Ergonomics

Concerns In The
Workplace
Safety and Health Officer Course

Definition of Ergonomics
Ergonomics is an approach which puts
human needs and capabilities at the
focus
of
designing
technological
systems. The aim is to ensure that
humans
and
technology
work
in
complete harmony, with the equipment
and
tasks
aligned
to
human
characteristics
(The Ergonomics Society, UK -www.ergonomics.org.uk)

Definition
ERGO (Work and effort) + NOMOS (law or
surroundings)
= law of work
the science on how to fit a system to a
person using scientific approach
fitting the task and working environment
to the worker

Ergonomic Main
Concerns
To address two (2) main issues
1. To minimize legislative risk
Minimize the health related injuries
such as acute or chronic
musculoskeletal disorders (where the
OHD and OHN must be concerned of)
Minimize the potential work overload that
creates unsafe acts or errors.
2. To minimize financial risk
Increase work efficiency
To have better work standard

Primary Tools (Human Assets

or Capital)
Secondary
tools
-Hand
tools
-Equipme
nt
-Machines
Primary
tools
-PPE
- workers

Work
Damages to both
tools
due to
uncontrolled
exposures to
work

Productivity
& Quality

Failures of OH Practitioners
in Addressing Ergonomic
Concerns

Lacks of understanding the OSH Act

requirements.
Failure to make the management
understand the need to address
ergonomic concerns that are related to
health
Lack of strategies to help the
management control the ergonomic
risks.

OSH Act 1994

Objects of the Act (summary)
1. To secure the safety, health and welfare of
persons at work,
2. To protect persons at a place other than
persons at work,
3.To promote an occupational
environment for persons at work which
is adapted to their physiological and
psychological needs
4. To have system of regulations and approved
codes of practices in addition to the Act.

Important Ergonomic
Issues in OH
Define
Physiological needs
Psychological needs
Define ergonomic related injuries
Define symptoms of ergonomic type
injuries
Detection of early symptoms
Monitoring the progress of symptoms
Managing the symptoms

Physiological /
Psychological Needs
What are the physiological /
psychological variables
Must be related to work
What are the limits?
How to measure them?
Do we have guidelines and what to do if
dont have them
How to proceed?

Define Ergonomic
Related Injuries

General definition

Musculoskeletal injuries
Sprain or strain injuries

Specific definitions
Work related issues : evidences and
verification process
Work Restricted vs Light Duty
Back to work issues

Managing symptoms VS
Managing Injuries
The new trend is managing symptoms
What symptoms to be monitored?
Issues to be addressed
What are stages of symptoms for
ergonomic related injuries
What the intervention required for each
stage
What are the differences between acute
and chronic type symptoms

Progress of Symptoms of
Injury

Strategies of Managing
Symptoms

Once classified as an ergonomics

case, the worker must be monitored.
Define the physiological factors that
are affected.
Get the work factors that contribute
to the progress of the symptoms
(ergo assessment is required)
Communicate to the OSH committee

Conclusion
Ergonomic concerns that are Health
related must be addressed in the
contact of the law.
Ergonomic related injuries should be
addressed at the symptom levels and
not at the injury level.
Guidelines on managing ergonomic
concerns in term of OH are needed.

Ergonomics
Ergonomics = Continuous maximizing
(Productivity and
Competitiveness)
Ergonomics = max Work (Efficiency + Std
+ S + H)
= measurable
= minimize cost per employee

Example: Application of
Ergonomics
Lamp
post at
high
raised
structur
e

An example of this activity

Another example
90% of his
body
Expose to
fall

Proposed design
The lamp
post that can
bend down

Compare these two same

operations