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| A note from Bridger Coal |
Background
Musculoskeletal injuries have long been identified as a significant and costly problem for the mining industry. Research has shown that establishment of a process to identify ergonomic risk factors, implement solutions to reduce injury, and determine the effectiveness of these solutions is the best way to reduce injury and illness and their related costs, as well as to improve work performance and quality. The ergonomics literature contains numerous reports of ergonomic programs that successfully reduced work-related injury and illness. However, the documented evidence for dynamic work environments such as mining, construction, and agriculture describes only time-limited or quick-fix actions. Time-limited actions address a specific problem at a certain time and often remain an isolated event with time-limited results. In addition, few scientific evaluations of ergonomics programs and/or processes have been developed. Although guidelines regarding basic process elements exist, no scientific study that documents specific tasks and resources necessary for implementation has been conducted.
Processes will be implemented at two sites, the Badger Mining Co. and Vulcan Materials. Badger has provided training to all its employees at its two mines in Wisconsin, completed a baseline assessment of risk factor exposures, and is in the process of integrating ergonomics with its behavior-based safety system. For the Badger process, a risk factor checklist was written for the baseline assessment, observer training was developed to improve the capabilities of the observers to reduce exposures, and an observation form was created for observers to document their observations and solutions. Vulcan Materials is in the planning stage of how best to integrate ergonomics into its safety program.
In addition to working with Badger and Vulcan, partnerships will be formed with trade associations to promote the application of ergonomics to their memberships. The partnerships will provide a mechanism to reach more companies than what NIOSH researchers alone could do. To date, one partnership has been established with the Industrial Minerals Association–North America. Other partnerships will be initiated in 2006 with the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association and the National Mining Association. To develop a process metric, a focus group composed of professional ergonomists will be asked to develop a rating scheme that will be used to rate the ergonomics processes of participating companies and identify a list of tasks relevant to process implementation. The rating scheme and task list will then be used by companies with histories of having implemented successful ergonomics processes. The information gained from these companies will be validated through external evaluations.
Potential Outcome
The primary benefits of this work will be to gain a better understanding of the specific activities that contribute significantly to the development of effective processes and provide evidence to the mining industry that well-developed ergonomics processes are proactive mechanisms that greatly reduce risks for musculoskeletal disorders. Specifically, as more mining companies implement processes, risks for musculoskeletal disorders will be reduced by 2010, and improvements in health and safety for the worker and workplace will be put into place. Knowledge gained will be disseminated to the mining industry through trade association partnerships, industry-oriented publications, professional research journals, NIOSH publications, industry briefings, workshops, and conferences.