EOH3202 Occupational Health

ERGONOMICS
PROBLEMS IN THE
WORKPLACE
Emilia Zainal Abidin
JKPP
2023
Learning
outcomes
 At the end of this lecture, it is expected that students shall be able to
 Explain the definition and basis of ergonomics
 List out types of Ergonomics Risk Factors (ERFs) at workplace
 Relate the ergonomics issues (sign, symptoms and factors)
contribute to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
 Identify the provisions of legal requirement in Malaysia in
relation to ergonomics
 Identify several methods to control and management ergonomic
problems

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What is Ergonomics?
 Ergonomics (or human factors) is
the scientific discipline concerned Derived from the Greek
 ergon (work) and
with the understanding of  nomos (laws) to denote
the science of work
interactions among humans and
other elements of a system

 Ergonomics is fitting the person to

the job. the job to the person.

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The need for ergonomics

 To maintain and maximize productivity and competitiveness

 Legal requirement
 Safety (to minimize unsafe acts)
 Health (to minimize acute and chronic injuries)
 Ever efficient workplace (simple to human workers)
 Achievable Quality (within the human physical and mental
capacity)

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Example of Good Ergonomics
BEFORE & AFTER BEFORE & AFTER

BEFORE & AFTER

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 Ergonomic Issues in Global
Burden of Diseases – US Data

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Ergonomics Issues in Malaysia

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Ergonomic Issues in Malaysia
– SOCSO (2009-2014)

Trend of recorded musculoskeletal disorders relative to occupational diseases cases and

compensation reported for permanent disability from 2009 – 2014
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Five most affected body parts that have been reported
in literature from 2010–2019, Malaysian manufacturing
industries
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
352540087_A_Literature_Review_on_Occupational_Musculoskeletal_Disorder_MSD_Among_I
ndustrial_Workers_in_Malaysia

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Economics of Ergonomics
 66% increase in productivity (2% - 104%)

 44% increase in quality (4% - 73%)

• 82% increase in safety records (52% - 100%)

• 71% increase in cost benefits (38% - 100%)

 In some cases, it can take as little as 8 months to 'payback' the monetary investment in a
safety initiative.

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 Ergonomics Categories
Physical Ergonomics
Physical ergonomics is concerned with human anatomical, anthropometric,
physiological and biomechanical characteristics as they relate to physical activity
Cognitive Ergonomics
Cognitive ergonomics is concerned with mental processes, such as perception,
memory, reasoning, and motor response, as they affect interactions among
humans and other elements of a system
Organizational Ergonomics
Organizational ergonomics is concerned with the optimization of
sociotechnical systems, including their organizational structures, policies, and
processes

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Ergonomics Risk Factors (ERFs) -
Primary
Primary Risk Factors

Physical Psychosocial Environment

Factors Factors Factors

Awkward Postures Work Stress Lighting

Repetition Motions Work Load Temperatur
Forceful Exertions Work Pace e
Vibration Social Ventilation
Contact Stress Environmen Noise
t
Monotony
Task
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Physical Ergonomics Risk
Factors – What are they?
Ergonomic Risk Factors (ERFs) - Physical

1. Awkward Postures - Postur badan yg kekok /statik/tidak neutral Others ERFs

2. Repetition motions - Kerja berulang kali
3. Forceful Exertions - Daya beban yg berlebihan Noise (kebisingan)
4. Vibration - Gegaran akibat penggunaan alatan tangan Temperature (Suhu)
5. Contact Stress - Pemicitan kepada saluran darah, Lighting / Glare
otot-otot dan tendon akibat dari penggunaan alatan (Cahaya/Pantulan)
tangan

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Ergonomic Risk Factors
Awkward Postures Forceful Exertions
Posture is the position your body is in and Force is the amount of muscular effort
affects muscle groups that are involve in expended to perform work. This will result
physical activity in fatigue and reduces physical work
capacity

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Repetitive Motions Contact Stress
In repetitive work the same types of Pressure points result from the body pressing against hard or sharp

Motion are performed over and over surfaces

again using the same muscles, tendons,

or joints

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 Other ERFs – Environment
Vibration Factors
Using vibrating tools such as sanders,
Lighting Condition – eye strain, poor postures
grinders, impact guns, drills, chain
Temperature – hot and cold environment
saws, and circular saws can cause
Noise
exposure to hand-arm vibration

Whole-body vibration commonly

results from sitting or standing on
work surfaces that vibrate include
vibrating vehicles, equipment, and
platforms

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Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
due to exposure to ERFs

If your work is performed in

1. Awkward postures Can increased the
(bending, twisting etc) Fatigue Injuries of this type are
and known as
2. Forceful (heavy load to Discomfort
lift, lower & carry) Musculoskeletal Disorders
on the body parts (MSDs).
that may lead to the
3. Highly repetitive work Injuries.
with long duration.

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 Musculoskeletal Disease
DISABILITY

Disorders, Injury, Diseases

PRONOUNCED SYMPTOMS
Lack of recovery Soreness, Aches & Pains
when cumulative fatigue exist
-Affecting Performance
MINOR SYMPTOMS
Occupational movement problem, Minor aches, Fatigue, Discomfort
-Considered ‘Normal’
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Risk of Injuries
Risk of injury depends upon:

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 Common MSDs injuries/risk of
injuries
• Tendonitis
• Tenosynovitis
• Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome
• Thoracic Outlet
Syndrome
• Hand-arm Vibration
Syndrome
• Low Back Pain
• Degenerated Disk
Disease

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 Signs & Symptoms of MSDs Injuries
Signs
• Decreased range of Symptoms
•Pain
motion
•Numbness
• Deformity
•Tingling
• Decreased grip
•Burning
strength
•Cramping
• Loss of muscle
•Stiffness
function
Symptom...cannot be seen
Sign... can be physically but can be felt by the
observed, felt or heard individual

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 Example of complaints at workplace
Case Study – Appendix 1
“Beginilah Encik, kerja saya hari-hari. Dah
10 tahun saya kerja di sini.
Sepanjang 10 tahun bekerja, saya
mengalami sakit belakang yang teramat
sangat dan rasa tak selesa dan susah
nak buat kerja. Bukan itu sahaja encik,
leher dan bahu juga terasa sakit dan
menganggu kerja saya. Saya rasa sakit
belakang, leher dan bahu berpunca dari
kerja saya encik. Ditambah pula, siku kiri
pula hari-hari sakit dan kadang-kala
rasa selesa dan kadang-kala tidak. Tapi
saya rasa bukan sebab tempat kerja
encik, mungkin sebab saya kerap main
tarik tali lepas waktu kerja. Pergelangan
tangan OK dan tiada sakit”.

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 Self-Assessment Musculoskeletal Pain/Discomfort Survey Form
Cornell Musculoskeletal Questionnaire
1. Sakit belakang yang
teramat sakitnya
dan rasa sangat
tidak selesa dan
sangat susah
nak buat kerja

2. Leher dan bahu juga

terasa sakit dan
rasa sedikit
menganggu kerja
saya. Saya rasa
sakit belakang, leher
dan bahu berpunca
dari kerja saya
encik.

3. Siku tangan kiri pula

hari-hari sakit dan
rasa kadang-kala
selesa kadang-kali
tidak dan saya rasa
bukan sebab tempat
kerja encik, mungkin
saya kerap main
tarik tali lepas kerja
encik.

4. Pergelangan tangan
OK dan tiada sakit

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 Provision of Safety and
Health Act on Ergonomics

Relevant provisions in OSHA 1994 & FMA 1967

Relevant Guidelines related to ergonomics

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 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Occupational First
Safety & Health Act 1994 Aid

Occupational
Accident
Safety & Health
Reporting
Policy

Safety & Health Safety & Health

Committees Training
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 • According to the OSHA 1994
(Act 514) stated that in Section 4(c)
(one of the objective for this act):

“To promote an occupational environment which is adapted

to the physiological and psychological need of workers”
“Untuk menggalakkan suatu persekitaran pekerjaan yang sesuai dengan
keperluan fisiologikal dan psikologikal pekerja”

• It is also the duty of every employer to ensure,

so far as is practicable, the safety, health and
welfare at work of all the employees
• Based on the above salient points of the OSH
Act 1994 ergonomics plays a very important
role toward worker’s safety and health

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 Factories & Machinery Act 1967
Part II : Safety, Health and Welfare

• According to the Section 12 in FMA 1967

(Act 139) stated that:

– No person shall be employed to

lift load so heavy so as to cause
bodily injury to him

(Tiada seorang pun yg diambil kerja untuk

mengangkat beban yang terlalu berat dimana
boleh menyebabkan kecederaan tubuh badan
kepadanya)

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 Occupational
Safety & Health
Policy

Example of UPM OSH Policy

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 DOSH Guidelines related to the Ergonomics

 Guidelines On Occupational Safety And Health

For Working With Video Display Units (VDU’s)
2003
 Guideline On Occupational Safety And Health
For Seating At Work 2003
 Guidelines of Heat Stress Management at the
Workplace 2016
 Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health
for Lighting at Workplace 2018
 Guidelines for Manual Handling at Workplace
2018
 Guidelines On Occupational Safety And Health Provides systematic plan
In The Office 1996 and objective assessment
 Guidelines On Ergonomics Risk Assessment at in identifying, assessing
Workplace 2017 and controlling ERF @
 Guidelines On Occupational Vibration 2003 work
 Guidelines On Occupational Safety And Health
For Standing At Work 2002

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 The use of 10 ergonomic principles to
prevent ergonomic problems at workplace

PRINCIPLE 1 – Work in PRINCIPLE 2 – Reduce

Neutral Postures Excessive Force
Your posture provides a good starting Excessive force on your joints can
point for evaluating the tasks that you create a potential for fatigue and injury
do. The best positions in which to
work are those that keep the body "in
neutral."

Maintain the When standing, putting one

"S-curve" foot up on a footrest helps to
It is safer to push rather than pull
of the spine keep the spinal column in
proper alignment. 22

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 PRINCIPLE 3 – Keep
Everything in Easy Reach
This principle is redundant with
posture, but it helps to evaluate a task
from this specific perspective.
PRINCIPLE 4 – Work at
Proper Heights
Working at the right height is also a
way to make things easier.

Cut-out workstation Reach Envelope Do most work at elbow height 23

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 PRINCIPLE 5 – Reduce
Excessive Motions
The principle about the number of
motions you make throughout a day,
whether with your fingers, your wrists,
your arms, or your back
One of the simplest ways to reduce
manual repetitions is to use power
tools whenever possible.
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PRINCIPLE 6 – Minimize
Fatigue and Static Load
Holding the same position for a period
of time is known as static load. It
creates fatigue and discomfort and can
interfere with work.
Using a fixture eliminates the
need to hold onto the part
33
 PRINCIPLE 7 – Minimize
Pressure Points
Excessive pressure points, sometimes
called "contact stress."
Adding a cushioned grip and
contouring the handles to fit your hand
Rounding out the edge and padding
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PRINCIPLE 8 – Provide
Clearance
Work areas need to be set up so that
you have sufficient room for your head,
your knees, and your feet.
34
 PRINCIPLE 9 - Maintain a
Comfortable Environment
This principle is more or less a catch-all
that can mean different things
depending upon the nature of the types
of operations that you do.
PRINCIPLE 10 – Improve
work organization
Improvements can be made in the
system which your work is organized.
Plan, Be involved, Communicate,
Enlarge jobs, Be part of the team, Be
considerate
.

Lighting and Glare Task lighting

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 How to control and manage
ergonomic problems at
workplace

Source: ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System

(OHSMS)

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Hierarchy of Control Methods -
Elimination
• In the application of ergonomics, elimination is the process of
removing of unnecessary process, tools or machines or
substances from the workplace.
• For example, instead of lifting and transferring the object or
raw material to another work section, the risks of ergonomics
arising from manual handling can be totally eliminated by
performing the work process immediately

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Substitution
• Substitution in application of ergonomics is maintaining the existing process but replacing the existing tools or
equipment, mechanization and automation in the mitigation of risks of ergonomics. Some example of
substitution is given as follows;
– The weight of object can be substantially reduced for lifting in manual handling by substituting wooden crates to a lighter yet stronger
material such as plastics crates. This directly reduces the force required for lifting
– Substitute existing tool or equipment which emits high level of vibration or noise to one which produces low or no vibration or noise

Wooden to plastics crates

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Isolation
• Isolation is a common strategy used to separate the hazards
 from the employees or operators.
• In the case of ergonomics, environmental risk factors such as
noise can be isolated using barrier; either wall or partition
of soundproof material to contain the noise produced by
machineries or processes.

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Engineering Control
 Include rearranging, modifying, redesigning, or replacing tools,
equipment, workstations, packaging, parts, or products.
• Four (4) types of ergonomics improvement in engineering
 control:-
– Individual Workstation (stesen kerja individu)
– Movement Materials (pergerakan material)
– Storage Materials (penyimpanan material)
– Tools (alatan)

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 Improvement for Individual Workstation

• Raise or lower the work surface or

the employee – reduces bending,
reaching, and awkward postures.
Tinggikan atau rendahkan tempat kerja atau pekerja –
mengurangkan postur membongkok, mencapai dan postur
kekok

Adjustable work surface Scissor lift Adjustable work platform

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 Improvement for Individual Workstation

• Use cut-out work surfaces – allows

employees to get closer to their work, reducing
visual efforts and awkward postures (reaching).
Gunakan permukaan meja “cut-out” – membolehkan
pekerja supaya lebih dekat dengan kerja, mengurangkan
kesan visual dan postur kekok (mencapai)

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 Improvement for Individual Workstation

• Reposition the work – reduces bending

and reaching
Mengatur kedudukan tempat kerja –mengurangkan
posisi
membongkok dan mencapai

Tilting work table

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 Improvement for Individual Workstation

• Reconfigure the workstation – sliding

and rolling replaces lifting and carrying
Konfigurasi tempat kerja – gelongsor dan penggolek
menggantikan kerja mengangkat dan membawa

Roller conveyor Roller ball tables

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 Improvement for Individual Workstation

• Use adjustable equipment–

allows comfortable, upright working
posture.
Gunakan peralatan boleh laras -
memberikan keselesaan
dan postur tegak semasa bekerja

Adjustable microscope Adjustable chair and table

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 • Provide comfort– reduce legs fatigue,
contact stress, eye strain and make it easier.
Keselesaan – mengurangkan keletihan kaki, tekanan pada
anggota badan, ketegangan mata dan membuatkan ia lebih
mudah

Foot rest Forearm Pad Knee Pad

Good task lighting

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 Improvement for Movement Materials

• Lifting– lifting aids reduce force, repetition and

awkward postures in lifting or handling tasks
Mengangkat – alat bantuan mengangkat mengurangkan
daya, kerja berulang-ulang dan postur kekok dalam
mengangkut atau mengendalikan tugasan Powered mechanical lift

Mobile scissors lift

Vacuum – assist devices Manipulators Workstation crane

06/15/2023 Annual Review Automatic feed system47

155
 • Transporting– mechanical aids reduce
force, repetition and awkward postures in
transporting materials and products around
the workplace Pengangkutan – alat bantuan
mekanikal mengurangkan
daya, kerja berulang-ulang dan postur kekok
semasa mengangkut bahan dan produk di
seluruh tempat kerja

Shelf cart Transport cart

Drum trolley c1a56rt

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 Powered conveyor Height adjustable cart for heavy load

Portable roller conveyor

– eliminates carrying of products between workstation 157

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 Improvement for Movement Materials

Forklift Powered lift truck

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV)

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 Improvement for
Storage Materials
• Provide adequate, well-lit storage with easy
access for employees – reduces repetitive
reaching, bending, twisting and forceful exertions
Menyediakan ruang penyimpanan yang mencukupi, yang
terang dan mudah diakses oleh pekerja - mengurangkan
capaian berulang-ulang, membongkok, berpusing dan daya
secara paksa

Mobile, lightweight Tilted container

storage carts container

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 • Increase the efficient use of storage space by
grouping stored items by container size or shape
Meningkatkan kecekapan penggunaan ruang penyimpanan
melalui penyimpanan barangan secara berkumpulan
kumpulan mengikut saiz atau bentuk bekas

Large containers Small containers Rolls

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 Improvement for Tools

• Good design and proper maintenance can reduce

pressure points on the hands, awkward
posture(e.g., bent wrists), forceful exertions and
other contributing factors.
Reka bentuk yang baik dan penyelenggaraan yang betul boleh
mengurangkan titik tekanan pada tangan, postur kekok
(contohnya, pergelangan tangan bengkok), daya secara
paksa dan lain-lain faktor penyumbang.

Pliers and cutting tools –

Rounded, soft and padded adjustable spring return to reduce
hand tools fatigue provide a better fit to the
hand

161

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Administrative Control
 Administrative Improvement Options
Providing variety in jobs / job rotation
Adjusting work schedules and work pace
Providing recovery time (i.e., muscle relaxation time)
Modifying work practices
Ensuring regular housekeeping and maintenance of work spaces, tools, and
equipment
Encouraging exercise (e.g. Physical Exercise Program)
Policy, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) etc.
Awareness training and education
Medical Prevention Program

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 REST BREAKS & EXERCISE

Muscle Care & Preparation

Rest Breaks

Eye Strain Exercises for Rest Breaks

EXERCISE
-reduce muscle fatigue
-improve circulation
 PPE Improvement Options

PPE  Anti-vibration gloves

 Anti contact stress glove
 Knee pad, forearm pad

Knee Pad
Anti contact stress glove Forearm Pad 163
Anti-vibration gloves
163

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 The workers in Johor carries basket for
harvesting, weigh 50-70 kg each, and
cumulatively carry 500-600 kg in a
day! To tip fruits out, workers will
work in awkward positions like picture
on right 

Berita in Bernama - https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=WDhW4T-Ujak&t=2s
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Thank you for your
attention

The end