Risk Factors

Shipyard workers are exposed to a variety of ergonomics-related risk factors that may lead to the development of MSDs. These risk factors include:

• Force: The amount of physical effort required to perform a task (such as heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling) or to maintain control of the equipment or tools.
• Repetition: Performing the same motion or series of motions frequently for an extended period of time.
• Awkward and prolonged static body posture: Holding positions that place stress on the body (such as repeated or prolonged reaching above shoulder height, bending forward or to the side, twisting, kneeling, or squatting).
• Contact stress: Pressing the body or part of the body against hard or sharp edges.
• Vibration: Using vibrating tools (such as sanders, chippers, drills, grinders, or reciprocating saws) that can result in fatigue; pain; numbness; increased sensitivity to cold; decreased sensitivity to touch in fingers, hands, and arms; and possible damage to the joints of the skeletal system resulting from exposure to whole-body vibration.

Cold temperatures, when combined with the foregoing risk factors, may increase the risk of MSDs.

Whether certain work activities put an employee at risk of injury depends on the duration, frequency, and intensity of the employee's exposure to the risk factors in the activity. Many activities in a shipyard, such as the activities listed below, involve a combination of ergonomics-related risk factors.

• Grinding welds in a small compartment can require a combination of vibration, force, and awkward postures.
• Pulling cable through an overhead channel can involve awkward postures and repetition.
• Using a needle gun outdoors can involve awkward postures and vibration in a cold environment.

The presence of risk factors on a job does not necessarily mean that the employees will develop MSDs, but the combination of risk factors on a job can result in a greater likelihood of injury.

To learn more about Ergonomics visit our Shipyard Ergonomics Online Training web page.