ergonomics

  this assignment is to build off of the previous one. I will upload it. this is part to of the 3 part project. Unit VII Assignment Course Project Part 2: Determining Safety In Unit IV, you began a course project in which you reviewed the risks associated with your workstation of choice. During this unit, you will build upon that project to identify whether or not your workstation is ergonomically sound and to determine how the safety can be improved. Start by documenting your findings and comparing them to the tables found in the textbook. Make a determination as to whether your space is ergonomically safe. Look specifically at the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Next, make suggestions for how it can be improved. Finally, conduct research on ergonomics-related regulatory efforts and standards. Are there recommended safety standards or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendations? What are they? Also, explain if you feel the safety standards are enough to keep employees safe or if more needs to be done. (Hint: Make sure you read the Unit VII Lesson!) Your assignment should be a minimum of two pages in length. All sources must be cited and referenced according to APA standards. Information about accessing the grading rubric for this assignment is provided below. Ergonomics-Related Hazard Assessment Ergonomics-Related Hazard Assessment Ergonomics is the study of the workplaces and how these workplaces are affecting the efficiency, productivity and safety of the staff working in that environment. A number of hazards are present in the workplace for the workers in different works stations. However, health care workers are facing a number of ergonomic hazards which are affecting them physically. An ergonomic hazard is a factor that is harming the musculoskeletal system. The ergonomic themes include the repetitive movement, handling and uncomfortable height of the workstation along with the poor body positioning. According to Ndejjo et al., (2015), healthcare workers are working in the environment that is considered the most hazardous occupational settings. The health care workers are facing a number of different hazards and these are related to the work activities. The health care workers are defined as the people who are involved in the enhancement of the health through their actions. They are making the most important contributions in the functioning of the most of the health care systems. The workstation that I have assessed was the operation theatre of the health care setting. Ghosh, (2013) has explained that the health care workers are facing a range of hazards at the job. These include the needle stick injury, back issue, vertebral column disc displacement, musculoskeletal issues, and violence at the work place. Health care workers need the same protection as the mining or construction employees need. Therefore, the health care workers work in such an environment that is hazardous and needs protection from the certain environmental factors. Potential ergonomic risks and hazards: According to Christ, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has described some potential risks of hazards among the health care workers. These include the potential drug and chemical exposures, the gases exposures, weight (in the operating rooms), patient shifting and moving (body mechanics), need stick injuries, and laser hazards (2015). These potential risks are always with the healthcare workers in the operating rooms. Injuries caused by these hazards: These risk factors can cause a number of issues. These issues include the hepatitis “C” and hepatitis “B”, AIDS, respiratory issues, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, rotator cuff tears, and sprains and strains. According to Senthil et al., (2014), occupational related problems are the main concern in the health care settings among health care workers. These include the tuberculosis, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, occupational asthma, and contact dermatitis, finding an association between occupational hazards and disease prevalence (p. 74). Needle stick injury is the most common hazard that is causing the blood borne diseases (Hepatitis “C” and “B”) whereas, the second one in the operation theatres is the repetitive mal-positioning and body moment which are causing the back problems among the health care workers. Conclusion: The ergonomic health assessment is an assessment that is used to find the occupational health hazards. These include the assessment tools i.e. musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk factors. The health workers are facing the hazardous environment and they need full protection against these hazardous risks. Therefore, it is recommended that the interventions should be instituted to mitigate the hazards at the work station. References Christ, G. (2015, August 5). Ergonomics in Healthcare [Infographic]. Retrieved from http://www.ehstoday.com/osha/ergonomics-healthcare-infographic Ghosh, T. (2013). Occupational Health and Hazards among Health Care Workers. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 3(1), 1-4. doi:10.3126/ijosh.v3i1.9096 Ndejjo, R., Musinguzi, G., Yu, X., Buregyeya, E., Musoke, D., Wang, J., … Ssempebwa, J. (2015). Occupational Health Hazards among Healthcare Workers in Kampala, Uganda. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2015, 1-9. doi:10.1155/2015/913741 Senthil, A., Anandh, B., Jayachandran, P., Thangavel, G., Josephin, D., Yamini, R., & Kalpana, B. (2014). Perception and prevalence of work-related health hazards among health care workers in public health facilities in southern India. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 21(1), 74-81.