SAFETY AND HAZARD MANAGEMENT

(DHR 2333)

CHAPTER 5
ERGONOMICS HAZARD

By: Ms Nita Yusnee Mohamad Idris

INTRODUCTION

• The word ergonomic is derived from the Greek words ergo (work) and nomos (laws).
• It was used for the first time by Wojciech Jastrzebowski in a Polish newspaper in 1857.
• Jastrzebowski had suggested the term ‘ergonomics’ to represent the science of human work.
• Ergonomic practitioners collaborate directly with professionals in industrial engineering,
systems safety, occupational medicine and industrial hygiene to reduce or prevent damage and
injury on the job.
• Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries and other
musculoskeletal disorders, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability.
ERGONOMICS DEFINED

• International Ergonomics Association (IEA):

• ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions
among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory,
principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall
system performance.

• Ergonomics is a field of study that examines the interaction between people and their
environment.
• An ergonomic hazard in the workplace is any condition which has the potential to cause
harm to a worker.
• An ergonomic hazard may be caused by the physical condition of the workplace or the
physical demands of a particular job.
• When there is a poor fit, a worker may suffer injuries or trauma - referred to as ergonomic
disorders or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
• Whenever a situation has the potential to cause stress or strain on an employee's body, it is
an ergonomic hazard.
• Ergonomic hazards may also be referred to as ergonomic risk factors or biomechanical
stressors.
• In the workplace setting, ergonomics is concerned with the safety and efficiency of the work
setting.
• Ergonomics seeks to fit the work environment to the worker.
• Work tasks that require repetitive motions or expose a worker to excessive vibration are
ergonomic risk factors.
• Ergonomic hazards also include poor furniture or equipment placement that forces
employees to assume awkward postures or positions while working - can place strain on a
persons' muscles, bones or connective tissue, causing damage.
• Tendonitis, degenerative disc disease and trigger finger are examples of musculoskeletal
disorders that can be caused by ergonomic hazards.
• Prolonged or repeated exposure to a single hazard or exposure to a combination increases
the severity of an ergonomic risk and the likelihood than an employee will suffer injury.
HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS HAZARDS

• A field of human factor was motivated by a search for efficient and error-free operations in
the US military in the Second World War (WWII).
• With its origins derived from concerns about piloting aircraft, human factors was originally
much more focused on elements of cognition.
• There are 10 disciplines of human factor - long been recognized as a discipline of
knowledge for improving people’s health, safety, and comfort and both human and system
productivity.
• It involves a study on how humans behave physically and psychologically in relation to
particular environments, products, or services.
• Human factor is originated from research in experimental psychology, which the focus was
on human performance and systems design.
• Human Factors: Definition
• recognizing and understanding of man's characteristics, needs, abilities, and limitations
when the procedures and products of technology are being designed.
• human abilities, limitations and other characteristics that are relevant to design.
• characteristics of human beings - embraces all biomedical and psychosocial
considerations.
• human relationship with machines and equipment, with procedures and with the
environment.
• branch of psychology - the design of environments and equipment that promote optimum
use of human capabilities and optimum efficiency and comfort
• Human Factor Model (PEAR Model)
• For better understanding towards human factor term, a model used in describing human
factor is discussed.
• PEAR model has been used to characterize human factors - developed by Dr Michael
Maddox and Dr Bill Johnson as a simple way for aviation maintenance personnel to
classify human factors that relate to tasks and conditions within the maintenance
environment.
• Human factor is usually associated with the term ‘Human Error’.
• Nearly most accidents and operating upsets involve some kind of human error.
• For example, over 70% of air-crashes are the result of human error rather than
technical failure. In air crashes, errors happen mostly involve failure to comply
procedures, taking a short cut or making an (incorrect) assumption about the validity of
an instrument reading. Error may occur during the response phase of an incident.
• People
• Focus on a person who execute the work and address the physical, psychological,
physiological and psychosocial factors - also including their mental state, cognitive
capacity, physical capabilities and situations that may affect their interaction with others.

• Environment
• Two types of working environment:
• physical workplace (eg : ramp or workshop) - temperature, humidity and workplace
design.
• organizational environment - related to cooperation, communication and the culture of
the company.
• Action
• Job Task Analysis (JTA) is a method in human factors approach to identify the
knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to perform each task in a given job - to identify
what instructions, tools, and other resources are necessary.

• Resources
• The component of the people, environment, and actions dictate the resources.
• Many resources are tangible such as tools, test equipment, computers and technical
manuals; other resources are less tangible.
• Examples: number and qualifications of staff to complete a job, amount of time
allocated, and level of communication.
CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS (CTD) RISK FACTORS

• CTDs are long-term musculoskeletal injuries caused by repeated work-related activities -

cause excessive wear and tear on the muscles, tendons and sensitive nerve tissues, or
from improper positioning and unnatural postures, rapid movements, vibration and idleness.
• Coupled with a lack of adequate recovery time, the symptoms can become quite severe.
• The good news is many CTDs are preventable by making a proactive change in work
habits.
CAUSES OF CTD

• repetitive motions
• forceful exertions - pulling, pushing, lifting, and gripping
• awkward postures - body positions that are not the natural resting position
• static postures - body positions held without moving
• mechanical compression of soft tissues in the hand against edges or ridges, such as using
tools or objects which press against the palm
• fast movement of body parts
• vibration, especially in the presence of cold conditions
• mental stress
• lack of sufficient recovery time (rest breaks, days off), which will increase the risk of
developing a CTD by any of the above factors
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE TO CTD?

• Do warm-up exercises before beginning physically demanding tasks

• Plan ahead, if you will be doing a job that is awkward - think of ways to make it easier
• Rotate your work position, to change how muscles are used during your work shift.
• Use the proper tool for the job to avoid awkward movements and the need for overexertion
• Take a rest break when fatigue sets in. Just a few minutes can make a difference.
• Carefully stretch tired or overworked muscles to improve circulation and relieve tension
• When appropriate, use anti-shock or anti-vibration gloves, back supports, wrist supports, or
other personal protective equipment that helps prevent cumulative trauma
• Always use proper lifting techniques. Back strain is one of the most common CTD's
• When using hand tools keep your wrists in a "neutral" position, as opposed to repeatedly
bending them up, down or sideways during work tasks
BACK PAIN

• Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical help or miss work. Back
pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
• Fortunately, measures can help prevent or relieve most back pain episodes, especially for
people younger than age 60.
• If prevention fails, simple home treatment and using the body correctly often will heal the
back within a few weeks.
• Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain.
• Back pain can range from a muscle aching to a shooting, burning or stabbing sensation.
• Also, the pain can radiate down a leg. Bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking can
make it worse.
• Symptoms of Lower Back Pain:
• The main symptom of back pain is an ache or pain anywhere in the back, and
sometimes all the way down to the buttocks and legs.
• Some back issues can cause pain in other parts of the body, depending on the nerves
affected.
• weight loss
• Fever
• inflammation or swelling on the back
• persistent back pain, where lying down or resting does not help
• pain down the legs
• pain that reaches below the knees
• a recent injury, blow or trauma to the back
• urinary incontinence
• difficulty urinating
• fecal incontinence, or loss of control over bowel movements
• numbness around the genitals
• numbness around the anus
• numbness around the buttocks
• Causes of Lower Back Pain:
• Disc degeneration
• Herniated and ruptured discs
• Spinal nerve root injury
• Sciatica
• Skeletal irregularities
• Spondylolisthesis
• Sprain and strains
• Spinal stenosis
• Traumatic injuries
• Surgical Treatment Options for Lower Back Pain:
• Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
• Spinal decompression
• Discectomy or microdiscectomy
• Foraminotomy
• Intradiscal electrothermal therapy
• Nucleoplasty, or plasma disc decompression
• Radiofrequency denervation
• Spinal fusion
• Artificial disc replacement 
• When to see a doctor?
• You should seek medical help if you experience any numbness or tingling, or if you have
back pain:
• that does not improve with rest
• after an injury or fall
• with numbness in the legs
• with weakness
• with fever
• with unexplained weight loss
LIST OF REFERENCES
• https://www.workplacetesting.com/definition/1662/ergonomic-hazard
• https://www.hfes.org/About-HFES/What-is-Human-Factors-and-Ergonomics
• https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2018/09/
matecconf_mucet2018_05047.pdf
• https://orthosportsmed.com/2513-2/
• https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/work-related-stress