What is Ergonomics?What is Ergonomics?

____________________ is the study of how the physical health of workers is affected by their workplace

Ergonomics deals with; 1. Temperature2. Air Quality3. Lighting and Colour4. Furniture/Equipment Design

Ergonomics

What is Ergonomic Design? What is Ergonomic Design?

_____________________ means creating a healthier work area for employees, by applying knowledge of ergonomics to the design of tools, machines, systems, work areas, tasks, and jobs

Ergonomic Design

What is an Ergonomist?What is an Ergonomist?An ________________ is someone who

uses physical characteristics of a work area to make the workplace safe, comfortable, and more productive

Ergonomists work with designers and engineers to ensure that a product or service will be used correctly and that it will not cause physical injury to those who use it

Ergonomist

The HistoryThe History

The need for a ‘good fit’ between humans and their tools was realized early in the development of humanity

16th Century: work injury complaints began to be documented and Scientific Management (a process designed to improve the job process) became popular

The HistoryThe History

WWII prompted further interest in human-machine interaction due to the growing sophistication of military equipment. This included fitting the machine to the size of the soldier

How Ergonomics Relates to How Ergonomics Relates to the Workplacethe Workplace

1. Decreases risk of injury/illness

2. Enhances worker productivity

3. Improves quality of work life

4. Decreases numbers of days absent

5. Enhances worker retention (keeping employees employed with the company)

What are the Hazards?What are the Hazards?The 2 most common physical injuries:

1. Overexertion & Back Injuries

2. Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

Overexertion & Lower-Back Overexertion & Lower-Back InjuriesInjuries

Caused by lifting, carrying & lowering heavy material

Material handling is commonly done in organizations and can result in high-risk injuries which are the result of overexertion, poor posture and improper lifting techniques

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

• The cause can be traced back to continuous and repetitive actions that produce muscle and/or skeletal strain

• This results in excessive wear and tear on soft body tissue (tendons, nerves & circulatory system)

• Usually RSI affect one or more of the following: fingers, wrists, arms, elbows, shoulders, neck, back and sometimes the lower body

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)• RSI is becoming the

most common occupational disease

• Examples of RSI include: tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, telephone operator’s elbow, writer’s cramp and postal worker’s shoulder

Examples of Injuries Examples of Injuries Considered to be RSIConsidered to be RSI

The 2 most common forms of RSIs are:

1. Tendonitis

2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

RSI Risk FactorsRSI Risk Factors

1. Spending a large amount of time in

continuous computer use

2. Repetitive actions

3. Poorly designed workstations

4. Poor typing skills (i.e. poor hand position, excessive force in striking the keys, etc)

RSI SymptomsRSI Symptoms

1. Weakness in the limb

2. Tingling/numbness in limb

3. Lack of Endurance (hand tires rapidly)

4. Clumsiness

5. Tightness/general soreness

6. Dull ache, throbbing and/or sharp pain

7. Burning and swelling

ALERT!ALERT!

If you are experiencing RSI related pain,

immediately see your

doctor. The longer you

wait the worse your

condition will get.

Workstation DesignWorkstation Design

4 major components of workstation design are;

1. Layout

2. Control and display panels

3. Seating

4. Lighting

Ergonomic ExamplesErgonomic ExamplesFurniture: chair

with back support Accessories: “V”

shaped keyboardsWorkstations:

adjustable deskAtmosphere: air

filters

A Growing ConcernA Growing Concern

Ergonomic hazards have become a growing concern because they are increasingly being recognized as responsible for;

1. Employee injury, illness and absenteeism

2. Overall employee happiness

Ergonomics and the InternetErgonomics and the Internet To see just how big of a growing concern ergonomic

hazards have become in today’s society, you need only to look on the Internet. There is a variety of websites dedicated to:• New ergonomic products• Ergonomic suppliers• Ergonomic consulting firms• Proper work methods/processes• Implementation info• Statistics• Legal Issues

Websites & VideoWebsites & Video

www.ergoweb.com– Consulting, training &

software

www.ergonomichome.com– Sells products for home &

office use

www.ergopro.com– Sells products for home &

office use

You Tube Video

The EndThe End

Be sure to keep these notes in your binder, as you will need

them to study from for an upcoming quiz.