Ergonomics

What Is Ergonomics

* Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker. When there is a mismatch between the physical requirements of the job and the physical capacity of the worker, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) can result.

Unsafe Situations

• Repetitive tasks

• Improper posture

• Improper lifting

• Poor tool design

• Poor lighting and glare

• Noise

• Temperature extremes.

Twelve Principles Of Ergonomics

• 1- Keep everyting in easy reach

• 2- Work at proper heights

• 3- Reduce excessive force

• 4- Work in good postures

• 5- Reduce excessive repetition

• 6- Minimize fatigue

Continued

• 7- Minimize direct pressure

• 8- Provide adjustability and change posture

• 9- Provide clearance and access

• 10- Maintain a comfortable environment

• 11- Enhance clarity and understanding

• 12- Improve work organization

1- Keep Everything in Easy Reach

• Keep products, parts, and tools that are frequently needed within easy reach.

• Long reaches often cause you to twist, bend, and strain which in turn makes work more difficult.

Easy Reach

Work At Proper Heights

• A common workplace problem is a mismatch in heights between employees and the work that they are doing.

• This leads to a poor postures and unnecessary work.

Proper Heights

3- Reduce Excessive Forces

• Excessive forces load the muscles, creating a potential for fatigue and injury.

• Power grips are less stressful than pinch grip.

• Use tool grips that are neither too wide nor too small.

Reduce Excessive Forces

Reduce Excessive Forces

4- Work In Good Posture

• Use tools, equipment, and workstation layouts that allow you to work in the best possible posture.

• Good posture reduces the stress on your body and makes it easier for doing the job.

Work In Good Posture

5- Reduce Excessive Repetition

• Minimizing the number of motions required to do a task reduce the wear and tear on your body.

• Allow machines to do repetition for you.

Reduce Excessive Repetition

6- Minimize Fatigue

• Overloading your physical and mental capabilities can contribute to injuries, accidents, poor quality

• Good design of your jobs can help prevent undesirable fatigue.

7- Minimize Direct Pressure

• Direct pressure is uncomfortable.

• It can inhibit nerve function and blood flow.

• It commonly affects :• Palm of the hands• Forearms• Thighs

Minimize Direct Pressure

8- Provide Adjustability and Change of Posture

• Adjustability makes it easier to customize your workstation to fit your needs.

• Maintain better heights and reaches and to avoid pressure points and awkward postures.

Continued

9- Provide Clearance and Access

• It is important that you have both adequate workspace and easy access to everything you need.

• Clearance is needed for your: Head, Arms, Feet, Knees, Torso.

Clearance and Access

10- Maintain a Comfortable Environment

• Seek to create surrounding conditions that enhance your ability to get the job done.

• Appropriate Lighting• Avoid Temperature

Extremes• Isolate Vibration

Comfortable Environment

11- Enhance Clarity and Understanding

• Mistakes and errors may result from poor design of the displays and controls you use.

• The configuration and layout of these displays and controls can enhance or hinder your performance.

12- 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.

Cumulative Trauma

• One of the important goals of ergonomics is to prevent a type of disorder called “cumulative Trauma”

• Wear and tear on the tissue surrounding your joints.

Symptoms of CTD

• Limited range of motion

• Stillness in joints

• Numbness or tingling sensations

• Popping and cracking in the joints

• Redness, swelling, and local skin warmth

• Weakness and clumsiness

• “Burning” sensations

Risk Factors

• Repetition

• Force

• Awkward Postures

• Direct Pressure

• Vibration

• Temperature Extremes

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Good Posture

Work Station

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Seated – Work Range

When Getting Something From the Ground