Ergonomics is essential in maintaining the health and safety of waste industry workers. Investing in ergonomic solutions not only benefits individual workers, but also strengthens the waste management industry by fostering sustainability, efficiency, and worker satisfaction.
By David Miller
Waste industry workers contend with a long list of physical and environmental challenges. It is no mystery why finding and retaining good workers is a challenge. While you cannot eliminate all the danger, hard work, and unpleasantness from a waste management work environment, very often workers will endure the negatives when they feel they are doing important work and that they are appreciated.
There is no better way to tell your team 鈥測ou are valued鈥� than to invest in their comfort and safety. Ergonomics鈥攖he science of designing work environments to fit the capabilities and limitations of workers鈥攃an significantly enhance the health, safety, and overall well-being of waste industry workers. By implementing ergonomic principles, employers can reduce workplace injuries, improve productivity, and ensure a sustainable workforce.
Understanding Ergonomics in the Waste Industry
Ergonomics focuses on optimizing the interaction between workers and their environment. In the waste management sector, workers handle heavy loads, operate machinery, and perform repetitive tasks that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), fatigue, and other health concerns. Common ergonomic risk factors include:
鈥� Lifting and Carrying: Waste collectors frequently lift heavy bags, bins, and containers. Improper lifting techniques or excessive weight can result in back injuries and muscle strain.
鈥� Repetitive Movements: Sorting and handling recyclable materials require repetitive motions that can cause joint pain, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
鈥� Prolonged Standing or Walking: Workers spend long hours on their feet, increasing the risk of fatigue and lower limb disorders
鈥� Poor Equipment Design: Inefficiently designed vehicles, tools, and machinery can lead to awkward postures and unnecessary strain on workers.
Finding ways to enhance ergonomics should always be top-of-mind when facilities or equipment purchases are planned, but even smaller decisions such as what kind of PPE to use can make a difference.
Ergonomic Considerations when Purchasing PPE
The things we make our workers wear for their safety will be more accepted and appreciated when PPE is well-designed and comfortable. If your sole consideration is compliance, you might be tempted to seek out the least expensive PPE. This would be a mistake that will wind up costing you more money in the long run.
Low-cost, low-quality PPE will cost you more in the long run because it will be less likely to prevent injuries due to defects in design or the reluctance by your team to wear something that is less comfortable than a higher quality item would be. Additionally, you can factor in higher turnover and lower morale when your team notices the shortcuts taken to save money at the expense of their safety and comfort.
Following are a few examples of how small refinements in your choice of PPE affects the comfort of your hard-working team.
Hi-Vis Apparel
Many waste industry workers are required to wear ANSI Type R, Class 2 or Class 3 outerwear that feature bands of reflective striping. If you are in an active role using your full range of motion, how annoying would it be to have your movements restricted by the sewn-on reflective striping that does not stretch with the rest of your shirt? Every time you bend or twist, there is that unyielding stripe bumping up against your collarbone and restricting your movement. By the end of a long day, those bonus irritations add to your fatigue. Wouldn鈥檛 it be heaven if your company would spend a little extra to get heat-fused segmented striping that gives with the rest of your shirt or jacket?
Gloves
Hand injuries are a common problem in the waste industry and choosing a glove that features the appropriate level of cut, puncture, and abrasion protection is essential. However, fit and dexterity must be considered as well. An ill-fitting glove鈥攏o matter how well it may protect from mechanical risks鈥攎akes a taxing job that much more exhausting (see Considerations when Designing Tasks and Processes for Gloved Users sidebar).
In a paper published by the University of Waterloo CRE-MSD entitled Glove Selection to Minimize Effort and MSD Risk, their research focused on the loss of grip strength that occurs when wearing gloves, requiring more effort to get the same result. If the glove is roomy in the fingers, the situation is exacerbated. The paper finds that the optimal glove for a given situation not only meets protection requirements, but also fits well and features the thinnest and most flexible construction.1
Do Not Forget Women
What is ergonomic for a typical male physique is not necessarily going to work for women, and ordering smaller sizes of the same style PPE does not necessarily solve the problem. Even female feet are anatomically different from men鈥檚 feet, so work boots for women ought to be approached accordingly. Fortunately, manufacturers of PPE are becoming more enlightened about the realities of today鈥檚 workforce and responding with increasing choices for the women on your team.
These are just a few of the things you might consider when outfitting your team. A little bit of thoughtful consideration and a willingness to spend an appropriate amount for comfort and safety will pay dividends in reduced injuries and lower churn. Your safety supplier can be quite helpful if you let them know what your priorities are when it comes to PPE.
Investing in Ergonomic Solutions
Ergonomics is essential in maintaining the health and safety of waste industry workers. By implementing ergonomic principles鈥攕uch as improving equipment design, refining workflows, and thoughtful PPE choices鈥攐rganizations can reduce injuries, enhance productivity, and promote overall well-being. Investing in ergonomic solutions not only benefits individual workers, but also strengthens the waste management industry by fostering sustainability, efficiency, and worker satisfaction. | WA
David Miller is the Waste Industry Manager for HUB Industrial Supply. He is a Certified Safety Professional and works with managers to effectively implement and manage PPE and MRO programs in the waste industry. He may be reached at [email protected]. HUB Industrial Supply is an Applied MSSSM company.
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