Range Maintenance Operations Ergonomics Assessment, Ft Bragg, NC

Executive Summary

The Director of the Safety Division, Public Safety Business Center, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, requested an ergonomic assessment of the range maintenance operations. The purpose of the assessment was to identify ergonomic risk factors at the range and maintenance shop and provide recommendations to eliminate or minimize the ergonomic hazards.

On 1-2 April 2004, CPT Colleen Daniels, an ergonomist with the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM), conducted ergonomic risk assessments at Range No. 41 and the direct support shop in building 03550. The USACHPPM ergonomist also visited Range Nos. 29A, 55 and 66A to assess the layout and potential ergonomic risk factors.

The most prevalent ergonomic risk factors observed were awkward postures, heavy lifting and carrying of heavy items. Below are the primary findings and recommended solutions.

Findings	Low-Cost Solutions	High-Cost Solutions
Workers are required to use awkward postures (bend down at ground level) to perform tasks at the range.	Provide knee pads and encourage kneeling/squatting instead of bending.   Increase ergonomic awareness through the use of inservice training (proper body mechanics techniques) and flyers/posters.	Provide a battery- powered tool (i.e. impact wrench) to eliminate forceful exertions and time spent in awkward postures during bolting/unbolting targets.
Workers are required to carry heavy items (target mechanisms) over long distances on the range.	Provide a dolly or other type of  lift assist equipment that has handles for gripping	Provide mechanical equipment that can navigate  uneven terrains
Workers are required to use awkward postures (bend down at pallet level or ground level) to load/unload and retrieve target mechanisms at DS shop.	Provide pallet jack to raise height of pallet to reduce awkward postures.	Provide lift tables that can be lowered or raised to reduce awkward postures.
Workers are required to perform excessive lifting of heavy items (target mechanisms) at DS shop.	Redesign the process to include implementing a “no drop off at ground levell”  policy and assign drop off areas in the shop to reduce the number of times targets are transferred and/or lifted.	Provide a portable lift table/height- adjustable carts.   Provide mechanical equipment to lift and transfer  target mechanisms to and from pallets.
Workers are required to use and maintain awkward postures to retrieve parts and target mechanisms off shelves in storage area.	Store heavier items (target mechanisms) at a level 30-36 inches high to reduce awkward postures.   Discontinue storing of frequently used parts above 48 inches.   Provide safety ladders.	Provide an automated parts retrieval system (note, this is an employee generated solution).

For more information about USACHPPM ergonomic assessments, contact services@ergoworkinggroup.org