WORKPLACE

ENVIRONMENT &
ERGONOMICS
CHAPTER 4
 ERGONOMICS-What is it?

Derived from two Greek words:

Nomoi meaning natural laws
Ergon meaning work
Hence, ergonomists study human
capabilities in relationship to work
demands
 History

As early as 18th century doctors noted

that workers who required to maintain
body positions for long periods of time
developed musculoskeletal problems.
Within last 20 years research has
clearly established connections
between certain job tasks and RSI or
MSD.
Focus and Objectives of
Ergonomics cont

The focus is that people (their abilities

and limitations) and their
requirements are considered when:
a) Objects, systems which people use and
operate within are being designed and
developed;
b) Procedures to carry out work are being
developed;
c) Facilities which involve and affect people are
being evaluated.
Focus and Objectives of
Ergonomics
The objectives of Ergonomics are:
a) Enhance and optimize the effectiveness
with which work and other human
activities are carried out;
b) Also to maintain certain desirable human
values in the process, e.g. health, safety;
c) Stimulate work interest and satisfaction.
Effects of poor Ergonomics

Discomfort
Accidents and injuries
Fatigue
Errors
Illness
Annoyance
Productivity down
 What two elements
are at work?

1) Static work: musculoskeletal effort

required to hold a certain position,
even a comfortable one.
Example: sit & work at computers;
keeping head and torso upright
requires small or great amounts of
static work depending on the efficiency
of the body positions we chose.
 Elements at work (cont)

Force: amount of tension our muscles generate

Example: tilting your head forward or backward
from a neutral, vertical position quadruples the
amount of force acting on your lower neck
vertebrae

Increased force is due to increase in muscular

tension needed to support head in a tilted position
 3 Main Ergonomic
Principles:
1. Work activities should permit worker to
adopt several different healthy and safe
postures.
2. Muscle forces should be done by the
largest appropriate muscle groups
available
3. Work activities should be performed with
joints at about mid-point of their ROM
(esp. head,trunk,UE)
 FACTS
The average person working at a
keyboard can perform 50,000 to
200,000 keystrokes a day
Overexertion, falls & RMI are the most
common cause of workplace injury
An average of 125,000 back injuries due
to improper lifting each year.
Muscles overuse results in tiny tears in
the muscles and scarring; these
contribute to inflammation and muscle
stiffness
A Bit of Anatomy !!

Overuse and small repetitive

movements ie: cumulative trauma
disorder (CTD), repetitive stress
injury (RSI), musculoskeletal disorder
(MSD) disturb balance of muscles,
tendons, ligaments and nerves
 What causes Nerve
Compression or
Entrapment?
1) Repeated motions

2) Tight muscles

3) Inflammation of surrounding tissues

4) Misalignment of the nerve

 What are 4 Common Nerve
injuries?

I. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: brachial

plexus compression due to muscle
tightness side of neck from poor head
position or slumped posture.
signs and symptoms (S/Sx):
numbness/tingling in hand, made
worse w/overhead activities or cradling
phone between ear and shoulder
Nerve injuries (cont)

II. Radial tunnel syndrome:

compressed radial nerve @ outside
of elbow d/t repetitive wrist &
finger extension or turning of
forearm
S/Sx: Sensations from elbow to
base of thumb w/ wrist weakness a
common sx
Nerve injuries (cont)

III. Cubital tunnel syndrome: ulnar

nerve compression inside of the
elbow d/t repetitive bending of
elbow or resting your elbow on a
hard surface
S/Sx: numbness or tingling and
inside of arm w/ tingling to ring &
little fingers
Nerve injuries (cont)
IV. Carpal tunnel syndrome: compression of
median nerve at level of carpal tunnel
Where is carpal tunnel? Formed @ wrist by
ligament over the carpal bones in hand
S/Sx: numbness or tingling in thumb, index,
or middle finger & of ring finger; often
awakened @ night by hand falling asleep
Sx increased by driving or attempting to
hold objects; dropping objects is a common
complaint
Tendons and Tendonitis
Tendons are connective tissue that attach
muscle to bone; have little stretch or rebound
Tendon overuse, static or prolonged
position=inflammation or tendonitis
Tendons of wrist & hand very small; @ high
risk for injury w/ overuse
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis affects
finger extensor tendons outside of elbow
Golfers elbow or medical epicondylitis
affects finger flexor tendons inside of elbow
 What to do ??

PREVENT, PREVENT, PREVENT !!!

a) Warm up & stretch before activities that are repetitive,
static or prolonged
b) Take frequent breaks from ANY sustained posture
every 20-30 minutes
c) Respect pain- positions or stop painful activity
d) Recognize early signs of inflammatory process, & tx
early
 Maintain
Neutral
Posture
e) Maintain erect position of back
& neck w/ shoulders relaxed
f) Position equipment & work directly in front of and close to
your major tasks
g) Keep upper arms close to the body, elbows 90-100 degrees
h) Keep feet flat on floor, upper body weight resting on sits
bones
i) Wrists as neutral as possible; safe zone for wrist movement is
15 degrees in all directions
 You
talking
to me?

f) Avoid bending neck forward for

prolonged periods of time (*remember
quadruple the force); use a copy holder
g) Avoid static positions for prolonged
time; muscles fatigue---MOVE to
circulation!
 Modify Tasks:
a) Alternate activities frequently; rotate heavy
&/or repetitive tasks w/ lighter less
repetitive ones.
b) If sx become worse REASSESS task setup &
look for alternative methods
c) Avoid repetitive or prolonged grip activities
d) Avoid pinching w/ wrist in flexion or wrist
deviation (bending to side)
e) Take frequent breaks to stretch & rest hands
 Body
Mechanics
Use the largest joints & muscles to do the
job
Use 2 hands to lift rather than one, even
with light objects and tasks.
Avoid lifting w/ the forearm in full pronation
(palm down) or supination (palm up)
Slide or push & pull objects instead of lifting
Keep reaching to a minimum
Carry objects close to body at waist level
Correct & Incorrect
Techniques
Good and Bad of
TILT
Recommended Position FOR Computer
user
ERGO REMINDERS from
Stretchbreak.com
Practice Wellness at Work and Home !

Exercise Relaxation
Nutritio
n

Spirit

Mind
Body
 MOVE

B
R STRETCH
E

A
T

H
An ounce of Prevention is
worth a pound of cure !
Ergonomics in occupational health and
safety
1. User
2. Machine
3. Workplace
3. Environment
4. Special questions
Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a

term referring to the air quality
within and around buildings and
structures, especially as it relates
to the health and comfort of
building occupants
 Indoor Air Pollution
The National Health and Medical Research
Council (NHMRC- Australia) defines indoor air as
air within a building occupied for at least one
hour by people of varying states of health. This
can include the office, classroom, transport
facility, shopping centre, hospital and home.

Indoor air quality can be defined as the totality

of attributes of indoor air that affect a person's
health and well being.
Sick building syndrome
Condition associated with
complaints of discomfort
including headache; nausea;
dizziness; dermatitis; eye,
nose, throat, and respiratory
irritation; coughing;
difficulty concentrating;
sensitivity to odors; muscle
pain; and fatigue.
Sick building syndrome

The specific causes of the symptoms are

often not known but sometimes are
attributed to the effects of a combination of
substances or individual susceptibility to low
concentrations of contaminants.

The symptoms are associated with periods of

occupancy and often disappear after the
worker leaves the worksite.
Cause of SBS
Inadequate ventilation 52%
Contamination from inside building 16%

Contamination from outside building
10%
Microbial contamination 5%
Contamination from building fabric 4%
Unknown sources 13%
Thermal Comfort
Personal factors (health, psychology,
sociology & situational factors)
Air temperature
Mean radiant temperature
Air movement / velocity (see wind chill
factor)
Relative humidity (see also perspiration)
Insulative clothing
Activity levels.
Sources of Indoor Pollutants
Base on Specific Building
Combustion activity
Furniture
Chemical
Building materials
Food
Water
Smoking activity
Outdoor air pollution
Walkaround Inspection

Potential Problem Areas

Sample Collection
Contaminant Range Screening Method Validation Method
Bioaerosols 0-1,000 cfu/m3 Viable biological
sampler
Carbon dioxide 0-2,000 ppm DT, IR Sampling bag, GC/TCD OSHA
ID172
Carbon 2-50 ppm DT, meter Sampling bag, meter
monoxide
Formaldehyde 0.04-1 ppm DT Coated XAD-2, GC/NPD OSHA-52

Nitric oxide 0-25 ppm DT TEA tube with oxidizer, DPP OSHA
ID190
Nitrogen 0-5 ppm DT TEA-Molecular Sieve Tube, IC
dioxide OSHA ID 182
Particulates 0-40,000 Light scattering meter
particles/cc
Pesticides (See OSHA Chemical Information Manual)
Ozone 0-0.1 ppm DT, Chemiluminescent
meter

Radon 4-200 pCi/L Radon Cartridge,

Electrect
VOC's (See OSHA Chemical Information Manual)