Ergonomic Analysis of Airport Baggage Service Department - Research Paper Example

ERGONOMIC ANALYSIS OF AIRPORT BAGGAGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT Student’s name Course &Code Professor’s name University City Date Table of Contents 1.0Introduction 2 2.0Methodology 4 3.0Survey Results 5 3.1Interview Survey 5 3.1.1Staff Working and Resting Hours 5 3.1.2Weight of Baggage 6 3.1.3Procedures for loading luggage 6 3.1.4Recruitment Procedures 6 3.1.5Physical Strains or Challenges 6 3.1.6Safety Measures 7 3.1.7Workers Recommendations 7 3.2Observations 8 3.3Analysis of Baggage Reports 9 3.4Measurements 11 4.0Analysis 12 4.1Physical Working Environment 13 4.2Physical Strains 14 4.3Psychological Strain 15 5.0Recommendations 16 6.0Conclusion 17 7.0References 17 1.0 Introduction Ergonomic is simply defined as the science or overall processes involved in the strategic fitting of jobs and tasks to humans (Ford, 2014). As a science, it encompasses knowledge regarding physical limitations and disabilities in relation to human characteristics and behavior relevant and necessary for certain task operations. In practice, it involves the matching of tasks to the workers and products to the users with the aim of maximizing work efficiency, health safety and work comfortability for increased productivity while minimizing physical pressures that may cause Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) (Dul et al, 2012). Various employment policies require employers’ concern and control of the safety precautions of the employee in order to create conducive and comfortable work environments. This requires sufficient assessment of health risks and implications of the work environment and related operations to the employee. Ergonomic design is strategic use of ergonomic knowledge in the designing of work places to meet the required standards of safety for the workers (Barrett, 2015). Achieving this entails controlling the work tasks, tools and equipments including the work environments in making them safe for the workers. An effective ergonomic program identifies, analyzes and controls potential MSD hazards in a work place (Stanton, Young & Harvey, 2014). In industrial operations, most accidents have always been associated with human and technical errors, with subsequent relations to compromises in work safety precautionary criteria or ignorance. Therefore, the role of ergonomics in facilitating reduction of health and safety risks cannot be undermined. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act require employers to make work environments hazard-free and ensure the assurance of employee safety (Dul et al, 2012). To achieve this, risk assessment is tantamount since it dictates the risk control strategies and measures (Martin, Legg & Brown, 2013). This paper seeks to provide an ergonomic analysis by identifying ergonomic hazards in Airports’ Baggage Service Department – at the Baggage Carousel point that involves manual loading of passenger luggage to the conveyor belts. Additionally, the paper proffers controls where applicable. 2.0 Methodology In carrying out this analysis at the Baggage Service Department, staffs of the department were interviewed to gain insights into their working conditions. The interviews targeted to gain the following information regarding operations: The staff’s working hours and resting time within or outside the work environments Weight of baggage Procedures used in loading luggage to the conveyor belts Recruitment procedures and considerations in acquisition of labour force for the job Seeking to identify various physical strains or challenges related with the job Any safety measures in place to protect the workers from physical strains and Any recommendations from the workers regarding possible improvements to their working conditions Additionally, general observations were used and analysis of baggage weight and loading reports provided by the department to facilitate this research. Moreover, the research entailed taking various measurements at various points within which passenger baggage is moved using manual labour. This included measurement of distances from the luggage security check points to the baggage carousel point and the vertical distance of the baggage carousel from the ground. These measurements were considered necessary in determining the amount of physical strain exerted on the workers and the implications on their health in relation to the potentials to cause various MSDs. The methodology designed in carrying out the research targeted to identify various work environment related issues, work tools and operational procedures that would facilitate and effective ergonomic analysis of this department. As such, the findings from various research entities were analyzed and used to determine the ergonomic risks and hazards. Using informed health literature and various health and safety reports analyses, the paper recommends various solutions to these hazards with an aim of improving workers’ safety. 3.0 Survey Results As highlighted in the methodology section, various data and information collection techniques were used in conducting the research. Each of the choices was effective in delivering substantial amount of information relevant for this ergonomic analysis. In effect, the results registered are recorded under the different methods used in acquiring the information. 3.1 Interview Survey A series of random interviews were conducted where the workers at the baggage carousel loading points of the baggage service department were interviewed. With the interview targeting various details, the results were presented as individual representative entities targeted by the research. 3.1.1 Staff Working and Resting Hours The workers have 8 working hours in a day. In Airport operations, service is 24 hour. As such, their working schedule varies depending on planned time tables where day and night shifts are allocated. Usually, there are always passengers arriving and leaving. As a result this demands high levels of concentration and effectiveness in delivering service in this department to facilitate clearance of old luggage in order to receive incoming luggage. Due to different travel schedules affected by different global and regional factors, the amount of work may vary. In less busy days, the workers afford short break intervals of 60 minutes which could be divided into 20 or 30 minutes short breaks per individual provided the resting time does not slow down or halt operations. In extremely busy days however, the staff may work for the 8 hours without rest. The staff, like the rest of the staff, has their off days and leave periods. 3.1.2 Weight of Baggage Passengers baggage is always required to be 50pounds (23kg) or less. This is with the aim of controlling the weight of load going on board. However, in the baggage service department, due to the high number of passenger baggage, the handlers sometimes use trolleys carrying more than four such bags, totaling to an approximate 200 pounds. While the trolleys seemingly make the process easier, the amount of force required in pulling and later unloading exerts significant amount of stress on the workers bodies, which has the potential to cause various MSDs. 3.1.3 Procedures for loading luggage While trolleys are used in moving the baggage from the security checks to the baggage carousel, loading on the trolley and later on the conveyor belts is done by hands. This involves lots of muscular strains and lots of bending. 3.1.4 Recruitment Procedures In recruiting for these positions, the HR department emphasizes on body physique effective for this kind of work. As such, the task is mostly reserved for the more energetic masculine employees. In addition, age considerations are placed with priority given to applicants under the age of 35 who are still considered young, strong and energetic with muscles well suit for the job. 3.1.5 Physical Strains or Challenges While physique is considered in the recruitment procedures and substantial amounts of resting time allocated to the workers in this section, frequent standing, walking, bending and carrying heavy load has led to various muscle complications and aches. In most cases, workers complain about frequent back aches and joint pains as a result of muscle strains caused by their routine procedures. Due to work demands, some workers attest to forcing themselves to work through the pains in some cases with an aim of finishing their daily duties. Additionally, workers indicated levels of psychological strain as a result of access to so much information regarding various risks that have overtime developed fears to others, while others chose to ignore the information. 3.1.6 Safety Measures Airports have strived to facilitate effective working conditions of this department. One strategy is by recruiting significantly high number of workers to support functions and limit strains related to overworking of staff. Additionally, the furnishing of the department with trolleys to ease the movement of baggage from one point to another has also helped to enhance safety and provide a significantly comfortable working environment for the workers in this section. For baggage handlers closer to the planes, ear muff protections are provided to reduce the risks of ear damage from plane engine loud noises. 3.1.7 Workers Recommendations While most workers admit to substantial and significant efforts installed in improving the work environments through provision of equipments such as trolleys, workers’ opinion reflect on the desire for more to be done to improve the working conditions. These include proposals for longer break period and recruitment of a more sizeable staff to facilitate easy operations without causing considerable muscle strains. Additionally, frequent health and muscle checkups organized by the company would be essential in monitoring the physical body behaviours and facilitate various early precautionary actions to avoid more serious or permanent muscle damages. 3.2 Observations In observing the operations in the baggage department, various concerns were notable. In a day, the luggage handlers in the section were 10. However the luggage they dealt with within the period of working time exceeded 1000 bags. This meant that the workers had insignificant resting time considering the speed at which the luggage required to be cleared to give room for more incoming luggage. Moreover, the work involved lots of quick movements with passenger baggage, frequent standing and bending while loading and offloading luggage from the trolleys. The free outflow of sweat and the frequent heavy breathing and sighs attested to the amount of physical manual work being done by the workers. Whereas the trolley seemed to make work easier, the number of rounds that the trolleys moved carrying heavy passenger luggage was enough to cause muscle strains to the workers. Figure 1: Baggage from a single flight 3.3 Analysis of Baggage Reports Passengers’ baggage was required to weigh 50 pounds or less. Depending with the size of the plane, the number of these bags varied. In a Jumbo Jet for example, carrying over 400 passengers, the number of luggage weighing 50 pounds would be over 350, with each individual ideally having such a luggage. This implies that the baggage department has over 350 bags to be cleared within the shortest time possible and allowing another incoming luggage of almost a similar amount to be cleared. Analyzing the report revealed a huge amount of work load and work pressure, which demanding manual labour, was not conducive to safe working. Figure 2: Workers loading trolleys Figure 3: Airport worker loading baggage on the carousel 3.4 Measurements The amount of effort used in performing the tasks was not only in loading and offloading luggage but also moving the luggage through distances from the planes to points of security checks to the baggage carousel. Notably, the vertical distance of the carousel from the ground also implicated on the strain levels of the operations. Figure 4 and 5 below show the measurement results. Figure 4: Distance workers move baggage Figure 5: Vertical distance of Baggage Carousel 4.0 Analysis The survey results revealed various potential hazards that are likely in the Baggage Service Department. The staff involved in the handling of passengers baggage and transporting and loading them on the baggage carousel are exposed to two major risks. These are: The effects of noise from the plane engines which when two loud has the potential of causing ear damages The risk of musculoskeletal disorders caused by various strains on the workers muscle as a result of dealing with much baggage Risk of psychological strains due to information overload These risks relate to three main aspects relevant in the ergonomic analysis, which are: the physical working environment, physical strain factors and the psychological strains. 4.1 Physical Working Environment Physical working environment refer to the environmental factors surrounding the workers (Dekker, Hancock & Wilkins, 2013). This surrounding has significant implications on the working atmosphere of the workers thus affecting performance directly or indirectly. Some evident physical working environment factors include vibrations, noise, toxicity, dust levels, electromagnetic radiations, lighting and microclimate among others (Richardson, 2012). For the baggage service department, noise is a major factor of concern in managing and controlling the physical working environment. Medical statistics indicate that of the millions of people in the world with hearing impairments and hearing loss, 39% of these cases are attributed to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) (Barret, 2015). Repeated exposures to too much noise as well as one time exposure to loud sound are capable of causing NHIL. Normally, an average person is capable of hearing sounds as low as 0decibels, for example the sound of rustling leaves, while others with perfectly good hearing care capable of hearing sounds as low as -10decibels. However, noise above 85decibels is capable of causing permanent ear damage by destroying the hair cells in the inner year (Barret, 2015). In the Airports, staffs accessing the plane open grounds are always advised to use ear muffs with the aim of protecting their ears. Plane engines make noises ranging between 70-100decibels depending on various mechanical factors (Zink & Fischer, 2013). As such, this noise is capable of causing permanent ear damage to the workers. In some cases, human errors including forgetfulness have led to airport workers going out in the fields without ear protections or with damaged ear protection leading to exposures to noise that resulted to hearing impairments and hearing loss. Various workers in the Baggage Service Department are at times required not only to collect and load baggage on the conveyor belts but also to go as far as to the planes to collect baggage. This proximity to planes call for effective measures of protection in order to minimize risks. At this point, noise pollution is a major risk since the team is forced to be closer to the grounds at the time of the landing of the planes. Safety precautions using ear muffs mitigate the noise hazards. However, reluctance to constantly check the conditions of the ear protections to determine the protective effectiveness and tendencies to forget wearing this protective gear still places the workers at risk of NHIL (Zink & Fischer, 2013). 4.2 Physical Strains In all kinds of work operations, the body performs various functions. In performing these functions, the body utilizes various parts or features to accomplish the desired tasks. While some tasks are less strenuous, work requiring manual labour is physically strenuous (Achor, 2011). In physical strains analysis, ergonomic analysis considers factors such as the repetition of motions, static strain and energy consumption (Haslam & Waterson, 2014). In the case of workers in the baggage department, all these factors are prominent, hence much physical strain. As recorded in the results, baggage handlers are required to move passengers’ baggage over considerable distances. While use of car-driven trolleys and human-controlled trolleys make the work easier, considerable human effort and energy is needed in offloading and loading the baggage onto the baggage carousel. In collecting the luggage and taking them to the carousel and loading and offloading there is the repetiveness of motion whereby walking to and fro and lifting and bending are characteristics. These movements accompanied with the movement of heavy load causes strains on the body muscles resulting to various MSDs. As a result of much physical strain, workers complain of muscular pains, joint pains and back aches. Additionally, the work entails constant levels of standing and movements with little rest time hence subjecting the body muscles to physical tensions that eventually result to MSDs that could be temporary or permanent. Medical analysts observe that MSDs have tendencies of starting as minor problems with little pains that appear and reappear, gradually developing into uncontrollable disorders that cause major pains or incapacitation to the victims. Muscle strains as a result of too much muscle movements or overloads are considered major causes to such disorders (Stein & Sandl, 2012). Frequent standing, moving and bending may result to assuming of uncomfortable or abnormal body postures which subsequently exert undesirable strains to body muscles. These numbers of factors regarding the mode of operation and nature of work increase the risks to MSDs. Additionally, tendencies to overload in an effort to quickly clear baggage result to physical strains posing great danger to human muscles. As a result, the airport’s needs to control operations in the baggage service department with considerations put on the working criteria of the baggage handlers in order to limit MSDs hazards. 4.3 Psychological Strain Monotony of information and information overload are significant contributors to psychological strain (Bakker & Daniel, 2012). In effect, workers are usually subjected to various trainings to acquire knowledge and also sensitized on various risks regarding their work duties. Some of the information ends up becoming too much, and constant repetition end up causing psychological strains. In the baggage department, the baggage handlers attest to being fed with lots of information regarding safety precautions. While this is necessary for the workers, the procedures of dissemination and transfer of knowledge to the workers are ineffective. As a result most of the workers are afraid of the implications of their operations on their future health, while others unable to comprehend the extents of the information end up acting out of ignorance. Eventually, psychological strains affect performance and diminish the morale of the workers making the working environments inefficient, thus ineffective (Murrell, 2012). 5.0 Recommendations Controlling working environments and making workers comfortable is tantamount in improving working efficiency and effectiveness in delivery of service (Salvendy, 2012). In order to do this, companies strategize on effective ways of designing ergonomics in order to give priority to working environments (Ryan & Wilson, 2013). According to the survey, various recommendations can be suggested to improve or control the ergonomic hazards. To begin with, significant efforts should be placed in controlling the working environments by ensuring frequent monitoring and replacement of ear protections for workers near the plane runways in order to reduce or mitigate potential effects of ear damage or hearing loss through noise. Secondly various levels of operational training are necessary to improve service and handling of passengers’ luggage using safer and less strenuous efforts. Moreover, a substantial increase to the resting time of the workers would go a long way to reducing physical strains. Additionally, the airport may consider recruiting more staff to meet the work demand of the section and supplement working reducing operational strains on the workers while facilitating effectiveness and efficiency. Effective medical management that includes offering frequent musculoskeletal checkups to the baggage handling workers would be key in monitoring health and advising the workers accordingly. Finally, to limit psychological strains, effective modes of communication safety and channels of knowledge dissemination should be improved. This would, for instance, involve the use of training and formal seminars that are conducive in transferring knowledge in less strenuous forms. 6.0 Conclusion Conclusively, the ergonomic analysis reveals physical environment factors, physical strain factors and psychological factors that under various challenges may affect operations through affecting workers safety. Controlling ergonomic hazards offers various solutions to operations; not only improving the workers’ work conditions but in the long run improving efficiency of service, hence, effectiveness. 7.0 References Achor, S. (2011). The happiness advantage: The seven principles of positive psychology that fuel success and performance at work. Random House. Bakker, A. B., & Daniels, K. (Eds.). (2012). A day in the life of a happy worker. Psychology Press. Barrett, T. (2015). 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Ergonomics in developing regions: needs and applications. Ergonomics, 55(5), 599-600. Ryan, B., & Wilson, J. R. (2013). Ergonomics in the development and implementation of organisational strategy for sustainability. Ergonomics, 56(3), 541-555. Salvendy, G. (2012). Handbook of human factors and ergonomics. John Wiley & Sons. Stanton, N. A., Young, M. S., & Harvey, C. (2014). Guide to methodology in ergonomics: Designing for human use. CRC Press. Stein, M., & Sandl, P. (2012). Information Ergonomics: A theoretical approach and practical experience in transportation. Springer Science & Business Media. Wilson, J. R. (2014). Fundamentals of systems ergonomics/human factors. Applied ergonomics, 45(1), 5-13. Zink, K. J., & Fischer, K. (2013). Do we need sustainability as a new approach in human factors and ergonomics?. Ergonomics, 56(3), 348-356. Read More