NIOSH Urges Ergonomics Controls for Employees of Water Heater Manufacturer

A water heater manufacturer should implement engineering and administrative controls to limit employees’ risk of musculoskeletal disorders, according to a health hazard evaluation (HHE) report by NIOSH. Agency staffers who visited the facility at the request of employer and union representatives observed workers repetitively reaching above shoulder height, bending at the waist, and working in awkward postures while assembling tanks for gas water heaters. The employer should “design tasks, workstations, and tools and other equipment to match the physiological, anatomical, and psychological characteristics and capabilities” of workers, the report states (PDF).

The report’s recommendations include engineering and administrative controls intended to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. First, the heights of workstations and stacked materials may be adjusted so that employees have less need to reach or bend. Employees who routinely stand as part of their job should receive anti-fatigue mats, and worn-out mats should be replaced. The employer can also rotate employees working in jobs that require frequent hand and finger motions to tasks that use different muscles and tendons, as well as provide frequent breaks for these workers.

NIOSH further suggests that the employer seek workers’ feedback on workplace safety and health issues and use this input to guide improvements. Additional agency recommendations concern other safety issues, such as replacement of steel-toed boots and protection from noise, infrared radiation, and trip hazards.

A PDF of the report may be downloaded from NIOSH’s HHE report library.