Chapter I

Introduction

Structure and Rationale

Ergonomics is the science of designing the workplace, keeping in minds

capabilities and limitations of the worker. Poor worksite design leads to fatigued,
frustrated and hurting workers. This rarely leads to the most productive worker. More
likely, it leads to a painful and costly injury, lower productivity and poor product quality.
Ergonomics can also make a job easier for workers in an organization. It can also keep
them safe from possible accidents in workplace or reduce the potential risks of acquiring
a musculoskeletal disorder or MSD. Leading companies are integrating ergonomics
deeply into all of their operations.

According to International Ergonomics Association or IEA, a federation

composed of 42 individual ergonomics organizations from across the globe, ergonomics
or human factors is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of
interactions among humans and other elements of a system. It is the profession of
applying theories, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human
well-being and overall system performance.

The goal of ergonomics is to fit the task to the individual, not the individual to the
task. Practicing good ergonomics achieves increased productivity, improved health and
safety of workers, higher job satisfaction and better compliance with government
regulations. The general ergonomics principles that should be applied to the workplace
include aiming for dynamic versus static work, optimizing work surface heights, avoiding
overload of muscles, avoiding unnatural postures, and training individuals to use the
workplace, facility, and equipment properly.

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 Topsure Industry Machineries and Control is located at the Brgy. San Antonio,
Binan, Laguna. TIMCO was established six (6) years ago, a metal fabrication company.
It is engaged in welding, cutting, forming and machining, the company will bid on a job,
usually based on the engineering drawings, and if awarded the contract, they will build
the product. It was established by Mr. Ronnel Mendoza (Owner) a registered Mechanical
Engineer and Mr. Christopher Navarro (Co-Owner) who is also his competitor in other
biddings, also with the help of Mr. Mendoza’s daughter and wife. The company have a
16 workers. This is inclusive of managers, foreman, administrative officer, welder,
driver, helper, machinists, electricians, and fabrication workers. This study majorly
engaged the ten (10) workers in the fabrication department of the company.

A high growth of company like Topsure Industry Machineries and Control has a
greater chance to have their own work troubles which they don’t usually observe,
specifically work related ergonomic issues. The most talked-about physical problem
resulting from poor ergonomics is musculoskeletal disorderliness (MSDs) and the
ergonomic workplace and Safety Precautions. According to Middlesworth (2015),
musculoskeletal upset or MSDs are a common and costly problem for people and
companies. MSDs are the single largest category of work injuries that are responsible for
most of the worker’s compensation cost. Companies and employees shouldn’t worry
because MSDs are preventable and they can avoid economic and man costs with a proper
MSD prevention strategy. It is important to understand first what MSDs are and what
causes them and with this knowledge, you will be able to allocate your resources, time
and attention most effectively in avoiding MSDs. Musculoskeletal Upset or MSDs are
conditions that can affect your muscles, bones, and joints, they are injuries and disorder
that affect the human being body’s movement or musculoskeletal system.

Musculoskeletal Disorders also affects the support structures such as inter-

vertebral saucer etc. It could result in nuisance, combat injury, illness.

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 Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to know the positive impact of ergonomics in a

workplace and how it can affect the productivity and performance of the employee or
worker in the production area of the company. This is guided by the following questions:

1. What is the impact of ergonomics in a workplace on employees’ or workers’

performance on Topsure Industry Machineries and Control?
2. What are the risk factors that may lead to the development of MSDs of the
employees or workers?
3. What are the benefits of this study to the researchers?
4. How will the workplace ergonomics in the company worth the investment?
5. Why should the company be aware of ergonomics?
6. What will be the solution to improve safety precautions of the TIMCO Company?

Objectives of the Study

The fundamental objective of this study is to determine the impact of work place
ergonomics on the performance of workers. The specific objectives of this study are:
 To know the impact of workplace ergonomics on employees or workers’
performance of Topsure Industry Machineries and Control.
 To know why the company should be aware of ergonomics
 To determine the benefits of the study to the researchers
 To show the benefits of ergonomics investment in the company
 To differentiate the risk factors that may lead to the development of MSDs of
the employees or workers.

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 Scope and Limitation

This study is conducted to know the compatibility of the design of the products,
job or tasks, systems, and the environment where the employees or worker’s work, with
the abilities, skills, limitations and needs of employees or workers in the production area
of a company.

This study is centered on detecting the risk that can cause MSDs due to faulty
body mechanics and postures which can be seen in the workplace and assessing the
layout of the equipment and workstations. This study also focuses on identifying the
possible options that can help solve ergonomic or safety issues in the workplace. The
results of this study are limited to the employees in the production area of Topsure
Industry Machineries and Control during the period that this study is conducted.

Importance of the Problem

This study is conducted to know the compatibility of the design of the products,
job or tasks, systems, and the environment where the employees or worker’s work, with
the abilities, skills, limitations and needs of employees or workers in the production area
of a company where the research is conducted.

 Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Calamba. The reason for this research is to
inform action, thus this study seeks to contextualize its findings within the larger
body of research and is consistently high quality in order to produce applicable
knowledge outside of the research papers with implications that go further the
group.

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  Topsure Industry Machineries and Control. This study is significant to
TIMCO as it helps employers and workers identify risks in the workplace and
cooperates in establishing or improving illness and injury prevention programs in
the worksite, which would be valuable for the company’s employers, workers and
its resources. The outcomes of this study is also significant as it provides the top
management of with written reports which summarize findings that recommend
options for solving ergonomic or safety concerns in the workplace.

 Researchers. This study is relatively significant to the researches and to the

future researchers who would be doing a precise study identical to this or of such
nature as it would be suitable in dealing with optimization of processes or systems
and in the branch of engineering which is concerned with evaluation,
development, implementation and improvement of integrated systems of analysis,
materials, people, equipment and money.

Definition of Terms

Anthropometry – The branch of the human sciences that deals with the measurement of
the size, weight, and proportions of the human body.
Awkward Posture – The position of the body while job or tasks are being performed.
Biorhythm – A cyclic pattern of physical, emotional, or mental activity said to occur in
the life of a person.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – A medical condition due to compression of the median
nerve as it travels through the wrist at the carpal tunnel.
Circadian Rhythm – Physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-
hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment.
Elbow height – The height where most work should be done.

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Engineering design – The process of devising a system, component, or process to meet
the desired need for the specific task.
Equipment – Machines, apparatus, tool or installation used in the workplace.
Ergonomics – The scientific discipline that is concerned with the understanding of
interactions among humans and other elements of a system.
Excessive force – Exerting too much force than what is needed and can create a potential
for fatigue and injury.
Excessive motion – Moves the body more than necessary while doing a task or job.
Fatigue – The extreme tiredness while or after performing a task.
Fibromyalgia – A chronic pain disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness to
touch that may occur body wide and migrate over the body.
Force – The amount of muscular effort required to perform a task
Glare – A very harsh, bright, and dazzling light that is one of the common problem in
lighting.
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) – A disorder resulting from prolonged
exposure to vibration, specifically a painful condition of the fingers, hands and arms
while using vibrating tools.
Hazards – A danger or risk that occurs in the workplace if it is not well designed and
maintained.
Inflammation – The reaction of the part of the body to injury or infection, characterized
by redness, swelling, heat, and pain.
Lighting – The level of illumination that workers need in the workplace and varies
depending on the nature of the task.
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) – Injuries and disorders that affect the human body’s
movement or musculoskeletal system.
Nervous System – The system of cells, tissues, and organs that regulates the body’s
responses to internal and external stimuli.
Neutral posture – The position of the body that places the least stress on the
musculoskeletal system while still allowing for maximum control and strength.
Precision work – Task that is a visually intense work and often best done at heights
above the elbow.

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Pressure Point – A place on the body where it can be pressed to partly stop the flow of
blood.
Reach envelope – The area in which a human can comfortably reach an object.
S-curve – The shape of the spinal column.
Senses – The way the body perceives external stimuli or is an awareness or feeling about
something.
Static load – Loads that exert a constant amount of force.
Strenuous Activity – Activity that require lots of the body’s energy.
Tendon – A tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a
muscle with some other part and transmits the force which the muscle exerts.
Tendonitis – The inflammation of a tendon.
Thermoregulation – A process that allows your body to maintain its core internal
temperature.
Trigger finger – A painful condition that causes the fingers or thumb to catch or lock
when bent.
Vibration – Produced by a vibrating object such as a power hand tool that can cause
pulsation, shaking or tremors to the body.
Workplace – The location where the work is being done.
Worksite Analysis – A combination of systematic actions to provide you with the
information you need to recognize and. understand the hazards and potential hazards of
your workplace.