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Ergonomics

for the
Professionals"

By Faisal Jalal

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Learning Objectives
o Define ergonomics
o Identify high return
interventions
o Sell ergonomics

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History of Ergonomics
o Industrial Revolution
o Steel industry (shovels)
o Henry Ford
o Assembly line design
o Frank and Lillian
Gilbreth
o Micro-motion studies (i.e.
todays surgical
techniques)
History of Ergonomics
o World Wars
o Aircraft, weapon
design
o Cold War
o Nuclear power
plants
o Today
o Industry, hospitals,
offices, product
design
Ergonomics Today
Matching the job, work tools, and workplace
to the worker.

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Ergonomics
Employee Concerns Employer Concerns
Comfort Workers comp costs
Fatigue Productivity
Injuries Errors
Job satisfaction Products
Decreased boredom Profit
Decreased stress
Reasonable workloads

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Results of Poor Ergonomic Design
Results of Poor Ergonomic Design

o Discomfort and fatigue


o Injuries and accidents
Musculoskeletal Disorders
o Necks
o Backs
o Arm and hand
o Knee and foot
Musculoskeletal Disorders
o Necks
o BacksThere are several commonly
o Arm and hand
known musculoskeletal injuries
o that can
Knee and footbe avoided with use of
ergonomics. These are also
known as cumulative trauma
disorders (CTD) and repetitive
strain disorders(RSD)/ RSI
What Causes These Injuries?
Repetition

Force Posture

Risk Factors

Personal Environment

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There are several risk factors leading to MSDs.
Poor Ergonomics
o Decreased efficiency
o Decreased
productivity
o Errors
Poor Ergonomic Design

o Turnover
o Absenteeism
o Job avoidance
The effects of the risk factors associated with the development of WMSDs
(primarily force, posture and repetition) have been validated throughout
history. Archaeological digs at an ancient Mayan toolmaking factory in
Poor Ergonomics
Belize uncovered skeletal remains with distinct wear-and-tear damage to
the wrist, elbow and shoulder joints of the dominant hand. These
discoveries were indicative of long hours repeatedly hammering stones to
make tools. Industrial hygiene issues and WMSDs were first identified as
o Decreased efficiency
a significant cause of occupational disease/injury nearly 300 years ago by
Bernardino Rammazzini, the father of occupational medicine. He identified
o Decreased
that certain diseases were attributed to irregular motions and unnatural
postures which over time lead to discomfort, pain or impaired function.
productivity
Fortunately, the discomfort and pain gradually develop which means that
time exists to stop the progression and reverse the process if we intervene
o Errors
early and proactively.
In 1918, Alice Hamilton identified Raynauds disease (a numbness and
whitening of the fingers) as a problem among men using air-hammers to
cut stone. She associated the disease to three cause: duration of force in
holding the tool, vibration and cold. She also noted that the severity of the
disease increased as the total exposure time increased.
Despite the early connection between occupation and disease, it wasnt
until World War II that engineers began to design cockpits to fit the size of
most pilots and match capabilities to vision and sound.
Excerpted from Safety and
Health
How Do I Get Started?
o Pick your fights
o Sell your service
How Do I Get Started?
o Pick your fights
o Sell your service

You cant be everywhere and do


everything, so invest your energy
into the areas where there are high
levels of injuries. It is crucial to have
management support and
involvement. You will always need
to be actively selling your
program.
What Should I Look For?
Awkward postures
Repetition
Force

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What Should I Look For?
Awkward postures
Repetition
Force

Look for the high risk activities we


have mentioned. 18
Where Should I Look?

Offices and Telecommuters


Ergonomic issues in offices are frequently related to visual and physical
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targets. Dont forget to observe unusual things such as demonstrated
above with the employee awkwardly
Where Should I Look?

Laboratories

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Where Should I Look?

Laboratories

Laboratory workers notoriously


work long hours in poorly
designed facilities. Pipetting and
microscope work involve all 3
risk factors.

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Where Should I Look?

Hospitals

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Where Should I Look?

Hospitals

Although lifting patients is the most


common ergonomics problem in
hospitals, there are other risks to 23

consider.
Where Should I Look?
Facilities

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Where Should I Look?
Shops

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Where Should I Look?
Shops

There are ergonomic problems in most areas with a high


level of materials handling. 26
Where Should I Look?

Grounds

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Where Should I Look?

Grounds

There are ergonomic problems in most areas with a high level of 28


materials handling.
Where Should I Look?
o Housekeeping
o Dining
o Housing
o Student stores

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What Can Ergonomics Do?
discomfort
accidents and injuries
accuracy
efficiency
satisfaction
job retention

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How Do I Start?
Identify problems
Complaints of discomfort
Symptom surveys
Near misses
Accidents
Injuries
Errors
High turnover

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How Do I Start?
Identify problems
Complaints of discomfort
Complaints of discomfort and symptom
Symptom surveys
surveys are often the first sign of problems.
Dont forget to consider other safety issues
Nearasmisses
near misses, accidents and injuries.
Accidents
High turnover can often indicate a job that
is dangerous or difficult to do. Errors and
Injuries
accuracy are also affected by job design
and performance expectations.
Errors
High turnover

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What Tools Can I Use?
Anthropometry tables
Body discomfort maps
Hazard check lists
NIOSH Lifting Equation
Washington Ergonomics Lifting Calculator

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What is Anthropometry?
Measurement of people
o Match size and strength with work
environment and tools
What is Anthropometry?
Measurement of people
o Match size and strength with work
environment and tools

Anthropometrics is a tool you can use to


set up work environments without having to
measure everyone in your particular
workforce. However, remember that there
are several databases available. Select
one that closely matches the your work
force.
Why Does Match Matter?
o Average is not good enough
o Need to consider reaches and clearances
Who Should We Match?
o Central 90 percent
o Disregard extreme body sizes
o Try to fit males/females from 20-60 yrs
Who Should We Match?
o Central 90 percent
o Disregard extreme body sizes
o Try to fit males/females from 20-60 yrs
You cant realistically fit everyone.
So try to set up work for the middle
90% of workers. Ask tall and short
volunteer to get up in front of group
and compare reaches.
What is the Golden Rule?
Design so the small
woman can reach, and
the large man can fit.
S. Konz

Design has to consider all issues including reaches and clearances.


What Rule Would You Use Here?
Design so the small
woman can reach, and
the large man can fit.
S. Konz
What Rule Would You Use Here?
Design so the small woman can reach, and
the large man can fit.
Accommodating Reach
How low can we
place materials
these workers
have to reach?
How high can a
shelf be placed
holding work
materials?

Golden Rule: Place objects between knee and


shoulder height.
How Do I Make a Quick Impact?
Computer workstations
On-line training
Ergo evaluators

Eliminating the risk is the best solution. 43


Back injuries are expensive claims.
How Do I Make a Quick Impact?
Reduce lifting
Lifting equipment
Job redesign

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Manual Materials Handling
o Golden rule
Eliminate lifts
o When you cant
Keep it off the floor
Reduce lifts
Conveyors, dollies
Adjust work flow

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Making a Difference

If they have to lift, teach them


how!
High risk groups first
Then campus-wide

Training is one way to reduce risk. Try to do training frequently


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and take advantage of all opportunities, no matter how small.
How Should You Lift?

Stoop

Squat
Semi-squat
How Should You Lift?

Have everyone stand and take


Stoop their pulse for 15 seconds and
multiply it by 4. Write it down.
Then have them lift using a
squat technique for 20
repetitions and re-measure
pulse. Have them write it down.

Squat
Semi-squat

Advantages of different lifts ??


Stoop
o Can get close to load
o Less effort and energy
than squatting
o Fast

.but it increases strain


on low back
Squat

Limits strain on low back

.but it is difficult to keep


load close
.requires increased
effort and energy
.and it is inefficient
Semi-Squat Lift
o Less work
o Preferred for
lifting heavy
objects on
occasional
basis
Squat and Semi-Squat Lifts
o More protective of back
o Preferred by injured workers
There are no right or
correct ways to sit, stand or
lift....

However, there are more


and less demanding ways!

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Keep It Simple
o Staggered stance o Keep it close

Training is one of the ways to reduce injuries, but keep it simple.


Employees dont know about ergo 54
Back belts can be bad
Keep It Simple
o Build a Bridge o Feet first

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Build a Team
o Ergonomist
o Safety professionals
o Health care team
o Risk management
o Rehab counselors
o Facilities/Design
o Purchasing
o Managers
o Employees
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Build a Team
o Ergonomist
o Safety professionals
o Health care team
o Risk management
An effective team is composed of many
o Rehab counselors
disciplines bringing a variety of expertise to
solve ergonomic problems and improve the
o Facilities/Design
workplace.
Latin: ergon work and strength o Purchasing
nomos law or rule
o Managers
1957 North American scientist and engineers
recognized the field as human factors. o Employees
Before 1957 ergonomics were disregarded in 57
military human machines.
Its all about dollars
o Average cost /CTS
claim = $37,552 or

o Average cost /back 1,565 pizzas (1 pizza/week for 30 years)


injury = $47,954 or

WC Research Institute for CA Claims 58


MSD Costs
Injury Type Direct Indirect Costs Total Costs
Costs

CTS $17,000 $350/lost day $11-112,000

Neck/back $32,000 $350/lost day $38-225,000


strain

UCLA statistics 59
Cost Justification - Injuries

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Cost Justification

Benefits of Ergonomics 61
Cost Justification - Regulatory

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Thank you!

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