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Volume 9, Number 3, Fall 1997Topics for this issue: ENVIRONMENTALU.S. Department of Labor takes an in-depth look at the poultry industryEWAS helps ergonomic researchers gain new insight into cutting mechanics and injury riskPoultryNet to debut in 1998Poultry World draws record crowd at Georgia National FairPoultry plants advised to begin focusing attention on EPA’s Risk Management ProgramPlan now to visit Georgia Tech at the 1998 International Poultry Exposition
U.S. Department of Labor takes an in-depth look at the poultry industryIn June 1997, the U.S. Department of Labor announced plans to conduct a focused study of the poultry industry’s compliance with labor regulations. Since this announcement, a series of briefings have been held and survey teams have visited a number of plant sites. While everyone anxiously awaits the study findings, this article details the events leading up to the plant visits and some of the controversy surrounding the study.In what has been described by Department officials as a fact-finding effort, the U.S. Department of Labor has undertaken an in-depth review of the poultry industry to learn more about its performance relative to complying with Safety and Health and Wage and Hour regulations. Prompted by what many feel were focused criticisms of the industry by organized labor groups and a protracted enforcement action against a New England poultry concern, the study was formally announced in June by John Miles, Director of OSHA’s Compliance Programs, at the 1997 Safety Workshop for the Poultry Industry held in Atlanta.In his June presentation, Miles emphasized this was not an “Enforcement Special Emphasis Program,” but rather an “Investigative Survey” designed to clear up any confusion that might exist relative to industry efforts to comply with labor standards. The survey, it was noted, would be carried out jointly by OSHA and the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor using “consultation,” not “compliance” personnel.Industry responseThe industry was quick to respond, questioning the motivation behind the survey. They pointed out the strong commitment of the industry to a safe and productive workplace and stressed efforts over the past several years that have generated training materials, educational programs, and voluntary safety guidelines for use across the industry. Many argued that these efforts, along with the industry’s willing participation in OSHA partnership programs and its moderate injury statistics, simply did not add up to the need for a special Investigative Survey. The National Broiler Council further questioned the logic of tying up federal inspection resources for such a survey when they were needed to deal with legitimate compliance problems.Survey BriefingsIn July, Labor officials held meetings with the industry and special interest groups to discuss the survey further.Late in August, the survey was officially kicked off with a letter and packet of materials announcing three September briefing sessions–one each in Baltimore, Atlanta, and Little Rock–to detail the purpose of the survey and to discuss the methodology to be used.In the September briefings, Labor officials stated that they felt a more in-depth look at the industry was warranted by inconsistencies in reported industry safety data and concern over the recent rapid expansion of the industry and its reliance on relatively low-wage positions. The survey was designed to measure labor regulation compliance at specific worksites in the poultry processing industry in an attempt to establish a compliance baseline for the industry.The survey, officials went on to state, would be carried out using site visitations. In all, approximately 174 plant locations had been targeted for possible visitation, from which a smaller, but significant, study sample would be actually chosen. Each site selected would be visited by a four-person inspection team made up of two Safety and Health members and two Wage and Hour members. In a switch from the June position, officials conceded “compliance” rather than “consultation” personnel would be used, primarily because of their experience in conducting plant inspections. OSHA representatives quickly stressed that despite the use of compliance personnel, the objective remained to collect data, not to conduct focused enforcement inspections. As such, inspection personnel would be instructed to initiate enforcement action only in situations of imminent danger, i.e. conditions potentially threatening life.It was reported in the meeting that all targeted sites had been mailed a packet of information outlining provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and listing the responsibilities and obligations of employers under these laws. Each site ultimately selected was told to expect an unannounced visit that would last from three to four days. Site visits were scheduled to begin on October 6 and be completed by November 1.As of this writing, it has been reported that all site visitations are complete and collected survey data is currently being analyzed. The Department of Labor says that it plans to hold follow-up meetings when this analysis is finished to report its findings. These meetings will occur sometime after January 1, 1998.
EWAS helps ergonomic researchers gain new insight into cutting mechanics and injury riskGeorgia Tech engineers and scientists are breaking new ground in the field of ergonomic research. Using a newly redesigned Ergonomic Work Assessment System (EWAS), the study team has begun collecting cutting mechanics data on workers performing two different types of deboning cut: a wing cut and a tender cut. These data are already beginning to reveal quantifiable differences among workers performing the same cutting activity. This article addresses the significance of these preliminary findings and discusses the future directions for both this study and the EWAS system itself.Breaking new ground in ergonomics, Georgia Tech researchers have initiated in-plant studies on worker cutting mechanics with the goal of trying to generate a better understanding of effective and safe cutting motions.These studies are being carried out with help from a newly redesigned Ergonomic Work Assessment System (EWAS), which measures cutting forces, muscle exertion, and wrist position. EWAS provides a wealth of information about how muscles are called upon to perform tasks–information that can be used to boost efficiency on the factory floor and correct inefficient movements and awkward postures that may lead to injuries.“ EWAS is a big step forward in helping quantify ergonomic activity,” says Robert J. Gregor, head of Georgia Tech’s Health and Performance Science Department and lead research scientist on the project. “Without it, ergonomists must use such subjective terms as ‘difficult’ or ‘easy’ to describe an activity. With it, we can assign numbers that reflect actual force and muscle exertion for that activity.”Preliminary test resultsUsing three different plant locations, the research team has initially studied fifteen workers performing two different types of deboning cut: a wing cut and a tender cut. In all, forty trials have been conducted on each worker, twenty for each cutting activity. All trials have been carried out on the plant floor but not on the processing line. An off-line location was selected to prevent disruption of plant operations until the research team becomes more comfortable with EWAS.Study results have revealed a wider range of cutting motion than was originally expected among different workers performing a similar cut. Range of motion, in this instance, refers to the angular movement of the wrist during the cutting process, in both the lateral and vertical directions. As the wrist angle increases from the neutral position, it begins to impact the efficiency of force transfer from the arm to the hand, thereby increasing the risk of possible injury. In the subjects studied, differences in angular wrist movement of up to 30 degrees were observed among subjects performing the same task.Test results also revealed that considerably more cutting force is used to make a wing cut than a tender cut. Wing-cutting forces were observed that were as much as three times that of the tender-cutting forces for the same test subject. (See chart above.)“ While these results are very preliminary, they clearly demonstrate the value of EWAS,” notes Craig Wyvill, Director of the Agricultural Technology Research Program which is funding the research effort. “Armed with such data, researchers can begin to evaluate the impact of training on narrowing worker range of motion and quantify the impact of such engineering interventions as modifying the knife to reduce cutting forces.”But perhaps of even greater importance is that safety specialists in the industry see EWAS as an opportunity to provide feedback to the employee. “The on-line feedback of force, posture and muscular exertion, I believe, will allow employees to develop greater skills that both reduce physical stress and improve efficiency,” says Ron Jones, ergonomics manager at Gold Kist.Future plansThe research team plans further field trials using EWAS between now and next June. In addition, Dr. Gregor is preparing a grant application to seek federal support for a more involved study of exertion and injury formation, with the goal of improving the ability of the industry to more systematically reduce cumulative trauma injuries across the board.Although initially developed to study cutting activities in the poultry industry, EWAS has the potential to be used in the study of many other activities in a wide range of industries. Its sensors can be adapted to virtually any tool to study operations ranging from keyboard entry to heavy manual tasks.“ Mobility is one of the major keys to EWAS’ versatility,” notes Dwight Waddell, a research engineer working on the study. Laboratory testing has its benefits, but there is also a downside. “Sometimes you’re so obtrusive when taking measurements that the task being examined is no longer realistic,” explains Waddell. “The next thing you know, you’re taking interesting data, but it really has nothing to do with what workers do everyday on the factory floor.”To date, the research team is pleased with EWAS’ ability to capture data on the plant floor. In upcoming tests, they plan to take measurements on subjects working directly on the processing line. Long term, they believe EWAS can help to begin unraveling some of the mystery that continues to surround cumulative trauma injury in the poultry industry.
PoultryNet to debut in 1998In late January 1998, PoultryNet is scheduled to go on-line. PoultryNet is an innovative, World Wide Web-based system designed to pipeline communications and information transfer within the poultry community. This article discusses some of the design issues faced by the development team in putting the system together and outlines their plans for initial system operation. It also explores plans for adding features to the system at a later date.PoultryNet, an advanced Internet information center designed to provide easy access to poultry-specific resources any time, anywhere, is scheduled to make its debut in late January 1998. Utilizing state-of-the-art interactive technologies linked via public networks, PoultryNet is initially intended to pipeline communications and information transfer within Georgia’s vast poultry industry. Ultimately, it is expected to become a global reference point on the Internet for all poultry-related activities.The ever-growing abundance of information available on the Internet is a problem for businesses trying to access online resources. Several commercial ventures have attempted to create a universal searchable index of the Internet; however, these “search engines” collect both useful and trivial information equally. Currently, no site exists which focuses solely on cataloging, indexing, and filtering information related to all aspects of the poultry business.For example: a company having a problem with wastewater might launch a search for relevant information on the Internet. A recent search for “wastewater and poultry” returned over 35,000 possible matches. Industry users typically do not have the time to manually sort through such a list for relevant information. However, a visit to PoultryNet will produce a list of filtered documents, sorted by categories such as research reports, equipment suppliers, and consultants. PoultryNet will also contain an index of pertinent outside resources, which can be used to quickly and efficiently conduct a more refined, targeted web search. It will also contain links to sites containing copies of pertinent regulations, and will have a list of who in Georgia handles regulatory problems.Key among the challenges that faced the PoultryNet design team was to build a system that could grow over time rather than remaining static. “We focused considerable attention on user interface issues, trying to focus on the problems a multiple audience creates,” notes Chris Thompson, PoultryNet project director. “This included focusing on technology options for ease of interactive exchange and security issues related to information exchanges of a sensitive nature.”Users of PoultryNet
will be able to perform a variety of interactive tasks: examine a
calendar of upcoming events; view reports on previous
special events such as the International Poultry Show; download working
software
tools to help with tasks such as water reduction audits; and subscribe
to an electronic newsletter or internet channel of poultry-related
news. Georgia
PoultryNet users will also have access to a few specialized interactive
features. For example, they’ll be able to request assistance from
Georgia-based university service programs, search an electronic yellow
pages of poultry personnel in Georgia, and discuss issues of concern with
fellow
industry members. Information related to poultry’s impact on the
Georgia economy will also be available.
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