B5. Physically Demanding Work

Code 8.0

Worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding tasks, including manual material handling and heavy or repetitive lifting, prolonged standing, and highly repetitive or forceful assembly tasks shall be identified, evaluated, and controlled.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

1. Policy

Ensure company's health and safety policy includes physically demanding work elements such that worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding work is controlled effectively.

• a. Workers' exposures to physically demanding will be identified, evaluated, and adequately controlled in accordance with the hierarchy of controls, which is maintained through ongoing, systematic monitoring of worker's health.
• b. There is a proper budget and staffing allocated to conduct risk assessment, re-engineering, equipment and tools, and medical evaluations as well as training of individuals and coordination with local authorities as appropriate.

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

• a. The facility has implemented a program to evaluate worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding work (e.g., ergonomic risk assessments, worker discomfort surveys etc.)
• b. Procedural, physical, and administrative controls are in place to reduce the hazards of physically demanding work.
• c. Workers use proper equipment to lift heavy objects (e.g., vacuum hoists; mechanical lift tables; cranes, etc.).
• d. Workstations do not require prolonged awkward postures.
• e. Assembly tasks are designed to reduce forceful exertions (e.g., use of power tools, jigs, etc.) and highly repetitive motions.
• f. Workers are provided with the means to change posture throughout the work shift (e.g., workers can alternate between sitting and standing postures).
• g. Encourage early reporting of discomfort.

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

• a. Periodic ergonomic task analyses.
• b. An adequate and effective recorded program to control the identified potential hazards of physically demanding work is in place and follows the hierarchy of controls in a documented gated process, demonstrating that each hierarchy level has been fully evaluated and reasons why it could not address the risk fully before proceeding to the next hierarchal level.
• c. Review and trend analysis of injuries related to physical demands of job duties.

NOTE: If during a regular monitoring cycle, it is determined that there are no changes to the facility or work setup, a re-assessment is not needed. This "no-change" determination should be recorded.

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

• a. Assessments and analysis reports including worker input, any medical assessments (with proper privacy controls).
• b. Identification of roles with residual physically demanding work and the controls and protections in place to minimize worker exposure.
• c. Plans to further mitigate risk.

2.0.0 (2024-01-01)

Changed

• New mandatory numeric pass/fail bands for ergonomic coverage and lifting equipment: 8.0.1 introduces numeric pass/fail-determinative sub-thresholds absent from every prior appendix, with minimum_pass_level = minor. Ergonomic assessment coverage: 100% = conformance, >=75% = minor (pass), >=50% = major (fail), <50% = priority (fail). Heavy lifting performed without equipment: 0% = conformance, <=10% = minor (pass), <=25% = major (fail), >25% = priority (fail). Under 8.0.0 the rule was only the generic 'controls in place and effective' with no quantitative bar, so a facility at, e.g., 60% ergonomic task coverage or 20% heavy lifting without equipment could plausibly pass; under 8.0.1 both map to major = fail. Concrete pass->fail flip, hence major.

1.1.0 (2022-06-01)

Removed

• Detailed conformance requirements and specific rating bands stripped to a generic rule: The detailed 7.0.0 requirements were stripped to a bare 'Adequate engineering controls... Process and administrative controls in place and effective'. Removed: mandatory risk-assessment-on-Significant-Change, the documented hierarchy-of-controls program, encouragement/response to early reporting of discomfort, 3-year injury trend analysis, and periodic ergonomic task analyses. The criterion-specific Priority/Major/Minor rating bands were replaced by generic 'See finding severity definition'. Removals cannot fail a prior pass and no specific finding that passed under the 7.0.0 bands is shown to flip to fail under the generic rubric, so the net direction is loosening, hence minor.

1.0.0 (2021-01-01)

Changed

• Initial historical baseline — Physically Demanding Work (RBA Code of Conduct 7.0): Earliest imported version. Worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding tasks identified, assessed, communicated, and controlled effectively. Mandated adequate and effective risk assessment updated on Significant Change, a documented control program following the hierarchy of controls, encouragement/response to early reporting of discomfort, periodic ergonomic task analyses, and a 3-year injury trend analysis. Criterion-specific Priority/Major/Minor rating bands applied.