  Has created opportunity for further dialogue at their Washington DC headquarters.

## Airport Facility and Outreach

-  Airport Authorities – AAAE talk
-  _Internal:_ communication interface
-   A**irline’s P&F and S&H staff**
-  _External_: Airport Authority-Airline P&F-Regulators
- Improve design of the leased airport work  environments to facilitate reducing user injuries
- THE REAL WORLD – construction costs, back and shoulder injuries, potential for “multi-employer” regulatory activity

## Passenger Awareness

**Two smaller-lighter bags, better than one heavy bag**

**2**

**HVY**

**L**
**F**
**T**

## Passenger Awareness

**The back injury you prevent may be yours!**
**Think:**
-  _Your_ back
-  Taxi/shuttle drivers
-  Skycaps
-  Bell hops
-  Airline ticket
-    counter/ramp employees

## Outreach

- HSE Partnership
- British Luggage and Leathergoods Association - Tips for Travelers
- http://www.blla.org.uk/Copy.asp?id=28

## Where do we go from here....

-  “Travel Ribbon” starts at HOME and

- And ends at HOME