Personal Protective Equipment
One of the most controversial questions in preventing WMSDs is whether the use of personal equipment worn or used by the employee are effective.
Whether braces, wrist splints, back belts, and similar devices can be regarded as offering personal protection against ergonomic hazards remains open to debate.
Although these devices may, in some situations, reduce the duration, frequency, or intensity of exposure, evidence of their effectiveness in injury reduction is inconclusive. In some instances they may decrease one exposure but increase another because the worker has to "fight" the device to perform his or her work. An example is the use of wrist splints while engaged in work that requires wrist bending.
Research has shown that back belts are not effective in preventing back injuries. Open the link below to see a list of reasons.
- There is little scientific evidence to support their effectiveness in preventing back injuries.
- Wearing a back belt can give employees a false sense of security, leading them to take risks or engage in unsafe lifting practices that can actually increase the risk of injury.
- Back belts do not address the underlying causes of back injuries, such as poor lifting technique, lack of physical fitness, or repetitive strain.
- Back belts can be uncomfortable to wear and can restrict movement, which can reduce an employee's ability to perform their job safely and efficiently.
- Wearing a back belt for extended periods of time can lead to other health problems such as skin irritation, breathing difficulties, and abdominal muscle weakness.
- Back belts can be difficult to fit properly, and an improper fit can actually increase the risk of injury.
Less controversial types of ergonomic PPE are vibration attenuation gloves and knee pads for carpet layers. But even here, there can be concerns. For example, do the design and fit of the gloves make it harder to grip tools?
Interim Measures
Interim measures are nothing more than temporary applications of engineering and/or management controls until more permanent solutions can be applied. For instance, if a computer monitor is too low, placing a phone book under the monitor might be an effective temporary solution. Having two people lift heavy objects until a pneumatic lift can be purchased is another example of a temporary fix to the problem.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-7. Which of the ergonomic control strategies is considered temporary?
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