WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT & ERGONOMICS

History of Ergonomics Workstation Design Principle Ergonomic Risk Workplace Environment Proper & Safe Methods of Ergonomic

PART 1

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HISTORY OF ERGONOMICS
Ergonomics is a work of selection, work of environment and inventions of the tools.

1633 to 1714 shows complaint about Disease of workers with occupations and musculoskeletal. 1713 the complaint was written and published by Bernardino Ramazinni . 1857 Wojciech Jastzebowksi created a special word as ERGONOMICS in the philosophical description. This was based on the truths drawn from the Science of Nature 1900s people were working with machine tools and

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HISTORY OF ERGONOMICS

Ergonomics is the combination of two Greek words; ergon which means work and nomos which means laws. This word is being used to describe the science of designing the job. All aspects from physical to environmental factors are covered in the ergonomics.
nerves, joints, muscles, tendons and bones hearing, vision and general health

The study of relationship between people and their workplace comes under ergonomics.

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HISTORY OF ERGONOMICS

The jobs of workers are matched according to their needs and abilities under ergonomics. With the concept of ergonomic this method was improved. Method of Scientific Management was used to improve the efficiency of work. How it was improved? Only due to the development of the tools which the worker were using and this method became very popular. Ergonomics contains the knowledge of doing work in well organized, healthy and efficient manner.

HISTORY OF ERGONOMICS

Ergonomics is the science of designing the workplace environment to fit the user. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability. Wikipedia Ergonomics (or human factors) 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.

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WORKSTATION DESIGN PRINCIPLE

General Workstation Design Principles

Make the workstation adjustable, enabling both large and small persons to fit comfortably and reach materials easily. Locate all materials and tools in front of the worker to reduce twisting motions. Provide sufficient work space for the whole body to turn. Avoid static loads, fixed work postures, and job requirements in which operators must frequently or for long periods. lean to the front or the side, hold a limb in a bent or extended position, tilt the head forward more than 15 degrees, or

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WORKSTATION DESIGN PRINCIPLE

General Workstation Design Principles
Set the work surface above elbow height for tasks involving fine visual details and below elbow height for tasks requiring downward forces and heavy physical effort. Provide adjustable, properly designed chairs with the following features: adjustable seat height, adjustable up and down back rest, including a lumbar (lower-back) support padding that will not compress more than an inch under the weight of a seated individual A chair that is stable to floor at all times (5-leg base)

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WORKSTATION DESIGN PRINCIPLE

General Workstation Design Principles

Allow the workers, at their discretion, to alternate between sitting and standing. Provide floor mats or padded surfaces for prolonged standing. Support the limbs: provide elbow, wrist, arm, foot, and back rests as needed and feasible. Use gravity to move materials. Design the workstation so that arm movements are continuous and curved. Avoid straight-line, jerking arm motions.

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WORKSTATION DESIGN PRINCIPLE

General Workstation Design Principles
Design so arm movements pivot about the elbow rather than around the shoulder to avoid stress on shoulder, neck, and upper back. Design the primary work area so that arm movements or extensions of more than 15 in. are minimized. Provide dials and displays that are simple, logical, and easy to read, reach, and operate. Eliminate or minimize the effects of undesirable environmental conditions such as excessive noise, heat, humidity, cold, and poor illumination.

*Adapted from design checklists developed by Dave Ridyard, CPE, CIH, CSP. Applied Ergonomics Technology, 270 Mather Road, Jenkintown, PA 19046-

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WORKSTATION DESIGN PRINCIPLE

Risky Actions & Position Examples

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WORKSTATION DESIGN PRINCIPLE

Risky Actions & Position Examples

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WORKSTATION DESIGN PRINCIPLE

Risky Actions & Position Examples

12 ERGONOMICS PRINCIPLES
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Keep everything within easy reach Work at proper height Reduce excessive force Work in good posture Reduce excessive repetition Minimize fatigue Minimize direct pressure Provide adjustability and change of posture Provide clearance and access Maintain a comfortable environment Enhance clarity and understanding Improve work organization

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Ergonomic Risk Assessment A risk assessment is defined as a careful examination of potential hazardous factors that could cause harm to people in the workplace. Why the need to do a MSD Risk Assessment? Doing a risk assessment will help employers identify the significant risks in their workplace, and prevent Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) from developing. A good risk assessment for occupational health will help avoid accidents and computer injuries. These injuries affect job satisfaction, company morale.

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Why the need to do a MSD Risk Assessment? They also affect the bottom lines of companies as these computer injuries lead to higher employee turnover, compensation claims and higher insurance premiums. An ergonomic risk assessment can be as straightforward as ensuring no one slips and falls down the stairs, or that wires are carefully tucked away, avoiding tripping someone or getting an employee electrocuted.

What are CTDs?

CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS

They are injuries to muscles, tendons and nerves, which affect certain parts of the body such as hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, back and knees. Workers experience pain and difficulty when work requires use of the injured part.

What are MSDs?

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are among the most common disorders to be considered in designing workcells and work stations. Here are the most common WMSDs, symptoms and risk factors.
Other Terms for WMSD Repetitive motion injuries Repetitive strain injuries Cumulative trauma disorders Overuse syndrome Soft tissue disorders

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Disorders Occupational risk factors
Repetitive wrist motions Repetitive shoulder motions Sustained hyper extension of arms Prolonged load on shoulders

Symptoms

Tendonitis/tenosynovitis

Pain, weakness, swelling, burning sensation or dull ache over affected area

Epicondylitis (elbow tendonitis)

Repeated or forceful rotation of the forearm Same symptoms and bending of the wrist as tendonitis at the same time

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Disorders Occupational risk factors Symptoms

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Pain, numbness, tingling, burning sensations, Repetitive wrist motions wasting of muscles at base of thumb, dry palm Repetitive hand twisting Pain at the base of and forceful gripping thumb

DeQuervain's disease

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Disorders Occupational risk factors Symptoms

Prolonged shoulder flexion Extending arms above Thoracic outlet syndrome shoulder height Carrying loads on the shoulder Tension neck syndrome Prolonged restricted posture

Pain, numbness, swelling of the hands

Pain

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Five Steps You Can Take To Perform your Own Risk Assessment.
Step 1: Identify the Hazards

A hazard is anything that can cause harm - glare, chemicals, weight, sharp edges etc. Ask yourself these questions:

- Are there too many boxes, or things in the common areas which might cause someone to trip?
- Are your wires carefully tucked away? Are there too many electrical appliances connected to one socket? - Is it time to clear the clutter? Are files and documents taking up space on the desk, under the desk causing your employees to work in a cramped condition? It could also be a fire hazard. - Are your monitors at ergonomic eye level? Do the work chairs have adequate back support? - Are your employees taking breaks? Are they varying their tasks instead of being in static position for long periods of time?

Add more questions to this list according to the type of workplace. It is also a good idea

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Five Steps You Can Take To Perform your Own Risk Assessment.
Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how
For each hazard, you have to identify who is in a potential hazardous situation. That will help you manage the risk better. Some questions you can consider: - Are there children near your workplace? Will it affect members of the public? - Do you have pregnant employees working near hazardous conditions? - Is it too glaring for people at the corner office where the sun sets in around 2 to 5 pm? - Are you putting too much into office storage boxes? The person who will stack them later may injure his or her back

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Five Steps You Can Take To Perform your Own Risk Assessment.
Step 3: Evaluate risks and decide on how you are going to take precautions
After listing down potential hazards, brainstorm with your employees on how to eliminate them. If you cannot eliminate them completely, you'll need to implement procedures on managing them. For example, you could put a sign to warn people about the stairways, or label the coffee pot as "hot" etc. You could put barriers between the hazardous risk or issue protective equipment such as footwear, anti-glare protective computer screens.

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Five Steps You Can Take To Perform your Own Risk Assessment.
Step 4: Record your findings and implement them
Put them together and go through them in a ergonomic meeting with your employees. That way everyone will be informed and have an increased awareness of potential risks at the workplace. They can also be educated on how to sit properly, use their workstations and computer equipment more ergonomically.

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ERGONOMIC RISK
Five Steps You Can Take To Perform your Own Risk Assessment.
Step 5: Review your assessment and update.

It is normal for us to slack off as times go by and go back to our old ways. Date the last time a proper risk assessment was made and come back to it. Go through it again like a checklist. Was there any improvements? Were there any problems with its implementation? Analyze if they were effective. Have a meeting again to review your risk assessments and ask for feedback. Hopefully there is a decrease in MSD, and that everyone has been enjoying a healthier and safer workplace.

ERGONOMICS RISK FACTORS

Contributing Factors
Awkward Posture Excessive Force Repetitive Motion Static Loading Contact Stress

Environmental Factors

Noise Temperature

Lighting/glare
Vibration

EARLY DETECTION AND REPORTING OF SYMPTOMS

Continuous pain after weeks of involvement in new job Sudden pain in worker that has been on the same job for a long time Pain that is getting worse

Pain that is centered at certain muscles

Signs of numbness and aches Signs of redness and swelling

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