Ergonomics

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  1. Ergonomics refers to the design of working conditions to better accommodate the human body's capabilities and limitations (human factors).
  2. Ergonomics is also known as the study of work tasks with an emphasis on reducing to a practical minimum the physiological cost of doing the work.[1]
An ergonomic workspace
An ergonomic workspace

Contents

Principles of Ergonomics

While ergonomics is by no means a new concept, it is only within the last 50 years that it has received considerable attention as a field of study. There are three main areas of interest within the general category of ergonomics:

  1. Physical: the study of posture and movements
  2. Cognitive: the study of workload, stress, decision making, etc.
  3. Organizational: the study of policies and programs

Companies are urged to follow three basic principles of ergonomics when designing jobs:

  1. Workers should be able to adopt several different postures that are safe and comfortable.
  2. When workers must exert muscular force, they should be encouraged to use the largest possible muscle groups.
  3. Whenever possible, workers should be able to perform regular work activities with their joints in the middle of the range of movement.[2]

OSHA and Ergonomics

In the early 1980s, the federal government began an initiative to reduce workplace injuries. Until that point, ergonomics had focused primarily on back injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sought to expand the study of ergonomics to include cumulative trauma disorders. OSHA engaged in talks with labor unions, trade associations and professional organizations, and together, they determined a set of standards for minimizing risks and hazards in the workplace. These efforts continued into the 1990s, when OSHA signed roughly 15 corporate settlement agreements bringing ergonomic programs to nearly half a million United States workers. Detroit's Big Three (Chrysler, Ford and General Motors) were the first three major corporations to comply with these ergonomic conditions. OSHA's progress was met with some opposition when it tried to set an ergonomic standard, and Congress prevented publication of any such standards proposal in 1998. Despite the lack of funding for standards publication, the administration developed an Internet site where it gave ergonomic recommendations. OSHA also held regional meetings regarding ergonomics in several major U.S. cities.

After extensive discussions with stakeholders, the ergonomic standard was announced in November of 2000 and took effect the following January. Repetitive stress was defined as a workplace hazard in the document and employers were forced to implement measures to protect their employees against such injuries. The 1,600 page document also outlined apporpriate leave time and pay for workers who suffered cumulative trauma disorders. The standard allowed for up to 90 days of leave time at up to 90 percent of an employee's regular pay. The standard was met with criticism by many companies and industries, claiming that an undue burden was placed on employers. Worker advocates, however, embraced the new ergonomic standard as a victory for workers and workers' rights.[3]

Ergonomics and Workplace Injury

A 2000 OSHA estimate claimed that more than 600,000 American workers experienced serious injuries due to overexertion or repetitive motion on the job. Back pain and various cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), such as wrist tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, may all stem from work-related overuse. Specific risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include repetitive motion, heavy lifting, forceful exertion, contact stress, vibration, awkward posture and rapid hand and wrist movement. Designing the work and the work environment properly through ergonomics can prevent MSDs, or at least reduce their incidence and severity.[4]

References

  1. http://www.mhia.org/learning/glossary
  2. http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Em-Exp/Ergonomics.html
  3. http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Em-Exp/Ergonomics.html
  4. http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Em-Exp/Ergonomics.html

External Links

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