Contents
17.1 Objective
17.2 Scope of Application
17.3 Assessment of Working Conditions
17.4 Work Organization
17.5 Individual Lifting, Transporting and Unloading of Loads
17.6 Workplace Furniture
17.7 Work with Machinery, Equipment and Hand Tools
17.8 Workplace Comfort Conditions
Annex I - Checkout Operator Work
Annex II - Teleservice / Telemarketing Work
17.1 Objective
17.1.1 This Regulatory Standard establishes guidelines and requirements to adapt working conditions to workers' psychophysiological characteristics, so as to ensure comfort, safety, health and efficient work performance.
17.1.1.1 Working conditions include aspects concerning material lifting, transportation and unloading, workplace furnishings, operation of machinery, equipment and hand tools, workplace comfort conditions and work organization.
17.2 Scope of Application
17.2.1 This standard applies to all working situations specified in item 17.1.1.1, covering all entities, direct and indirect public administrative bodies, as well as bodies of legislative, judicial and public prosecution authorities with employees governed by CLT.
17.2.2 The provisions of this NR shall also apply to other legal labor relations in accordance with legal provisions.
17.3 Assessment of Working Conditions
17.3.1 Enterprises shall conduct preliminary ergonomic assessment on working scenarios that need to adapt to workers' psychophysiological characteristics according to job nature and content, so as to support the implementation of preventive measures and rectifications stipulated in this standard.
17.3.1.1 The assessment can adopt qualitative, semi-quantitative, quantitative methods or their combinations based on risks and legal requirements, to identify hazards and provide data for formulating necessary prevention plans.
17.3.1.2 The preliminary ergonomic assessment may be integrated into the hazard identification and risk assessment procedures specified in item 1.5.4 of NR-01 General Provisions and Occupational Risk Management.
17.3.1.2.1 The employer shall keep written records of all preliminary workplace ergonomic assessments.
17.3.2 The employer shall carry out Ergonomic Work Analysis (AET) when:
a) In-depth assessment of working conditions is required;
b) Implemented corrective measures are inappropriate or ineffective;
c) Proposed through workers' health surveillance in accordance with PCMSO and item 1.5.5.1.1(c) of NR-01;
d) Work-related accidents and occupational diseases are confirmed to be caused by poor working conditions based on PGR requirements.
17.3.3 The Ergonomic Work Analysis shall cover working conditions as specified in this standard, including the following steps:
a) Demand analysis and problem restatement where applicable;
b) Analysis of organizational operation, workflows, working scenarios and actual activities;
c) Define proper analysis methods, techniques and tools with explanations, without being limited to fixed means;
d) Draw up diagnostic conclusions;
e) Put forward improvement suggestions for assessed working conditions;
f) Announce results, verify and revise implemented improvements with workers' participation when necessary.
17.3.4 Micro enterprises, small enterprises classified as risk level 1 and 2, and individual micro entrepreneurs are not required to prepare Ergonomic Work Analysis, but shall comply with all other applicable requirements of this standard.
17.3.4.1 Micro and small enterprises of risk level 1 and 2 shall conduct Ergonomic Work Analysis when the circumstances specified in item 17.3.2 (c) and (d) occur.
17.3.5 The following shall be included in the risk inventory of PGR:
a) Results of preliminary ergonomic assessment;
b) Revision of hazard identification and risk assessment as indicated by Ergonomic Work Analysis.
17.3.6 Action plans in accordance with PGR shall be established for:
a) Preventive measures and adjustments derived from preliminary ergonomic assessment complying with this standard;
b) Recommendations issued by Ergonomic Work Analysis.
17.3.7 All finished Ergonomic Work Analysis reports shall be kept on file by the company for 20 years.
17.3.8 The employer shall ensure employees are consulted throughout preliminary ergonomic assessment and formal ergonomic work analysis.
17.4 Work Organization
17.4.1 For the purpose of this standard, work organization shall take into account:
a) Production regulations;
b) Operational procedures where applicable;
c) Time requirements;
d) Work pace;
e) Task contents as well as available tools and technical resources;
f) Cognitive factors that may endanger workers' safety and health.
17.4.2 For work causing static or dynamic muscular overload on trunk, neck, head and limbs, technical, organizational and administrative measures shall be adopted based on ergonomic assessment to eliminate or reduce such overload.
17.4.3 Preventive measures shall be implemented to avoid continuous and repetitive harmful working behaviors:
a) Extreme or harmful postures of trunk, neck, head and limbs;
b) Sudden impact movements of upper limbs;
c) Excessive muscular force application;
d) Excessively frequent limb movements endangering workers' health and safety;
e) Vibration exposure in accordance with Annex I of NR-09;
f) Excessive cognitive workload harmful to physical and mental health.
17.4.3.1 Preventive measures shall include two or more of the following solutions:
a) Arrange breaks for workers' physical and mental recovery, which shall be counted as working hours;
b) Rotate jobs to change working postures, used muscle groups and work rhythm;
c) Adjust task execution methods and work arrangements;
d) Other applicable technical measures recommended by ergonomic assessments.
17.4.3.1.1 If items c and d are not feasible, breaks and job rotation specified in items a and b shall be mandatorily implemented.
17.4.3.2 To ensure effective rest and recovery, minimum requirements shall be followed:
a) Working speed shall not be increased due to extra breaks;
b) Breaks shall be taken away from working stations.
17.4.3.3 Apart from scheduled breaks, workers shall be allowed to leave work posts for physiological needs in accordance with item 24.9.8 of NR-24.
17.4.4 Any performance evaluation system for salary and benefit assessment shall take its impact on workers' health into account.
17.4.5 Workplace design shall consider organizational and environmental factors as well as task characteristics, and facilitate posture changes.
17.4.6 Working and passage space shall be spacious enough for free body movement, so as to reduce physical strain and avoid extreme or harmful postures.
17.4.7 Direct supervisors shall be guided to:
a) Help staff understand job duties and responsibilities clearly;
b) Keep open communication to solve work-related doubts;
c) Promote team cooperation;
d) Advocate fair and respectful interpersonal relationship in workplace.
17.4.7.1 Enterprises with no more than 10 employees are exempted from complying with item 17.4.7.
