Workplace Ergonomics

Creating a Healthy Workplace … …

 Session at a glance

❖ Key Concepts for Improving Efficiency.

❖ Definition of Ergonomics and MSDs.
❖ Ergonomics Risk Factors.
❖ Symptoms of MSD.
❖ Set up of workstation to minimize stress and strain.
❖ Exercise for reducing MSDs (2nd presentation).
 Efficiency Improvement: Key Concepts
Hazard Control
Loss
Analysis
High Reliability Organization

Eliminate
LEAN Waste
Create a

Eliminate Improve
Six Sigma Errors
Eliminate
Failure
Efficiency

Eliminate (Reduce the Cost per Unit)

Ergonomics Stressors

Encourage
OBM desired
(Organizational behavior
Behavior
Management)
 What is Ergonomics?
ERGO = “work”
NOMICS = “rules” or “laws”
Ergonomics literally means “the laws of work”

OSHA defines ergonomics as the science of

“designing the job to fit the worker, instead of
forcing the worker to fit the job.”

Close harmony between equipment and people.

 How Ergonomics Can Help
WIN! – WIN!
EMPLOYEE: EMPLOYER:
✓Fewer injuries. ✓ Increase work quality.
✓Improved Health & Safety. ✓ Improve Morale.
✓Reduce absenteeism. ✓ Increase productivity &
efficiency.
✓Lower worker turnover.
✓ Lowered workers’
✓Fatigue.
compensation costs.
✓Increased the quality of life.
 Ergonomic Factors
Two basic categories of Ergonomic Factors to be
considered…

• Environmental conditions: your physical

surroundings.

• Physical stressors: how your body reacts to

work practices.
 Environmental Factors

➢ Environmental factors
may affect :
 Hearing,
 Vision,
➢ Some examples of ergonomic
 General comfort and environmental problems are:
health.
 Indoor Air Quality.
 Excessive noise.
 Improper lighting.
 Temperature extremes etc.
 Physical Stressors
➢ Physical stressors place
pressure or stress on parts of
the body:
 Joints
 Muscles
 Nerves
➢ These injuries are sometimes
 Tendons referred to as….
 Bones. ➢ “Repetitive Strain Injuries”(RSIs).
➢ “Musculoskeletal Disorders”
(MSDs).
 Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD)

Definition:
Illness resulting from cumulative trauma to the
muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints,
cartilage, blood vessels or spine discs.
 What Are MSDs?
Injuries or disorders involving:
 Muscles
 Tendons and ligaments
 Joints
 Cartilage
 Blood vessels
 Nerves.
 Symptoms of a MSD
 Painful Joints

 Pain, tingling or numbness in hands or feet

 Shooting or stabbing pains in arms or legs

 Swelling or inflammation

 Pain in wrists, shoulders, forearms, knees

 Fingers or toes turning white

 Back and neck pain

 Stiffness or burning sensations

 What is The Musculoskeletal System?
The Musculoskeletal System includes the following:
1. Bones – The load-bearing structure of the body.
2. Muscles- Tissue that contract to create movement.
3. Tendons – Tissues that connect muscles to bones.
4. Ligaments – Tissues that connect bones to bones.
5. Cartilage – Tissue that provides cushioning and reduces friction
between bones.
6. Nerves – Communication system that links muscles, tendons and
other tissue with the brain.
7. Blood Vessels – Tubes that circulate nutrients throughout the
body.
 Ergonomics Risk Factors

 Repetition - task or series of motions performed over &

over.
 Forceful Exertions - amount of physical effort required
to complete task.
 Awkward Postures - reaching, twisting, bending,
holding fixed positions.
 Contact Stress - localized pressure exerted against the
skin by external force.
 Repetition
If you find yourself doing a job task over and over, you
should take adequate breaks from the repetitive motion.
This means:
 Get up and move around:- move your printer to a location

where you have to get up.

 During a break roll your wrist and hands, this will help if

you’ve been typing for a long time.

 Try to vary your tasks as much as possible so you aren’t in a

position where you have to keep doing repetitive motions.

 Forceful Exertion

 To minimize forceful exertion do not type with much

force, use as light a touch as possible. This means no
pounding in the keyboard!!

 With everything we pick up, or push against, we should

try and do it with as little force as possible.

 Don’t show angry with your instruments.

 Awkward Posture

Where your telephone is located on your desk could

possibly force you into an awkward posture that you
aren’t even aware of…..
 Make sure your telephone is within easy reach.

 Make sure you do not have to twist (awkward posture)

at the waist to reach the phone.

 Contact Stress
 There are a couple of places you may feel contact
stress:
✓ If you are resting your wrist on a sharp edge you
are creating a contact stress.
[To fix - do not rest your wrists on anything that will leave an
indent mark on your skin.]
✓ If the chair you are sitting having seat pan (curtain)
that pushes against the back of your knees you are
experiencing a contact stress.
[You may need to get a chair with a sliding seat pan to give you
enough room between the edge of the seat and the back of your
knees.]
Ergonomic Workstations
Emergency Preparedness

 Emergency Planning Steps:

 Become familiar with evacuation routes
 Know where the evacuation assembly area(s)
 Look around and note locations of:
 Exits (not elevators)
 Fire extinguishers
 Fire alarm pull stations
 First aid kits
 Emergency shower and eyewashes
 Memorize emergency phone numbers.
 INJURY EMPLOYEE
DATA MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE
AWARENESS ENGAGEMENT
ANALYSIS TRAINING COMMITMENT

ERGONOMICS RISK
COST-BENEFIT
ANALYSIS PROGRAM ASSESSMENT
AND
RE-ASSESSMENT

COST OF PROGRAM
WORKPLACE RISK FACTOR IMPLEMENTATION
WORKPLACE DESIGN
INJURIES IDENTIFICATION
EH&S Web Page
The good news is …

There are simple ways to help yourself!

Thank You …