This material was produced under grant SH-19505-09-60-F-6 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U. S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade

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Ergonomic Training for Garment Workers

• This material was produced under grant
  SH-19505-09-60-F-6 from the Occupational Safety
  and Health Administration, U.S. Department of
  Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the view
  or policies of the U. S. Department of Labor, nor
  does mention of trade names, commercial products,
  or organizations imply endorsement by the U. S.
  Government.

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Today we will discuss

• Why you get injured at your job
• Some ways you can reduce injuries
• The right kind of equipment to use to prevent
  injury

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At Our Clinic, We Discovered That Garment
Workers Have Many Work-related Injuries
Neck 33
Shoulder 23
Back 48
Elbow 15
Wrist 16
Hand 18
Knee 9
Other 22
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WHY ARE YOU GETTING INJURED?

•  
• INJURIES ARE CAUSED BY   
• DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN
• WORKING IN AN AWKWARD POSITION
• WORKING TOO HARD OR TOO LONG 
•  

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How does this injure you?
When you use your muscles too much, They get
little tears...
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This makes your muscle swell and feel
HOT
SORE
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What else causes injuries to garment workers?
SITTING OR STANDING IN THE SAME POSITION FOR A
LONG TIME!         
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• SITTING TOO LONG STOPS THE BLOOD FROM GOING TO
  YOUR ARMS AND LEGS        

• BLOOD BRINGS FOOD TO YOUR MUSCLES
• WITHOUT BLOOD YOUR MUSCLES GET TIGHT AND TIRED

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These are the warning signs of injury
Pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, swelling,
heat If you feel any of these symptoms, its time
to take action!
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Neck, Upper Back and Shoulder Injuries

• Causes
• Working safely

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Ouch!
Awkward neck, and back position because of
improper chair and table height or position.
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Question How much do you think your head weighs?
ANSWER 10-12 pounds. Thats how much weight
your neck must support!
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This is the Best Way to Sit
Head only slightly bent
Arms parallel to work surface
Back Straight
Hips and knees at 90 degrees
Feet level
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And remember Sitting in the same position for a
long time, results in sore backs and necks.
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Take Your Breaks!
Youre entitled to two 10 minute PAID breaks a
day plus a 30 minute unpaid lunch break.
It's the law!
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Whats wrong with this picture?
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Awkward shoulder and elbow posture
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How will the worker in these pictures injure
herself?
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Bending and twisting to pick up fabric can hurt
your back and shoulders.
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What is wrong with this picture?
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The fabric pieces and your tools should all be at
the same height and within easy reach to prevent
injury
Close is best
Keep all tools within this zone
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Arm, Hand and Finger Injuries

• Causes
• Working safely

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NEUTRAL POSITION
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What is wrong with this picture?
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NEUTRAL POSITION
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Lower Back Injuries

• Causes
• Working safely

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Whats wrong with this picture?
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Ouch!

• This chair doesnt support the back
• Seat is tilted backward
• Chair edge presses against thigh

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Knee, Leg, and Foot Injuries

• Causes
• Working safely

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Hard Surface stops blood circulation, pinches
nerves, and injures knee
You need enough room to move your legs freely
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Ouch!

• Using only one foot on pedal is unbalanced. This
  can cause back and leg problems
• Awkward ankle position
• Sturdier shoes can provide better foot support

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Straining to see your work hurts your neck, back
and shoulders

• Garment workers need
• Good lighting
• No glare
• Eye exams and glasses if you have trouble seeing

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The Right Equipment Can Make a Big Difference in
Your Health
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What Kind of Chair Do You Have?
Bad seating injures us!
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Many workers try to fix these problems
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AIWA's Lab

• Garment workers and researchers from the
  University set up a testing lab in Oakland.
• We used special equipment to measure work
  postures and to find the best equipment to
  prevent injuries.

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We Discovered that A Good Chair is Most
Important For Your Health
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A Good Chair Should

• Adjust for proper height and comfort
• Rotate so you dont have to twist to reach
  bundles
• Have a forward slope and waterfall edge
• Provide good back support
• Have padded seat to distribute weight evenly
• Flat casters to prevent sliding

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The tilted seat pan will help you keep your back
straight
The water fall edge prevents pressure on your
thighs when you sit all day
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Swivel Chairs Are Best For Your Back
They allow you to turn easily to get bundles and
pieces.
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Here is the footrest we designed...

• It is inexpensive to make and keeps both feet
  level

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Our Table Extension

• Notice the hinge. The extension can be lowered
  when not in use.

It supports the fabric so you dont have to
twist and lift as much.
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• Tilting the table a few degrees improves the
  line of vision. You can sit straighter when you
  work.

Table Tilt
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It's Easy!

• All it takes to do this is a small piece of board
  under both front legs of the table.
• But it may take you a few days to get used to the
  new way of sitting

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NoSlip Material

• Inexpensive non-skid shelf liner keeps material
  and tools from slipping when the table is tilted.
  

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Storage Boxes
These storage boxes help you keep the items you
use in easy reaching distance.
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Padded Knee Pads
These knee pads are easy to make. They use foam
inside a simple covering that ties over the knee
pedal.
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USE THE RIGHT SEAM FOLDERS
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Good Lighting Makes a Difference!
If you work in a factory that is not well-lit,
you may need a better light source.

• Make sure bulbs are replaced

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How Much Does it cost?
175 Chair 45 Table Extension 25
Footrest 5 Knee pad 2 No-slip
Fabric 2 Table tilt 1 Storage
Box 235 TOTAL (35 Light if needed)
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Our Health is Worth It!
Together We Can Make it Happen!
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Questions?? ? ?
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Thank You!

• This project was specially designed for you
  by
• Asian Immigrant Women Advocates
• University of California San Francisco
• California Department of Health Services