Ergonomic Risk Mapping
In an all-hazard risk map we use a map, shapes/colors to identify
hazards in our work environment.
Red
Safety Hazards
falls, cuts, eye
injuries
Blue
Chemical
Hazards
dusts, fumes,
gases
Purple
Physical Hazards
heat, noise,
radiation
Orange
Biological Hazards
germs, mold, body
fluids
Green
Stress Hazards
bullying,
micromanaging,
overwork, violence
Black
Ergonomic Hazards
awkward postures,
over-exertion,
repetitive motion,
heavy lifting
An ergonomic risk map works the same way but only looks at
ergonomic hazards. They are both good ways to collect information
and get workers involved in making jobs safer. Start by drawing a
map of your workplace. Then using different shapes or colors, mark
where the different hazards are. You can indicate how serious the
hazards are by using larger dots or shapes or by using a number
inside the mark to indicate the seriousness of the hazard.
An example of an ergonomic risk map is attached.
After drawing the map, discuss it with you fellow workers and add to
or change the map as needed. Then come up with suggestions to
control or eliminate the hazards. Post the map on the wall at work
and use it to check the progress made correcting problems.
Ergonomic Hazard Groups
 Repetitive Motion
Yellow
 Awkward or
Fixed Postures
Blue
 Heavy Lifting
Red
Concept Mapping
Concept maps work better than risk maps when there is no fixed workplace.
Since you can’t draw a map of the workplace, you map the job. Start with the
job title in the center with an oval around it. Draw spokes off the oval and put the
important tasks the job involves at the end of the spokes. Coming off each task
you draw the hazards associated with
The Baldness Treatment and
Prevention Resource Center
The Center is an information and referral source. They publish a
newsletter, Baldness Today, and send out informational materials.
There are two people at this worksite, the Janiah, the newsletter
editor and Jamato, the order filler.
Jamato makes up packages of booklets to send out. The usual order
size fits in one or two large boxes. The boxes usually weigh around 1015 pounds but they sometimes top 60 pounds. He fills 65-70 orders
per day.
The orders are made up in the shipping room. The shipping room has
two walls with 18 inch deep cabinets running along them. The top of
the cabinets is a waist high counter. Shelves run above the cabinets
to the eight-foot ceiling. The other two walls are lined with floor to
ceiling shelves. Jamato has a rolling step stool to reach the top
shelves and a 2 wheel dolly to move the filled boxes.
The newsletter comes out weekly. Janiah writes most of the
newsletter. She writes the features and the news items, lays it out,
and arranges to have it printed and shipped. She uses her computer
continuously about 6 ½ hours a day.