Safety and Health Management Systems Approach to Workplace Ergonomics Paper Example

Exercise 1: Relating Countermeasure Strategies

Accidents do occur on a day to day basis at the workplace. Some of these accidents may result from the carelessness of the employee or the company failing to maintain a hazard-free workplace. Either way, energy damage countermeasure strategies were set up by an individual named Haddon. Example of workplaces where these accidents are prone is a workplace with a pressurized hydraulic reservoir. In any of the hydraulic related employment, every single other organization working here should be very much imparted about the hydraulic work and the risks involved in such an environment. Haddon countermeasures relate to such a situation since one can prevent the initial buildup of energy. Also, one could reduce the potential energy. When one fits a hose and forgets to remove the pressure source, hydraulic energy could be released violently. According to Haddon, preventing energy release, reducing the rate of energy release are countermeasures that would lessen this (Leclercq, Morel, & Chauvin, 2018). Hydraulic system should have procedures for load locking and de-energizing. Energy source should also be separated from a host and should be able to be absorbed. Measures of detection and processes to rectify the damage should be put up. Positive separation strategy to be pursued before the beginning of any pressure has driven work according to Positive Isolation Procedure encased in Annexure.

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Exercise 2: Utilizing the Safety and Health Management Systems Approach to Workplace Ergonomics

In an analysis of the situation, one could blame both parties, but the blame lies mostly on the trailer driver. First and foremost, when one agrees to work for transport services as a truck driver, several risks come with the profession. Such risks include things like disorders of the musculoskeletal that arise from repetitively installing tarps and removing them. Other risks include trips, falls and slips when tying tarps or around vehicles. In this case, ben was a truck driver, so the above was expected. The second reason why I blame Ben is that the company has provided a procedure for handling the load and on how to install the tarps (Reiman & Putkonen, 2012). We see that Ben is supposed to use straps when securing the amount after which he is to cover the load when with tarps. Every truck driver should undergo training to do the above safely. In my opinion, he did not follow the safe tarping methods, or he did not have enough preparation thus utilized inappropriate and perilous strategies to take care of business (Yazdani et al., 2015). The company provided tarp kits, racks, rubber straps, and rolling tarps to lessen the probability of injury to the driver or damage of the load. Also, the weights were confined to more secure sizes to prevent injuries. Covering of the weights with plastic keeps pulling powers inside fair points of confinement.

Nonetheless, the use of plastic increases the chances of slip. The company countered this by use of tarps that were secured using bungee cords. It is true that some awkward bending can be caused by tying the tarps which could injure the one handling them. The safest way to do this is by pulling the tarps towards the handler, in this case, a driver with hands below the shoulder and pulling them fast. From the above, one can confidently conclude by saying that the company did not want failure and the injury of the driver is nothing but his cause. Also, all truck drivers should be well familiarized on legitimate on tarping systems.

References

Leclercq, S., Morel, G., & Chauvin, C. (2018). Process versus personal accidents within socio-technical systems: Loss of control of process versus own energy?. Safety Science, 102, 60-67

Reiman, A., & Putkonen, A. (2012). Ergonomics development needs in truck body design-from video analyses to solution proposals. International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 1(1), 58-73

Yazdani, A., Neumann, W. P., Imbeau, D., Bigelow, P., Pagell, M., Theberge, N., ... & Wells, R. (2015). How compatible are participatory ergonomics programs with occupational health and safety management systems?. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 111-12