Contents

Applied Industrial Ergonomics

Chapter 1

Introduction to Occupational Ergonomics ..................... 1

Welcome .................................................................................................... 2
About This Manual ..................................................................................... 2
Course Objectives ..................................................................................... 3
Ergonomics is a Process, Not a Program .................................................4
What is Occupational Ergonomics? ..........................................................5
Why Ergonomics? ..................................................................................... 5

Designing for the 30-Inch View ................................................................ 6

Ergonomics as a Business Agenda .........................................................10
Applying Human Performance Ergonomics The Tools .....................16
How This Manual is Organized................................................................24
References ..............................................................................................25

Chapter 2

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders..................... 27

About This Chapter ..................................................................................28

"Work Doesnt Need to be a Pain!" ........................................................29

Would You Do it This Way?.....................................................................30
Posture, Force, and Frequency ...............................................................31
What are Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders? ..............................32
How Do WMSDs Occur? .........................................................................34
Types of WMSDs .....................................................................................38
References ..............................................................................................48

Chapter 3

Recognizing Ergonomic Issues .................................... 49

About This Chapter ..................................................................................50

The Ergonomics Hit List Find It and Fix It ...........................................51

Wash Rag ................................................................................................52
Elbows Out ..............................................................................................54
Shoulder Too High/Too Low ....................................................................56
Hungry Head ...........................................................................................58
Butts Up ...................................................................................................60
Twist and Shout .......................................................................................62
Horizontal Distance .................................................................................64
Sit vs. Stand ............................................................................................66
Bad Vibes ................................................................................................68
Contact ....................................................................................................70
"Fix It" Solution Strategies .......................................................................72

Applied Industrial Ergonomics

Ask the Operator ..................................................................................77

Continuous Improvement Process ..........................................................78
The Ergonomics Action Form ..............................................................80
Completing the Ergonomics Action Form ................................................82
Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the Ergonomics Action Form .................88

Chapter 4

Evaluating Ergonomic Risk Factors ............................. 89

About This Chapter ..................................................................................90
Ergonomic Risk Factors Defined .............................................................91
Ergonomic Risk Factor Surveys ..............................................................92
The BRIEF Survey ...............................................................................93
Applying the BRIEF Survey .....................................................................95
Physical Stressors and the BRIEF Survey ............................................105
Scoring the BRIEF Survey.....................................................................107
Completing the BRIEF Survey ..............................................................108
Measuring Risk Reduction.....................................................................112
Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the BRIEF Survey ................................114
References ............................................................................................114

Chapter 5

Prioritizing Ergonomic Risks ...................................... 117

About This Chapter ................................................................................118
Introduction to Ergonomic Risk Prioritization.........................................119
The BEST ..........................................................................................120
Completing the BEST Form...................................................................123
Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the BEST .............................................130
Brainstorming and Prioritizing Job Improvements .................................131

Chapter 6

Manual Material Handling Analysis ............................ 135

About This Chapter ................................................................................136
Introduction to Manual Material Handling ..............................................137
Risk Factors for the Back ......................................................................138
The Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation ....................................................138
The NIOSH Composite Lifting Index .....................................................154
Uses for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation .......................................155
Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation ...156
Psychophysical Analysis: Push, Pull, and Carry ...................................157
Manual Material Handling Example .......................................................168
Manual Material Handling Analysis Flowchart.......................................172
References ............................................................................................173

ii

2011 Humantech

Contents

Chapter 7

Ergonomic Design Guidelines .................................... 175

About This Chapter ................................................................................176
Ergonomics in Workstation Design .......................................................177
Design and Build Guidelines .................................................................180
Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the Design and Build Guidelines .........194
Static Anthropometric Data....................................................................194
References ............................................................................................209

Appendices .................................................................................... 211

Appendix A: Basis for the BRIEF ..........................................................212
Appendix B: Basis for the Design and Build Guidelines ........................215

Index ............................................................................................... 221

iii