// Occupations and Workplaces

Cabinet Manufacturing

What kind of work do people do in the kitchen cabinet manufacturing plant? Manufacturing kitchen cabinets is a complex process that consist of many operations and require many skills.

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Manufacturing kitchen cabinets is a complex process that consist of many operations and require many skills. Among the various operations we selected three as the most representative:

  • duty Shaping: representative of tasks involving the operation of machinery.
  • duty Sanding: repetitive tasks involving excessive bodily motions.
  • duty Assembling: tasks involving the use of different tools in a variety of work positions.

In addition to some of the hazards listed above, pain or injury from physical overexertion, repetitive manual tasks, or working in awkward positions is very common. A case study is presented below.

  • chemical Exposure to paints, solvents, and other toxic chemicals or materials.
  • safety Working with hand tools, powered tools and heavy powered equipment, such as woodworking machines.
  • physical Excess vibration in the hands, arms or body from powered tools or equipment.
  • physical Noise.
  • safety Electrical hazards.
  • safety Hazardous energy control including lockout/tag out.
  • general Working with material handling equipment.
  • safety Slips, trips, and falls.
  • chemical Respiratory hazards from wood dust.
  • chemical Fire hazards or explosions of combustible dusts.
  • psychosocial Stress.
  • psychosocial Shift work or extended work days.
  • psychosocial Working alone.
  • requirement Scan the workplace for existing and potential hazards before work begins and take appropriate controls. Be aware that conditions can change constantly.
  • administrative Inspect all equipment and machinery for any defects before work begins.
  • requirement Keep tools and equipment in good working order.
  • ppe Use correct personal protective equipment and apparel, including safety footwear.
  • requirement Keep all work areas clear of clutter and equipment.
  • administrative Practice good housekeeping.
  • requirement Avoid awkward body positions or take frequent breaks.
  • requirement Learn safe lifting techniques.
  • administrative Have training before beginning any task, especially high risk activities such as using power tools and equipment, hazardous energy control (lockout/tag out), etc.
  • requirement Know how to get help in an emergency for working alone situations.
  • requirement Be aware of the emergency response plans before work begins.
  • administrative Know how to report a hazard.
  • requirement Stay informed about chemical hazards and WHMIS 2015.
  • ergonomic The following case study reviews the steps of cabinet manufacturing and associated ergonomics risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs).

The shaping operation consists of modelling pieces of wood with a shaper according to the style of kitchen cabinet being made (Figure 1). To complete a task a worker has to: The task lasts approximately three seconds. The task is done while standing on a concrete floor.

  • context Pick up pieces of wood.
  • context Place wood on the shaper.
  • context Press and push the wood sideways on the shaper.
  • context Pile pieces of wood for further processing.
  • ergonomic Highly repetitious movements, excessive force while pressing wood objects on the shaper, and exposure to vibration put the workers at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) The wrists, neck and shoulders are at the highest risk. In addition, prolonged standing in a stooped position and repetitious side motions can contribute to low back injuries. The Ergonomics section of OSH Answers has more information on musculoskeletal disorder risk factors.
  • general Prolonged standing on a concrete floor can contribute to lower leg and back discomfort that, over time, can develop into injuries.
  • general All of these factors have a compounding effect. In other words, each of them increases the effects of the others.

The sanding operation consists of smoothing the surface of wooden sheets by using a hand-operated power sander (Figure 2). The worker uses both hands to carry out this task. The dominant hand is used to operate the sander while the other hand is used to hold the sheet of wood (Figure 3). To complete a task a worker has to: Sanding requires excessive movements such as bending and reaching while keeping the elbow above the shoulder level. Forceful movements are used to hold both the sander and the sheet of wood. Sanding is done in a standing position.

  • context Pick up wooden sheets.
  • context Place the sheets on work bench.
  • context Sand the sheets.
  • context Pile the sheets for further processing.
  • ergonomic Sanding exposes workers to a high risk for repetitive motion injuries. Hands, neck and shoulders are at the highest risk for WMSDs. The high mechanical stress due to repetitive and forceful movements while operating the sander and the sustained muscular effort to hold work objects are responsible for such a high risk.
  • ergonomic Repetitive and forceful movements, and exposure to vibration also put the elbow and wrist of the operating hand at a high risk for WMSDs. The prolonged stooped standing position and excessive and forceful bending create a risk for low back injury.
  • context Assembling all the components that will form a kitchen cabinet involves the use of various tools such as staplers, screwdrivers and hammers. Assembling kitchen cabinets is a manual operation requiring many steps and many skills. While assembling, workers use a variety of body positions such as bending, twisting and reaching (Figure 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). They also have to stoop and crouch while working (Figure 9).
  • ergonomic The assembly tasks at a kitchen cabinet manufacturing plant create the conditions that favour the development of WMSDs, as well as low back problems. Operating heavy tools in very awkward body positions (Figure 9, 10, 11), and exerting forces in an off line direction are extremely hazardous for WMSDs of the upper limbs.
  • ergonomic The neck and shoulders are also at risk for WMSDs. Whole body motions and lifting, while handling assembled cabinets, put workers at risk for back injuries.
  • general Continuous standing on a concrete floor can cause lower leg and back discomfort that, over time, can develop into injuries.
  • general All these factors have a compounding effect. In other words, each of them increases the effects of the others.

General

  • ergonomic The three tasks that were selected for examination in the kitchen cabinet manufacturing plant pose similar risks for repetitive motion injuries. However, these three tasks require different approaches for controlling the risk for WMSDs.

Shaping

The working position is the major hazard for WMSDs while shaping. This can be improved by providing: Implementation of a full-scale rotation of tasks would improve the working conditions even more.

  • requirement More leg clearance - Allow the worker to get closer to the work area, thereby reducing bending (Figure 12).
  • requirement Sit/stand stools and foot rests - This would increase the flexibility of the work position and reduce stress on the lower back and legs.
  • ppe Consider wearing anti-vibration gloves. However, you should not wear thick or heavy gloves if operating the tool requires precise movements. The OSH Answers document Vibration - Measurement, Control and Standards has additional information on anti-vibration gloves.
  • requirement Anti-fatigue matting - This would reduce lower leg and back discomfort from prolonged standing.

Sanding

Awkward body positions and forceful movements are the major risk factors for WMSDs. Prolonged standing creates lower leg and back discomfort. These conditions can be improved by making these changes: The physical effort required while sanding can be rather strenuous and repetitive. It seems that improvements can be achieved by re-designing the task and by introducing task rotation, or enrichment and enlargement of the task.

  • ppe Provide sanders with tilted work surfaces, equipped with easy-to-operate devices (Figure 13).
  • requirement Using jigs (Figure 14) would substantially reduce the effort of holding work objects; bending would also be reduced.
  • requirement Provide workers with footrests to further improve working posture.
  • requirement Use anti-fatigue matting to reduce discomfort from prolonged standing.
  • ppe Consider wearing anti-vibration gloves. However, you should not wear thick or heavy gloves if operating the tool requires precise movements. The OSH Answers document Vibration - Measurement, Control and Standards has additional information on anti-vibration gloves.
  • requirement Select low vibration sanders to further reduce the effects of vibration.

Assembling

  • ergonomic In the assembly operation, awkward postures and forceful movements are the major risk factors for WMSDs. Vibration and stress due to prolonged standing also contribute to the development of WMSDs.
  • administrative To reduce awkward body positions, use jigs and fixtures to hold the work object (Figure 15). A fixture that allows the worker to rotate the kitchen cabinet, for example, reduces over-reaching and reduces the handling of the kitchen cabinet.
  • requirement It is also important to select the proper tool for the task. Matching the tool to the task reduces awkward postures of the wrist, elbow, and shoulder (Figure 16).
  • requirement Using tool balancers reduces the amount of force necessary to hold and operate the tool (Figure 17).
  • requirement To reduce stress on the legs and back from prolonged standing, workers should use anti-fatigue matting.

// Hand tools

  1. 1 Clamps
  2. 2 Cutting Tools for Bolts, Cables, and Strapping
  3. 3 Gear Pullers
  4. 4 General Hand Tool Operation
  5. 5 Hammers
  6. 6 Hand Saw
  7. 7 Non-sparking tools
  8. 8 Pipe Tools - Wrenches, Cutters, Reamers, and Threaders
  9. 9 Pliers and Wire Cutters
  10. 10 Screwdrivers
  11. 11 Snips
  12. 12 Struck Tools
  13. 13 Vises
  14. 14 Wood Chisels
  15. 15 Wrenches

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Chemicals

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Chemicals Wood Dust - Health Effects
17 practices hand protectionrespiratory protection Open →

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Electrical

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Electrical Electrical Safety - Basic Information
45 practices Open →

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Noise

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Noise Noise - Basic Information
4 practices Open →

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Shiftwork

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Shiftwork Extended Workday: Health and Safety Issues
10 practices Open →
Shiftwork Rotational Shiftwork
0 practices Open →

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Stress

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Stress Workplace Stress – General
0 practices Open →

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Violence / Bullying

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Violence / Bullying Working Alone - General
0 practices Open →
Cabinet Manufacturing
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HAS_REQUIREMENT 27
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