An assessment of occupational safety and health hazards in selected small businesses manufacturing wood pallets - Part 1. Noise and physical hazards

Abstract

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated occupational safety and health concerns in the small business wood pallet manufacturing industry. The investigation consisted of interviews with employees and managers and walkthrough tours of seven wood pallet manufacturing companies while taking measurements at several of them. The purpose of the project was to assess and characterize occupational safety and health hazards in the industry and to offer suggestions as to how exposure to the hazards might be mitigated. Noise level measurements and ergonomic observations were made at each facility. This column describes the assessments and suggestions to minimize ergonomic and noise exposures from the occupational risk factors at the facilities. (A companion paper will address the respiratory hazards evaluated during the investigation: i.e., Part 2 - airborne particulate and chemical hazards.) The main findings are as follows: 1. Short-term (<8 hours) noise measurements associated with certain machines and procedures at all sites produced noise levels greater than 90 dBA, which is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration permissible noise exposure limit(1) based on an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). 2. Ergonomics-related deficiencies noted in pallet manufacturing included stretching to assemble pallets, bending to retrieve wood, lifting loads that were too heavy, and twisting and turning while lifting those loads. Copyright © 2005 JOEH, LLC.