NIOSH Recommendations for the E-MAT Approach to Musculoskeletal Problems in Heal
March 1, 1998 2 minutes read
NIOSH Recommendations for the E-MAT Approach to Musculoskeletal Problems in Health Care Settings1
• The employee health service should develop a means of tracking and evaluating rates of musculoskeletal disorders by department and job category and determine costs associated with those cases.
• Initiate employee-based intervention programs by establishing employee-management advisory teams (E-MATs) for ergonomics with the intent of changing the work culture and emphasizing the workers’ role in problem-solving.
• Establish teams of at least four people within each distinct work group, including equal representation of employees and management.
• Allocate adequate time for meeting and training.
• Give teams responsibility for evaluating potential interventions, including potential costs.
• All safety and health issues raised by a majority of the team must be acted upon by the supervisor.
• Establish a means to follow up and evaluate any interventions.
• Proposed E-MAT activities include:
identifying needs and arranging ergono mics training for the team;
assessing co-workers’ knowledge of and interest in ergonomics (for example, risk factor identification, awareness of the need to report injuries, and potential solutions);
investigating potential interventions such as lifting devices or changes in work practices and proposing appropriate interventions to co-workers and management;
participating in co-workers’ training and education regarding interventions;
monitoring device implementation and work practice changes, as well as reporting, follow-up, and evaluation.
• A multidisciplinary team of employee health and safety professionals, case managers, human resources personnel, and risk managers should collaborate with E-MATs regarding all policy and procedure changes or developments relating to musculoskeletal disorders among workers.
• Hospital administrators, engineers, and architects should incorporate input of the ergonomics E-MATs into long-range renovation and architectural plans to help avoid inherent design problems that contribute to injury and illness.
Reference
1. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Report 95-0403-2627. Washington, DC: NIOSH; 1997.
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