MANUAL HANDLING ANIMATION CASE STUDIES ON THE WEB:



MANUAL HANDLING ANIMATION CASE STUDIES ON THE WEB:

AN IRISH INNOVATION

Francis Power

Inspector (Projects Manager)

Health and Safety Authority

Ireland

Email: francis_power@hsa.ie

Key Words:

Animation, Risk Assessment, Manual Handling, Case Study

Abstract

The Health and Safety Authority (H.S.A.) is the national enforcement authority in Ireland for Occupational Health and Safety. It was observed that the H.S.A. website was receiving many hits with queries related to ergonomics and manual handling.

An online customer survey was completed to elicit feedback from our customers in terms of useful information they required on the subject of ergonomics and manual handling.

At the same time at workplace level; the H.S.A. was advocating employers to address this issue through risk assessment of systems of work and implementation of engineering and organisational controls. Traditionally in Ireland there has been an over reliance on the provision of training in correct manual handling as the only means of reducing the risk of back injury.

The results of the online customer survey demonstrated that there was a real need for case study information (40% of responses), with information on manual handling issues and possible solutions.

It was decided that the use of 3D animated pictograms to illustrate different workplace scenarios would be an effective way to convey understanding of how manual handling and ergonomic issues can be managed.

It was felt that such an approach would be useful in that it is accepted that learned behaviour is best achieved through use of visual aids in support with the written word.

The H.S.A. worked with a software company to develop this technology and through ongoing consultation and testing the case studies were finally approved and placed on the H.S.A. website supported with text versions. Since the introduction of the 3D animated case studies there has been a significant increase in the number of hits and increased interested in the development of a DVD with the case studies.

The case studies are accessible to a large audience on the Internet including employers, employees, safety representatives and health and safety professionals. They convey the need for preventive interventions in addressing manual handling issues in the workplace without reliance on the provision of Manual handling training. The plan is to develop sector specific case studies in 2008 for the Healthcare and Financial Services sector.

An online customer survey was completed to elicit feedback from our

Methodology:

The Health and Safety Authority (H.S.A.) advises employers that they need to address the issue of injuries due to manual handling by ensuring that they conduct a risk assessment of systems of work which involve significant manual handling and put appropriate engineering or organisational controls in place to avoid or reduce the risk of back injury. Traditionally in Ireland there has been an over reliance on the provision of training in correct manual handling as the only means of reducing the risk of back injury.

A guidance document was published in 2005 by the Health and Safety Authority titled “Management of Manual Handling in the Workplace” (H.S.A. 2005) which promoted the need for increased interventions at workplace level to avoid or reduce manual handling work practices through risk assessment and implementation of appropriate engineering or organisational controls. The guidance also underlined that there was strong evidence that interventions predominantly based on technique training had no impact on working practices or injury rates (Hignett 2003).

In an effort to simplify understanding of the Manual Handling Risk Assessment process, a project was initiated in early 2006 to develop online guidance on the internet on the subject of Manual Handling Risk Assessment.

This project had a number of stages, which included the following:

Stage 1: Identification of Customer Needs

In order to provide relevant and useful information for stakeholders it is often necessary to talk to your customer in order to establish the type of information that they need to address health and safety issues in the workplace. An online customer survey was designed and circulated to customers to the website of the Health and Safety Authority. Over a period of four weeks the survey aimed to elicit feedback on the type of information that stakeholders needed on the subject of Ergonomics and Manual Handing. Table 1 below illustrates the type of information that was included in the Survey:

Table 1

| |

|TOPICS |

| |

|Please select a topic from the list below which should feature most prominently on the Authority’s Ergonomics/Manual Handling |

|webpage |

| |

|Relevant Legislation |

|Manual Handling Risk Assessment |

|Introduction to Ergonomics |

|Training information |

|Manual Handling Management and Policy |

| |

| |

|METHODS OF COMMUNICATION |

|Please indicate which of the following you would find useful |

|Workplace Case Studies |

|Frequently Asked Questions |

|Pictorial Aids |

|Guidance documents to download |

Over 200 completed surveys were received and Figure 1 below summarise the key topics of interest based on analysis of the completed questionnaires.

Figure 1

[pic]

The need for case study information was identified as an area for further development (40% of responses); some suggestions included the use of video clips of issues/solutions information.

Based on the results of the survey it was decided that efforts should begin to investigate the feasibility of developing online video clips or animation.

Stage 2: Research on the availability of online video/animation technology

Investigations were completed over a short period through discussions with a number of organisations and it became clear very early on that it would be feasible to develop online video clips/animation to illustrate the manual handling risk assessment process.

Agreement was reached that a proposal should be put together to obtain funding to develop 3D animation Cases studies, which would illustrate in simple and effective terms the manual handling risk assessment process.

Stage 3 Development of a Proposal for funding

A proposal for funding was prepared which incorporated ideas on how this information could be used via the Internet and it also clearly stated that the stakeholders were demanding such information based on the results of the online Customer Survey. The proposal was submitted and funding was allocated to allow the project to be completed.

Stage 4: Tender Development and selection of supplier of service

The tender document emphasised the need for simple, effective and user-friendly 3D animation case studies. A number of organisations quoted for the project and after a tender review process a successful organisation was awarded the project.

Stage 5: Development of 3D Animation Case Studies

It was decided that the use of 3D animated pictograms to illustrate different workplace scenarios would be an effective way to convey understanding of how manual-handling issues can be managed. Agreement was reached on the structure of each template. The structure was made up of the following key parts:

- Short Description of a Manual Handling Task

- 3D animation of a work activity before any interventions were introduced

- Short description of the Manual Handling Risk Assessment Process

- Identification of problems with the current work activity

- 3D animation of the new system of work with the manual handling activity eliminated or reduced significantly

- Short description of the key requirements of the Manual Handling Regulation

A total of ten case studies were developed using the agreed structure, the case studies were based on evidence from previous inspection conducted at workplaces around Ireland. The sectors targeted in the case studies were primarily manufacturing and wholesale/retail.

Stage 6: Transfer of 3D Animation to the Website

After a period of consultation and review the final case studies were approved and a process was put in place to place the 3D animation case studies on the H.S.A. website in July 2007.

Results

The case studies went live in August 2007 and there has been a very positive reaction to the use of this technology and there has been widespread feedback on their usefulness.

Below in Figure 2 is a sequence of pictograms, which aim to illustrate the 3D animation case study process and which promote the philosophy of the risk assessment process and how it applies to manual handling. The objective of the project is to use this technology to convey the true meaning of manual handling risk assessment; which targets the need for implementation of engineering and organisational controls to avoid or reduce manual handling thus reducing the risk of injury.

Figure 2:Description: Handling of Meat Carcass

Existing System of Work

[pic]

Problems with existing system of work

New System of Work

[pic]

Conclusion:

The 3D animation project has been developed further in 2008 in that there are now plans in place to develop further sector specific case studies for the Health, Financial Services and Hotel Sector. A DVD has also been produced which can be used by organisations as a training and education tool for relevant staff. The case studies are accessible to a large audience on the Internet and they will also be useful in developing new sector specific guidance in the future. The use of pictures and animation has proven to be an effective way to deliver important information to a key audience.

References:

Health and Safety Authority, 2005 Management of Manual Handling in the Workplace, ISBN 1-84496-023-4

Hignett Sue. 2003 Intervention strategies to reduce musculoskeletal injuries associated with handling patients: A Systematic review. Occupational Environment Medicine

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