Assignment: Task Analysis and Control Methods Recommendation

Assignment: Task Analysis and Control Methods Recommendation

As an occupational and/or environmental health and safety (OEHS) professional, you may be asked to perform or update a task analysis, find available control method options, and recommend specific control methods for a work activity. This assignment is intended to help you practice developing a task analysis and revising it after implementation of control methods.

Select one of the following worker populations (per student). This is the same worker population you will work with throughout the course learning activities.

Grocery Store Clerk/Cashier - https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/41-2011.00

Assignment Details:  

1. Select and describe one manual materials handling activity performed by one selected worker population. This can be the same activity you worked with in the Unit 4 Assignment.

2. Use the provided Task Analysis and Control Methods Recommendation Report template (attachment) to compile and organize information for the hierarchical task analysis and recommended work practice and other control methods.

   • At least one of your recommended interventions should be a mechanical assist device, as provided by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2014) or another source.

3. Include the following sections in your report:

   • Worker Population and User-Centered Work Design

   • Hierarchical Task Analysis

   • Work Practice and Other Control Methods

   • Monitor and Re-Evaluate Control Methods

   • Reflection

   • 2 References

Assignment: Task Analysis and Control Methods Recommendation

Note to Students: This template is provided for your convenience and to assist your learning related to developing professional documents using a template. Guidance in this template is matched to Level 4 of the associated rubric. Information in [brackets] should be replaced by you. Delete these instructions before submitting your assignment.

This technical report template is provided to perform a hierarchical task analysis to recommend work design practices and additional control methods to prevent ergonomic injuries and illnesses.

Worker Population and User-Centered Work Design

Select and identify one worker population and manual material handling activity per student to author this report about (e.g., Grocery Store Clerks/Cashiers or Store Shelf Stockers and Order Fillers). Describe your understanding of the attitudes, abilities, limitations, motivations, and expectations of the worker population while performing the activity.

Important: If you are working as an individual, you must provide information for one worker population. If you are working as a group of two students, you must provide information for two worker populations.

• Worker Population #1: [Identify selected worker population.]

• Activity for Worker Population #1: [Describe the manual materials handling activity in two to three sentences.]

• User-Centered Work Design Considerations for Worker Population #1: [Briefly describe your understanding of the attitudes, abilities, limitations, motivations, and expectations of the worker population while performing the activity.]

Hierarchical Task Analysis

Briefly describe how you might gather information about the worker, their goal, and the task(s) completed to achieve that goal. Complete a hierarchical task analysis with a list of tasks to complete the goal and a visualization of the hierarchical task analysis using a diagram.

Important: If you are working as an individual, you must provide a hierarchical task analysis with an associated diagram for one worker population in this section. If you are working as a group of two students, you must provide a hierarchical task analysis with an associated diagram for each of the two worker populations.

Step 1: Gather Information

• Information Gathering for Worker Population #1: [Describe how you will gather information about the goal and tasks by observing and communicating with the workers.]

Step 2: Analyze the Task

• Scenario for Worker Population #1: [Describe the scenario for the task analysis.]

• Goal for Worker Population #1: [State the goal for the worker that is addressed in the task analysis.]

Structure and organize the tasks to complete the goal. Include at least 3 tasks to complete the goal and at least 2 detailed sub-tasks for each task. Write in a hierarchical task analysis format.

1. [Task 1 to complete the goal for Worker Population #1.]

   • 1.1. [Sub-task 1.1 that is part of Task 1.]

   • 1.2. [Sub-task 1.2 that is part of Task 1.]

2. [Task 2 to complete the goal for Worker Population #1.]

   • [Sub-task 2.1 that is part of Task 2.]

   • [Sub-task 2.2 that is part of Task 2.]

3. [Task 3 to complete the goal for Worker Population #1.]

   • [Sub-task 3.1 that is part of Task 3.]

   • [Sub-task 3.2 that is part of Task 3.]

Insert a diagram or other visualization of the hierarchical task analysis. You can create a horizontal bullet list or other diagram using SmartArt from Office 365, or just use the table format provided below.

Figure 1. [Name of the figure providing a visualization of the hierarchical task analysis for Worker Population #1.]

Work Practice and Other Control Methods

Explain the available control method options for completing the goal. Include at least one control method option for Eliminate, two control method options for Substitute, one control method option for Redesign, one control method option for Educate, and one control method option for Encourage.

Important: If you are working as an individual, you must provide one table for one worker population in this section. If you are working as a group of two students, you must provide two tables (one table each for a goal from each of the two worker populations).

Table 1. Available control methods for [goal] by [Worker Population #1].

Explain which of the available control method option(s) is most appropriate for the goal, associated task(s), and worker population. Select at least two control method options to recommend for the identified goal and activity. One of your recommended control options must be a mechanical assist device to reduce manual material handling injuries in the worker population. Why did you recommend the control method option(s)? How do your recommended control methods apply user-centered work design practices?

Monitor and Re-Evaluate Control Methods

Which technique(s) would you use to monitor and measure the effectiveness of your recommended controls, after they are implemented by the organization? Select at least two types of data you would compare before and after the implementation of your recommended control methods.

[Enter your response about the technique(s) to be used with at least two data source(s) to be compared after implementation.]

Revise the structure and organization of the hierarchical task analysis for a worker completing the goal using the mechanical assist device. Include at least 3 tasks to complete the goal and at least 2 detailed sub-tasks for each task.

1. [Revised Task 1 to complete the goal using the mechanical assist device for Worker Population #1.]

   • [Sub-task 1.1 that is part of Task 1.]

   • [Sub-task 1.2 that is part of Task 1.]

2. [Revised Task 2 to complete the goal using the mechanical assist device for Worker Population #1.]

   • [Sub-task 2.1 that is part of Task 2.]

   • [Sub-task 2.2 that is part of Task 2.]

3. [Revised Task 3 to complete the goal using the mechanical assist device for Worker Population #1.]

   • [Sub-task 3.1 that is part of Task 3.]

   • [Sub-task 3.2 that is part of Task 3.]

Identify potential concerns with using the mechanical assist device. Are there added risks associated with using the mechanical assist device to complete the goal? What type of training is required for the worker using the mechanical assist device?

Important: If you are working as an individual, you must provide the potential concerns, new risks, and required training for one worker population in this section. If you are working as a group of two students, you must provide two lists (one list each for potential concerns, new risks, and required training for each of the two worker populations).

• Potential Concerns: [Describe the potential concerns.]

• New Risks: [Identify any added risks when using the mechanical assist device.]

• Required Training: [Describe the required training for the worker using the mechanical assist device.]

Reflection

Reflect on the activities performed as part of this assignment. How long did this assignment take you and/or your partner? Have you performed this type of task analysis before? Have you recommended user-centered work design and control methods before? What skills do you think you learned from this assignment, and how can they benefit you in your future career options?

[Enter your reflection here.]

References

[Insert APA-formatted reference to resources used, such as the U.S. NIOSH resource about mechanical assists, where applicable.]

National Center for O*NET Development. (2023). 41-2011.00 - Cashiers. O*NET Online. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/41-2011.00

National Center for O*NET Development. (2023). 53-7065.00 - Stockers and Order Fillers. O*NET Online. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-7065.00

U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2014). Ergonomic Solutions for Retailers: Prevention of Material Handling Injuries in the Grocery Sector (Publication No. 2015-100). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/NIOSH/docs/2015-100/default.html

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2004). Guidelines for retail grocery stores: Ergonomics for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (Document No. OSHA 3192-06N). U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3192.pdf