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HEALTH & SAFETY AVOID MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES (MSIS) COMMENT
BREWING UP A BATCH OF BEER IS NO SMALL FEAT. FROM SELECTING THE HOPS TO PERFECTING THE BLEND OF MALTS, the neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, legs, and back. Repetitive motions are also a common cause of MSIs in brewery workers, such as packing bottles or cans, palletizing cases, and moving kegs.
Brewery workers are also at risk of MSIs because they often lift, push, or pull heavy items, such as grain bags, spent grains, hoses, kegs, and cases of product.
MSIs can cause pain, discomfort, and long-term health problems — and can even force workers to leave the industry they love.
In British Columbia, MSIs account for approximately 30 per cent of all WorkSafeBC claims and about 20 per cent of all claim costs.
Employers can prevent MSI injuries by assessing risks, with the involvement of workers, and implementing controls to reduce or eliminate these risks.
HEAVY LIFTING: HANDLING KEGS SAFELY
ALEXANDRA SKINNER FROM WORKSAFEBC.
MSIs are injuries or disorders of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, blood vessels, or related soft tissue. This includes sprains, strains, and infammation that may be caused or aggravated by work.
Awkward work postures, such as bending down to lift kegs, reaching overhead to stack boxes, or twisting while handling items, can result in sprains and strains in
A common risk for injuries in breweries is keg handling, which accounts for most of the overexertion hazards in breweries. Employers can reduce the risk of injury by implementing various measures, including:
Providing mechanical aids for lifting heavy items, such as a keg lifter.
Automated keg flling processes that reduce the need to light heavy kegs.
Managing stock levels and design or modify storage areas to avoid lifting, lowering, or carrying heavy items.
Organizing storage areas by weight to minimize lifting, and store heavier items between knee and chest levels to minimize awkward postures when lifting.
Data has shown that investing in mechanical devices saves in the long term by reducing injuries. If mechanical aids are not available, employers should develop safe work practices that call for heavy items to be rolled, pushed, pulled, or slid to reduce physical demands.
Safe lifting techniques also mitigate the risk of injuries. To lift safely, place feet apart for good balance and bend knees when lifting. Keep the load close to the center of the body and use smooth, gradual motions. Avoid twisting the back and take micro-breaks.
Reducing Repetitive Strain Injuries
Employers should also assess the risk of injury from work posture and repetitive movements. To reduce these risks:
Set up workstations to eliminate or reduce awkward work postures
Implement task rotation so workers perform various tasks using diferent muscle groups throughout the day.
Include breaks in the work schedule to provide time for muscles to recover.
Investing In Safety Pays Off
Creating a positive workplace culture is a gradual process that requires the commitment and participation of everyone in the organization. Small steps can make a big diference in creating a work environment that promotes safety and productivity. With consistent efort, a positive workplace culture can be cultivated, resulting in improved morale, job satisfaction, and overall performance.
WorkSafeBC is prioritizing the prevention of MSIs this year. WorkSafeBC ofcers will support risk management eforts in workplaces by engaging with employers and workers to identify their hazards, evaluate associated risks, and implement controls specifc to the on-site activities. Employers will need to ensure that these controls are efectively communicated to workers and monitored.
