Cycle of managing safety cost-effectively
As musculo-skeletal disorders are a major source of absence from work, they are a mjor expense to employers like you. The InterFace programme can provide you with early stage warnings of possible work-related musculo-skeletal disorders so you can arrange early corrective actions before they become costly.
|
Through 'leading' indicators, these tools enable you to dwell on task activities or or your work environments which pose greatest hazards to your people at work. Where there are needs for alternative priorities for action and attention, they direct attention of line managers to where they can make the most impact. At the monitoring stage of safety management, InterFace tools for behavioural awareness and observation provides tools for monitoring and feedback designed to pinpoint early signals of discomfort so that corrective action can be taken in good time. |
 |
Culture' changes
Inevitably use of the InterFace toolset makes for cultural change. Instead of managers going off for days to expensive hotels, it enables them to have conversations about task activities that threaten injuries and property, on the shopfloor or on site, face-to-face and ear-to-ear, with teamleaders and operatives. A simple but very powerful shift in real relationships that communicates unambiguously what actually matters to leaders in a business.
Legal compliance
Since the statistical analysis of data gathered with InterFace can indicate levels of probability, the data can be processed to quantify levels of risk of musculo-skeletal disorders addressed. Allowing for standard errors of measurement, this supports legal compliance in relation to the regulations referred to below.
| Regulations | Areas of risk of musculo-skeletal disorders |
|---|---|
| Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, as amended 2004 | Manual handling of loads including both objects and people. |
| Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) 1992, as amended 2002 | Using computers and other forms of display screen equipment such as microscopes and monitors |
| Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 | Assembling machine parts, equipment and other gadgets |
| Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 | Driving vehicles including trucks, cars, fork-lift trucks, cranes and other site vehicles. |
Cuomponents of InterFace
- Questionnaire, with rating scales, to gather self-report data from individual employees about experiences of symptoms of discomfort and pain in the upper limbs, neck, shoulders and upper, middle and lower spine;
- Observer Rating Forms, with rating scales, which employees use for brief periods to gather objective data on hazards of musculo-skeletal disorder, namely maladaptive posture, use of force and avoidable repetitive movements.
- Statistical analysis program to analyse the data from self-reports and peer observers;
- Narrative and graphical feedback to individual employees
- Riask Analytsis report to the employer on individuals and on groups.
Evaluation is provided on individual employees in relation to tasks, furniture, equipment, handtools, lighting and other aspects of the ambient work environment. In addition, feedback is given to management on patterns of hazards associated with work tasks, equipment, furniture, handtools and employee behaviour, with guidance on neceesary corrective actions before serious harm occurs.