Ergonomics Awareness Training

David Watson

Ground Safety Officer

Ergonomics

• A study of how to fit the workplace to the worker.  While the use of the term Ergonomics has become more common recently, ergonomics is not a new science.  The term was actually coined in 1857 by a Polish scholar.

Ergonomics Awareness

Fitting Workplace to the Worker

The workplace has been modified to fit the worker.  To reduce the risk of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), the workplace should be designed to fit the worker.  

Importance of Ergonomics

• Improve health and safety through the reduction of ergonomics risk factors and resulting work-related injuries and disorders

• Support mission readiness

• Improve comfort, morale, productivity and job satisfaction

• Reduce workers’ compensation costs and employee turnover

Injuries — Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD)

• MSDs are a category of injuries and disorders that deal with the musculoskeletal system.

• These disorders are not usually caused by acute trauma but instead occur slowly over time due to wear and tear on the nervous system and soft tissues, such as:

• Muscles • Tendons • Ligaments • Cartilage • Nerves

WMSDs are caused or aggravated by work methods and/or environments. WMSDs do not generally result from a single event or accident, but rather are disorders that have developed gradually from chronic workplace and occupational conditions causing repeated trauma.

Common WMSDs include:

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs)

Tendinitis (informally also tendonitis),

• Meaning inflammation of a tendon (the suffix "itis" means "inflammation"), is a type of tendinopathy often confused with the more common tendinosis, which has similar symptoms but requires different treatment.[1] The term tendinitis should be reserved for tendon injuries that involve larger-scale acute injuries accompanied by inflammation. Generally tendinitis is referred to by the body part involved, such as Achilles tendinitis (affecting the Achilles tendon), or patellar tendinitis (jumper's knee, affecting the patellar tendon).

Tennis Elbow

• A condition where the outer part of the elbow becomes sore and tender. It is a condition that is commonly associated with playing tennis and other racquet sports, though the injury can happen to almost anybody

Bursitis

• A inflammation of one or more bursae (small sacs) of synovial fluid in the body. The bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, such as muscles and tendons, slide across bone. Healthy bursae create a smooth, almost frictionless functional gliding surface making normal movement painless. When bursitis occurs, however, movement relying upon the inflamed bursa becomes difficult and painful. Moreover, movement of tendons and muscles over the inflamed bursa aggravates its inflammation, perpetuating the problem

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), or median neuropathy at the wrist

• A medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, leading to paresthesias, numbness and muscle weakness in the hand. Night symptoms and waking at night is a characteristic of established carpal tunnel syndrome.

Herniated disc

• Rupturing of the tissue that separates the vertebral bones of the spinal column.

Physical factors have to occur in combination to pose a risk.Physical risk factors include:

• Compression • Non-neutral, awkward or static posture • Vibration • High forces • Repetition • Duration

By applying ergonomics principles to tasks, jobs and the work environment, physical risk factors can usually be modified or reduced.

Summary

• The key points to remember about ergonomics are that:

1. Ergonomics is defined as fitting the work to the worker.

2. Physical risk factors that can cause WMSDs are : force, posture, duration, repetition, and vibration.

3. Physical risk factors can be eliminated or reduced in the work place.

Take some time for your health and check out how your working environment stands up to evaluation.

Things to look for Possible solutions Things to look for Possible solutions

Prolonged hunched or elevated shoulder while holding the phone

Telephone headsetSpeakerphone

Elbows splayed out (shoulder abduction)

Lower work surfaceLower chair armrestsBring chair armrests in closerAwareness and habit training

Raised or tensed shouldersHabit or tension trainingLower work surface or keyboardLower chair armrestsRaise chair, if foot contact with the floor can be maintained

Wrists bent back (extended) or forward (flexed) for prolonged periods

Habit trainingPalm restLower, raise, or change slope of the keyboard

Lumbar back area not supported

Lumbar cushionBackrest height and tiltCheck chair fit, especially backrest/lumbar height

Prolonged mouse use Greater work varietyAggressive break scheduleAlternate handsAlternative pointing devicesArm support, including small tableMouse close to body (extended keyboard tray)Learn keystroke substitutes for menus

Eyestrain complaints Check all aspects of visual environmentSuggest consultation with vision specialist

Neck severely flexed (downward)

Tilt face of monitor backTilt document - do not lay flat on work surfaceRaise document or monitor to a  comfortable heightAdjust postureHabit retrainingCheck glasses for proper prescription

REMEMBER

Fit the workplace to the worker.

NOT the worker to the workplace.