National Film and Sound Archive > Preservation

Occupational Health & Safety

Specific Problems for Audio Visual Archives

Film Winding
Occupational Overuse Syndrome
Work Station Ergonomics
Manual Handling
Screen Based Equipment (SBE)
Noise
Decomposition Gases

Film Winding

Film winding is the movement of film across a work bench by manual or electric operation for the purpose of examination, repair, preparation for; printing, telecine, screening, storage and/or transport.

A number of issues exist in relation to winding tasks. Of particular concern are; the repetitive movements involved in a winding task; static and dynamic contraction; forward head posture, lack of upper extremity support and work load. Prolonged winding can incite or aggravate Occupational Overuse Syndrome.

The type of winding activity can be classified into two types, Intermittent and Continuous.

Intermittent winding requires starting and stopping throughout the film such as during visual assessment of the film's content and condition, or during repair work
Continuous winding is used to obtain an even wind for the purposes of preservation, cleaning, copying or transportation.

Occupational Overuse Syndrome

Occupational Overuse Syndrome is a disease of the muscoskeletal system, produced by a gradual build up of tiny amounts of damage. The damage occurs on a daily basis as a consequence of repetitive motions, and/or sustained postures, focused to only a few parts of the muscoskeletal system. It is caused by excessive and cumulative static and /or dynamic overload of the muscoskeletal system, beyond the body's capacity for recovery. Muscles are used to the point of fatigue through repeated movements (dynamic overload) or by being held rigidly in the same posture (static overload). OOS is a recurrent or persistent pain which may affect the neck, shoulders, upper and lower limbs.

Work Station Ergonomics

The right angle rule is a simple way of assessing whether a work station is ergonomically correct. Your feet should rest flat on the floor, your calves should be perpendicular to the floor and to your thighs, which should be parallel to the floor, and the angle between your thighs and back should be at least 90 degrees. Your arms should hang relaxed at your sides, and your forearms should project out straight in front of you, forming another 90 degree angle.

Some tasks performed in an archive, such as film repair, require very close work. Maintaining a good posture while performing these tasks can be seemingly impossible. "Normal" work bench/chair combinations are not especially suitable for the variety of tasks needed to examine and repair film. The problems involve the necessity for workers to bend and lean over the work inducing back strain and the close focussing for extended periods of time. This was of particular concern to staff of SSA. To assist in developing a plan to minimise the risk a consultant was employed to examine the problem and work towards a solution.

The consultant spoke with staff about their work practices and personal methods of performing the tasks, work loads and the features of their work benches. From this information risk factors associated with the benches were assessed and strategies for reducing the risk recommended. Part of the recommended solution was in the design of the bench and other parts were in administrative controls such as rest breaks and using different equipment to perform some tasks.

The important point to note here is that often there is not a single factor that will reduce the risk and usually it requires a multi-faceted approach to minimise the risk to an acceptable level.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, move, hold, or restrain a person/animal/object. In Australia one third of workplace injuries are a result of manual handling injuries.

Analysis of the work of an archive reveals that there is in fact a large degree of manual handling. 35mm film weighs around 3 kilos per 1000 feet. Even only four or five cans can represent a significant weight.

To prevent injuries attention needs to be paid to the work practices that involve manual handling. This might include administrative controls such as adequate training and policies on the maximum weight that an individual can handle, maximum height for storage and the use of lifting equipment. To complement these policies, appropriate equipment and workspaces should be provided.

Screen Based Equipment (SBE)

For audio visual archives the general definition of screen based equipment should be widened to include not only computer monitors, but also video monitors as these are quite common in the workplace. Identical environmental conditions should be used for both with lighting around the SBE between 400-600 lux and arranged so that the screen or adjacent work surfaces are not affected by glare, excessive light or reflection. The monitor should also be placed so there is no source of glare in the operator's line of vision.

Again good posture is an important consideration in designing and equipping the workspace around SBE's.

Noise

An archive is traditionally thought of as being a quiet workplace, however under some instances noise can become a problem. Noisy plant equipment such as compressors, motors or poorly designed ventilation ducting can introduce noise into a workplace at a level that can cause hearing damage.

Even at a level not sufficient to cause damage, noise can present a "nuisance" problem. Continuous exposure to these lower levels of noise is characterised by a loss of concentration and can cause an increase in stress levels among staff. In turn these can become contributing factors to other incidents.

The Australian Standard for exposure to noise in the occupational environment is an eight-hour equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level of 85dB(A). Noise measurement should be carried out by qualified people under all the operating conditions that may occur in the workplace

A-weighting refers to a standardised frequency response used in sound measuring instruments. It corresponds approximately to the human ear response at low sound levels. Sound pressure levels measured using this response, which is specified in Australian Standard AS 1259.1 1, are expressed in units of dB(A).

A recommended level for the workplace is between 45 - 55dB(A). Hearing protection must be worn in any area that has an average noise level of 85dB(A) over 8 hours. No person should be exposed to a noise level exceeding 115dBA at any time without wearing hearing protection.

Decomposition Gases

One of the most common questions asked is that of the danger to health presented by the gases given off by decomposing acetate films. Largely these gases are acetic acid (commonly known as vinegar) and they certainly can represent a hazard to people, as well as other films.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information will show the acceptable level for exposure, necessary controls for use and the types of medical conditions that can arise from over exposure. Using this information the risk control hierarchy can be used to formulate an effective solution to bring the problem under control, ideally not only for staff but also for the film.

Return to Section Contents