ASSIGNMENT ON

ERGONOMICS AND SOLUTIONS

INTRODUCTION
Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker. When there is a mismatch
between the physical requirements of the job and the physical capacity of the worker, work-
related musculoskeletal disorders can result. Ergonomics is the practice of designing equipment
and work tasks to conform to the capability of the worker, it provides a means for adjusting the
work environment and work practices to prevent injuries before they occur. Health care facilities
especially nursing homes have been identified as an environment where ergonomics stressors
exist. Major ergonomic issues in the hospital settings include patient handling and awkward
postures.

The goal of Ergonomics is to provide maximum productivity with minimal cost

Ergonomics has already been defined and its primary focus is on the design of work activity that
suits the person in that it takes account of their capabilities and limitations. Matching the
requirements of a job with the capabilities of the worker is the approach to be adopted in order to
reduce the risks of musculoskeletal injuries resulting from handling materials manually.
DEFINITION
Ergonomics is about how people, based on their physical capabilities, can best organize
and conduct their activities.

Ergonomics, which is also known as human factors, is a systematic order which is in the
process of understanding and improving human communications with types of products,
equipment, environments and systems.

Ergonomics is aimed at developing and applying knowledge and techniques to enhance

system performance. It also focuses on the health, safety, and well-being of the individuals
involved. The concentration of ergonomics is further taken across work, leisure and other aspects
of our daily lives.

Ergonomics is the science and practice of designing jobs or workplaces to match the
capabilities and limitations of the human body.

Ergonomics is a science concerned with the ‘fit’ between people and their work. It puts
people first, taking account of their capabilities and limitations. Ergonomics aims to make sure
that tasks, equipment, information and the environment fit each worker.

According to International Ergonomics Association Executive Council

"Ergonomics (or human factor) is the scientific discipline concerned with the
understanding of the interactions among human and other elements of a system and the
profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human
well-being and overall system performance."

Ergonomics is the science and the art of fitting the job and the workplace to workers’
needs.

It is the study of work

It is a way to make jobs/tasks fit the employees better

It is a way to make work easier

HISTORY OF ERGONOMICS
 Ancient Greek's obsession with the appearance and development of the human body
showed an appreciation of how the human body functions and interacts with objects that
are surrounding it.
 The word 'ergonomics' was founded in 1857 by Wojciech Jastrzebowski and really means
'the natural laws of work.
 The word 'ergonomic' was formed by the Greek words 'ergon' which means work, and
'nomos' which means natural laws.
 Ergonomics increased its role in our culture as the 'Industrial Revolution' progressed with
ideas of how to increase the production of workers by studying the work that is being
done.
 As a result of these observations, which at the time was called 'Scientific Management',
improvements were being made by auditing a job which was being performed and the
type of material and tools used to complete it, as well as a certain 'fit' which could be
made that would further improve worker productivity and development.

OBJECTIVES
The objective is

 To improve the efficiency of operation by taking into account a typical person's size,
strength, speed, visual acuity, and physiological stresses, such as fatigue, speed of
decision making, and demands on memory and perception.
 To maximize productivity while lowering the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).
MSDs develop as a result of long term exposure to a combination of ergonomic risk
factors such as repetition, high forces and awkward postures. Examples of MSDs include
carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and back disorders

BENEFITS OF ERGONOMICS
 Safer jobs with fewer injuries
  Increased efficiency and productivity
 Improved quality and fewer errors
 Improved morale
 Reduce worker discomfort
 Improve & increase general health awareness
 Reduce fatigue related costs
 Decrease time required to perform tasks
 Financial savings

TYPES OF ERGONOMICS
1. Physical ergonomics is the human body's responses to physical and physiological
workloads. Repetitive strain injuries from repetition, vibration, force, and posture fall into
this category.
2. Cognitive ergonomics deals with the mental processes and capacities of humans
when at work. Mental strain from workload, decision making, human error, and training
fall into this category.
3. Organizational ergonomics deals with the organizational structures, policies and
processes in the work environment, such as shift work, scheduling, job satisfaction,
motivation, supervision, teamwork, telecommuting, and ethics.

ERGONOMIC STANDARDS
 The ergonomics standards are the guidelines, rules, criteria, etc., that are followed to
have uniformity.
 In order that this standards are worldwide recognized, three important organization must
approve them:
1. ISO: International Organization for Standardization
2. IEC: International Electro-technical Commission
3. ITU: International Telecommunications Union
 Standards are designed to ensure safety and comfort of working people.
  The big problem has been convincing companies and people the importance avoid these
guidelines. In some places is already mandatory.
 These are standards for almost anything you can this at a work place.

ERGONOMIC PRINCIPLE
Ergonomic principles provide possibilities for optimizing tasks in the workplace These principles
are summarized in Table below

PRINCIPLES DESCRIPTION
Joints must be in a neutral position In the neutral position the muscles and
ligaments, which span the joints, are stretched
to the least possible extent

Keep work close to the body If the work is too far from the body, the arms
will be outstretched and the trunk bent over
forwards

Avoid bending forward The upper part of the body of an adult weighs
about 40kg on average. The further the trunk is
bent forwards, the harder it is for the muscles
and ligaments of the back to maintain the upper
body in balance

A twisted trunk strains the back Twisted postures of the trunk cause undesirable
stress to the spine

Alternate posture as well as movements No posture or movement should be maintained

for a long period of time. Prolonged postures
and repetitive movements are tiring.

Avoid excessive reaches It is necessary to limit the extent of forward

and sideways reaches to avoid having to bend
over or twist the trunk
 Avoid carrying out tasks above shoulder The hands and elbows should be well below
level shoulder level when carrying out a task

Limit the weight of a load that is lifted

Use mechanical aids Many lifting accessories are available to help

lift and move loads

Avoid carrying loads with one hand loads with one hand When only one hand is
used to carry a load, the body is subject to
mechanical stress

Use transport accessories There are a large number of accessories such as

roller conveyors, conveyor belts, trolleys and
mobile raising platforms, which eliminate or
reduce manual handling.

EFFECTS OF ERGONOMICS
Two classifications of ergonomic injuries

Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD’s) – exposure driven Strains/Sprains – instantaneous

(event driven)

Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD’s)-Injury to soft tissue caused by prolonged exposure to

multiple ergonomic risk factors. Typically develop in small body segments (i.e. fingers, wrists,
elbows, and neck)

POTENTIAL HAZARDS

Employee exposure to work related MSDs from ergonomic stressors that have not been
effectively identified and addressed in a facilities safety and health program. Many patients are
totally dependent on staff members to provide activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing,
feeding and toileting. Each of these activities involve multiple interactions with handling or
transferring of patients and could result in employee injuries. Employee injuries lead to increased
injury costs, higher turn over rates, increased sick/injured days and staffing shortages.

MOST COMMON ERGONOMIC PROBLEMS AND

THEIR SOLUTIONS

Regardless of industry, some common ergonomic problems can be addressed with early

intervention practices to prevent an injury from occurring in the first place. Below are five of
those ergonomic problems and solutions to correct the issue.

1. Not Operating in Neutral Position

The body functions best when we work in a neutral position. The neutral position is
merely a comfortable position that aligns all of your joints. When you are working in neutral,
your body has less stress on your muscles, tendons, and skeletal system reducing the risk of
incurring a musculoskeletal injury.

Create an “L” with body

To operate in neutral, we want to keep your body lengthened and aligned. To do this, we can
create an “L” position with our body. To do this:

 Keep head directly above the shoulders not tilting forward, backward or to the side.
 Align hips slightly above knees forming a 110-degree angle. This will take the pressure
off of from the bones.
 Create a 90-degree bend in the knees to support upper body. Knees should be 2”-3” off
the front of the chair when sitting.
 Place feet flat on the floor. If the chair is too high, adjust down if possible. If not
adjustable, use a flat stole to place feet on.

2. Repetitive Motions
 A significant portion of work-related injuries happen over time and are caused by on-
going, repetitive movements. Those repetitive motions can be everything from typing, to
answering a phone, to hammering a nail. By itself, those activities do not typically cause strain
but the consistent use of the muscles to complete the same action, overtime can lead to stress and
pain with the musculoskeletal system.

Switch Tasks Every Hour

A good rule to follow when it comes to preventing repetitive motion injuries is to

frequently switch tasks so that you are using an entirely different muscle group at the top of
every hour. This will allow muscles to recover while maintaining work productivity.

Additionally, workers should take advantage of any ergonomic tools at their disposal.
Adjustable chairs, monitor stands, and headsets are just a few tools that can be easily integrated
into a workspace to reduce the risk of injury from repetitive motions.

3. Awkward Positioning

Awkward positioning refers to positions in the body when a person deviates significantly
from neutral position while performing tasks. When a person completes a task in an awkward
position, the muscles operate less efficiently and require the worker to expend more force to
complete the task. This additional force and decreased efficiency can result in musculoskeletal
injury. Some examples of awkward positioning include bending, reaching, lifting, and twisting.

Keep What You’re Working on Close to You

Avoid awkward positions, it is important to keep whatever you are working on close to
you. Specifically, try to keep everything within arms-reach. This keeps your body closer to
neutral by not requiring you to reach, twist, or bend to get to your work. If you are working on a
stationary object that cannot be moved closer to you, make sure to check your position frequently
respect your discomfort if it develops. Take breaks, change positions, and stretch stiff muscles.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
  OSHA’s OSH Act of 1970 strives to “assure safe and healthful working conditions for
working men and women” and mandated that “each employer shall furnish to each of
his/her employers employment and a place of employment which are free from
recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm
to his/her employees.”
 OSHA recommends minimizing manual lifting of patients in all cases and eliminating
lifting when possible.
 OSHA recommends that employers identify and address ergonomics stressors in their
facility’s safety and health plan.

4. Not Moving Frequently

Research suggests that when the body is in a static state for an extended period, a worker
has a higher chance of suffering a musculoskeletal injury. Beyond a musculoskeletal injury,
extended sitting can cause chronic life-altering injuries such as obesity and type-2 diabetes.

Get UP Every 30 Minutes

In a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, it is suggested that after 30
minutes of sitting, a person should get up and move. The new research finds that moving every
30 minutes significantly not only reduces the risk of suffering a musculoskeletal injury but also
the risk of early mortality. Some suggestions for movement include:

 Doing a lap around your office.

 Walking to the water fountain.
 Printing to a printer outside of the office and walking to collect the paper.
 Standing for some simple stretches at your desk.

5. Pulling Injuries
 Injuries while pulling objects are often associated with overexertion and are some of the
most common ergonomic injuries reported in the workplace. Along with muscle strains, it is not
uncommon for other injuries to be associated with pushing and pulling objects including slips,
trips, and falls.

Push Rather than Pull

Whenever possible, it is best to push an object rather than pull. This is true for some reasons,
including:

 You can see where you are going.

 Pushing puts less stress on your shoulders, decreasing your chance of injury.
 Using your body weight allows you to apply more force requiring less strain of your
muscles.

In the workplace, the best way to address musculoskeletal injuries it to prevent them in the
first place. With simple behavior modifications and training, employees can avoid common
ergonomic problems reducing absenteeism, workers’ compensation claims, and claims costs.

Other solutions includes

Patient Handling

Hospital employees are exposed to injuries such as muscle and ligament strain and tears,
joint and tendon inflammation, pinched nerves, herniated discs and other injuries from
ergonomic stressors during handling, transferring, and repositioning of patients.

OSHA recommends minimizing the manual lifting of patients in all cases and eliminating
lifting when possible. This can be difficult to accomplish, so it is recommended that employees
make use of proper assist devices and equipment whenever possible. Devices such as mechanical
lift equipment, shower chairs, lateral transfer devices, sliding boards, gait belts with handles,
wheelchairs, repositioning devices, etc., are examples of engineering controls that should be
utilized whenever possible. Administrative controls, such as proper lifting training and
development of written patient care plans should be created and implemented to make the best
use of employees’ time and abilities. Sufficient staff should be on hand to make tasks requiring
multiple people (such as some patient repositioning and transfers) feasible.

Areas that should be addressed a facility’s safety and health program include:

 Management leadership/employee participation

 Workplace analysis
 Accident and record analysis
 Hazard prevention and control
 Medical management
 Training

Management leadership/ employee participation

Management leadership should demonstrate a commitment to reduce or eliminate patient

handling hazards through establishing a written program that addresses issues, such as:

 Continued training of employees in injury prevention.

 Methods of transfer and lifting to be used by all staff
 Compliance with transfer and lift procedures.
 Procedures for reporting early signs and symptoms of back pain and other
musculoskeletal injuries.

Employee participation

 Complaint/suggestion program which includes employee reports of unsafe working

conditions
 Prompt reporting of signs and symptoms as well as injuries.

Workplace analysis

To identify existing and potential workplace hazards and find ways to correct these
hazards. Assessment of work tasks involves an examination of duration, frequency and
magnitude of exposure to ergonomic stressors such as force, repetition, awkward postures,
vibration and contact stress to determine if employees are at risk of pain or injury. Observing
workplace walkthroughs, talking with employees and periodic screening are used to help identify
hazards such as stressful tasks.

Accident and record analysis

Records of injuries and illness should be analysed to identify patterns of injury that occur
overtime, enabling the hazards to be addressed and prevented. This includes reviewing OSHA
logs and Worker’s compensation reports.

Hazard prevention and control

It includes implementing administrative and engineering controls.

 Administrative controls: Provide for adequate staffing, assessment of patient/residents

needs, and restricted admittance policies.
 Engineering controls: Help to isolate or remove the hazards from the workplace, for
example providing proper selection, training, and use of assist devices or equipment .

Medical Management: A medical management program, supervised by a person trained in the

prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, should be in place to manage the care of those injured.
The program should:

 Accurate injury and illness recording.

 Early identification and treatment of injured employees.
 "Light duty" or "no lifting" work restrictions during recovery periods.
 Systematic monitoring of injured employees to identify when they are ready to return to
regular duty.

Training: A training program, designed and implemented by qualified persons, should be in

place to provide continual education and training about ergonomic hazards and controls to
managers, supervisors and all healthcare providers, including "new employee" orientation.
Training should be updated and presented to employees as changes occur at the workplace, and
be at a level of understanding appropriate for those individuals being trained, and should also
include:

 The opportunity to ask questions of the trainer.

  An overview of the potential risks, causes, and symptoms of back injury and other
injuries. Be able to identify existing ergonomic stressors and methods of control, such as
the use of engineering, administrative, and work practice controls particularly safe
resident handling techniques.
 Recognizing the signs and symptoms of MSDs and the procedures for reporting potential
problems.
 Encouragement of staff physical fitness.

ERGONOMIC RISK FACTORS

 Risk of injury increases with:

 Prolonged exposure to any of these ergonomic risk factors

 Presence of multiple risk factors within a single job task

 Awkward Posture Repetition Force Static Loading Contact Stress Vibration

PREVENTION

 Warm up & stretch before activities that are repetitive, static or prolonged

 Take frequent breaks from ANY sustained posture every 20-30 minutes

 Respect pain- positions or stop painful activity

 Recognize early signs of inflammatory process, & treat early

 Be aware of workstation environment.

Lifting guidelines for health care workers (nurse assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered
nurses) which should include:

 Never transfer patients/residents when off balance.

 Lift loads close to the body.
  Never lift alone, particularly fallen patients/residents, use team lifts or use
mechanical assistance.
 Limit the number of allowed lifts per worker per day.
 Avoid heavy lifting especially with spine rotated.
 Training in when and how to use mechanical assistance.

ADVANTAGES
The benefits of applying ergonomic principles:

o Maximize productivity, efficiency and quality;

o Reduce MSD risk by eliminating or minimizing ergonomic risk factors;
o Improve employee morale; and
o Cost savings associated with injury-related absenteeism, treatment, new hire
training and WCB claims.
 It can help you do work safely
 It can make you more comfortable
 It can prevent injuries
 A successful ergonomics program utilizes the skills of many disciplines, including
engineering, psychology, medical, safety, management and the employees or associates.
 Applications range from the design of work areas (including office furniture, automobile
interiors, and aircraft cockpits) to the disposition of switches and gauges on the control
panels of machinery to determining the size, shape, and layout of keys on computer
terminals and character height, color, and clarity on video displays.

CONCLUSION

It is important to apply the ergonomics standards to keep a healthy live. We'll expend a
lot of time at work, studying, etc. While Ergonomics is a relative new field of study, it applying
ergonomics policies. Probably someday will be mandatory. We need to think about how we are
working, above our postures and habits. It is always a good time to earn and improve. Minimize
ergonomic risk factors in your area, Stretch throughout the shift especially before and after
activities that require awkward positions or lifting, pay attention to your body and know your
physical limitations ,Report ergonomics issues through appropriate channels. Ergonomic injuries
are preventable, and you own your own safety.