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Understanding Ergonomics: Enhancing Workplace Safety and Comfort

Ergonomics is the science of matching jobs, systems, and environments to the capabilities of workers. It aims to prevent injuries and improve worker satisfaction by addressing individual needs. Without proper ergonomic practices, workers may suffer from soft tissue injuries, which include disorders of muscles, tendons, and nerves caused by repetitive or forceful tasks and awkward positions. Recognizing risk factors such as force, repetition, duration, posture, and contact stress is crucial. Implementing ergonomic solutions through redesign, training, and protective measures can minimize risks and enhance comfort.

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Understanding Ergonomics: Enhancing Workplace Safety and Comfort

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  1. Chapter 2.4 Ergonomics

  2. What is Ergonomics? • A science that matches jobs, systems, and environments to the capabilities of workers. • It helps to avoid injury and increases worker satisfaction. • Specific to individual worker needs – what may be a risk for one person may not be a risk for another.

  3. Injuries • When workplaces are not ergonomically friendly, soft tissue injuries may occur. • Soft Tissue Injury: any injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels. • Ex. Pulling a muscle, spraining an ankle, tennis elbow, carpel tunnel, etc. • Soft tissue injuries are often caused by completing repetitive or forceful tasks and maintaining constant or awkward positions.

  4. Signs/Symptoms of Soft Tissue Injuries • Numbness • Tingling/burning sensations • Pain/tenderness • Swelling • Redness • Problems moving • Loss of strength

  5. Posture • Proper (neutral) posture is very important because it places minimal strain on muscles, tendons and joints. • Natural posture for standing: • Standing straight, arms at sides, elbows bent at 90o, ears over shoulders/shoulders over hips. • Natural posture for sitting: • Natural curve at spine, elbows, hips and knees at 90o, feet flat on floor, ears over shoulders/shoulders over hips.

  6. Ergonomic Risk Factors • Risk Factor – something that may cause or contribute to an injury. • Main risk factors for soft tissue injuries are: • Force needed to move objects. • Repetition – using the same muscles all the time with little time for recovery. • Duration – how long a worker performs a task. • Posture – moving body away from neutral posture. • Contact stress – when the body is pressed against a hard surface. • Other risk factors – workplace layout, type of equipment, work environment/organization.

  7. Risk Evaluation • A risk evaluation is an examination of the areas where ergonomic risks have been identified. • A risk assessmentwill determine how serious the risk is. The following must be examined: • Body exposure • Intensity of risk • Time exposed to risk factor • Duration of risk factor

  8. How can Ergonomic Risks be Controlled • Engineering Controls • Redesign of the task or work area. • Should be the first line of defense against ergonomic hazards. • Administrative Controls • Second line of defense. • Implementing policies to minimize risks, provide education/training. • PPE • Used as a last resort to minimize ergonomic risks • Knee pads, gloves. • See Pages 307 – 314.

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