ErgonomicsMuhammad Fahad Ansari

12IEEM14

Definition“Ergon” = Work “nomics” = Study of

The applied science of equipment design intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort.

Scope of Ergonomic Injuries

• Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) are health disorders arising from repeated biomechanical stress to the hands, wrist, elbows, shoulders, neck, back

• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect soft tissue of the body in areas like the neck, back, shoulder, elbow, hand, wrist, and fingers. These include nerves, tendons, cartilage, ligaments, and muscles.

Goals of Ergonomics in the Workplace• Reduce the risk of CTD• Increase productivity• Increase safety• Improve quality of work• Decrease fatigue and errors

Cumulative Trauma Disorders - Statistics• Approximately 24% of all workplace injuries are

back injuries.• Back injuries cost US Business $36 Billion per

year.

Cumulative Trauma Disorders

100%Fatigue

DiscomfortPain

InjuryPer

form

ance

Time

Most Common CTD

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome• Low Back Pain

Risk Factors• Force: the amount of physical effort required to

maintain control of equipment or tools, or to perform a task such as heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying

• Repetition: performing the same motion or series of motions continually or frequently for an extended period of time with little variation such as prolonged typing, assembling components, and repetitive hand tool usage

Risk Factors cont.• Awkward postures: refers to positions of the body

that significantly deviate from the neutral position while performing job tasks such as working over-head, extended reaching, twisting, squatting, or kneeling

• Static postures: refer to holding a fixed position or posture such as gripping tools that can’t be set down, standing in one place for prolonged periods

Risk Factors cont.• Contact stress: results from occasional, repeated, or

continuous contact between sensitive body tissues and hard or sharp objects like resting the wrist on the edge of a desk, or tool handles pressing into the palms

Age-Related Changes• Reaction time lengthens• Workload capacity decreases• Temperature related discomfort increases• Visual capabilities decrease

Hand Force

A power grip can be 5 times stronger than a pinch grip

=

10 lbs. 2 lbs.

Takes 4.6 lbs. of force

Wrist Bent

Tool Use Working with bent wrists decreases grip strength

Use tools that let you keep your wrist straight

Handles get smaller, but hand does notHandles get smaller, but hand does not

Frequent, Awkward, or Heavy Lifting

Repetitive Motion

Awkward Positions

Back Bent More Than 30 Degrees

Neck Bent More Than 30 degrees

Shortened muscles compress nerve

Shortened muscles compress nerve

Hands Over Head or Elbows Above Shoulders

Recent History• MSDs represent over half of all rated military

disabilities and over one third of all reported civilian injuries and illnesses within the Marine Corps

• In recent years there has been an increase in reporting MSDs for Marine Corps personnel which can be attributed to• Changes in work processes and work center risks• Advanced information technology and training have increased

awareness

Management Commitment and Personnel Involvement

• A partnership between all working levels is essential to prevent MSDs and reduce the risk in all workplaces• Management commitment provide the organizational resources

and motivation to implement a strong ergo program• Personnel involvement is essential for identifying risks and

developing effective abatement plans

Hazard Prevention and Control• Eliminate, reduce, or control the presence of risk factors

• Engineering controls• Administrative controls• PPE

• DoD doesn’t recognize back belts as or wrist splints as PPE… they are considered medical appliances

Engineering Controls• Engineering controls or techniques are the preferred

mechanism for controlling ergonomic hazards• This may entail redesigning the work station, work

methods, and tools to reduce the demands of the job, such as exertion, repetition, and awkward positions

Administrative Controls

• Controls• Rotating personnel to jobs with dissimilar physical

requirements• Establishing work/rest schedules• Training personnel to use appropriate work

methods when engineering controls are not feasible

Work Station Design

• Workstations must be easily adjustable to accommodate the worker performing the task

Training• Training should enable each person to recognize risk factors

and understand procedures used to minimize the risks• Refresher training should be provided annually and retraining

should be done when personnel are assigned to a new job with different risks, or new risks are discovered

Back Injury Training

• Anatomy and physiology to explain how the back works

• Biomechanics of lifting• Weight control• How to avoid back injuries• Physical fitness

Other methods to reduce the potential of back injury.

Standing Posture

• Keep your spinal Keep your spinal column aligned in column aligned in its natural curvesits natural curves

• Prop one foot up Prop one foot up on a stool to on a stool to reduce stress in reduce stress in your lower backyour lower back

Shift and Stretch

• Shift your posture Shift your posture oftenoften

• Stretch frequently Stretch frequently throughout the daythroughout the day

• Keep your body Keep your body flexible (not rigid or flexible (not rigid or fixed)fixed)

• Don’t force your body Don’t force your body to conform to its to conform to its workspaceworkspace

Push not Pull

•Can you Can you slide it slide it instead of instead of lifting it ?lifting it ?

Use Lifting Devices

• Use proper Use proper equipmentequipment– Hand trucksHand trucks– ForkliftsForklifts– DolliesDollies– Use gloves if Use gloves if

neededneeded

Stretch and be Ready

• Have you stretched Have you stretched your muscles or your muscles or warmed up before warmed up before liftinglifting

• Are you wearing Are you wearing slip resistant shoesslip resistant shoes

• Have you cleared a Have you cleared a pathway before pathway before you move the itemyou move the item

Lift With Your Legs

• Plant your feet firmly - get a stable basePlant your feet firmly - get a stable base

• Bend at your knees - not your waistBend at your knees - not your waist

• Tighten your abdominal muscles to Tighten your abdominal muscles to

support your spinesupport your spine

• Get a good grip - use both handsGet a good grip - use both hands

• Keep the load close to your bodyKeep the load close to your body

• Use your leg muscles as you liftUse your leg muscles as you lift

• Keep your back upright, keep it in its natural Keep your back upright, keep it in its natural postureposture

• Lift steadily and smoothly without jerkingLift steadily and smoothly without jerking

Supervisors Responsibilities

• Supervisors shall receive sufficient training on ergo issues to effectively carry out their responsibilities

• Ensure personnel receive training

• Request assistance for managing risk factors