Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HHE-2011-0131-3222, September 2015. Evaluation of Ergonomic Risk Factors, Acute Traumatic Injuries, and Occupational Exposures at an Airline Catering Facility.

摘要

At the request of a union, the Health Hazard Evaluation Program evaluated an airline catering facility in New York. In a prior investigation for the union, we examined work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), injuries, exposure to hot and cold temperatures, and job stress at a facility in Michigan. At the New York facility, the union was also concerned about exposure to carbon dioxide (CO2) from dry ice use and potential communication issues due to language differences among employees. For this evaluation, the authors (1) interviewed 66 employees about their work, health, use of personal protective equipment, job stress, and communication, (2) reviewed injury logs and company training materials, (3) observed work practices, and (4) measured workstation height, reach distances, air temperature and air flow in cold rooms, CO2 levels in coolers, and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations at loading docks. We found some work tasks involved extended reaching and lifting from the floor to above shoulder height, and employees reported lifting heavy objects, bending, and working in awkward positions often. Our review of injury logs found that 22% of the recorded injuries in the past 5 years were related to lifting and other known MSD risk factors. The majority of employees also reported experiencing MSD symptoms, such as back and shoulder pain, and fatigue in the week prior to our visit. Many employees were exposed to cold temperatures for the majority of their shift. Dry ice was used in unventilated coolers, and CO2 levels were elevated in coolers and prep areas. We did not detect CO in the dock area. Some employees reported experiencing job stress and a lack of support from coworkers. Employees spoke a variety of languages, and some reported not receiving training in their primary language and having difficulty communicating with others.