Job-related musculoskeletal disorders are a widespread, persistent problem that sooner or later is likely to be addressed by a standard. Our series concludes next month with Steps 5 and 6. You must also analyze any other job in your workplace that presents similar hazards. Conduct a job hazard analysis using input from employees in problem jobs, and employees who perform the same physical work activities, but in another job. Ask these employees if they are experiencing signs and symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Signs can include swelling, loss of grip strength, and decreased range of motion.
Symptoms can include pain, tingling, and aching. Ask the employees if they have difficulty performing the physical work of their job, and if so, which specific work activities they associate with the problem. Evaluate these job factors to decide which ones are reasonably likely to be causing or contributing to the problem. If the cause is obvious, you can move directly toward controlling the problem without conducting all the steps of job hazard analysis. Once you've nailed down the cause of the ergonomics problem, you must come up with feasible control measures.