OSH MANAGEMENT - Introduction to Ergonomics

INTRODUCTION TO ERGONOMICS

By Faudzil Harun

The science of fitting work and workplace condition to people is known as 

Ergonomics.

● Adapts job tasks to fit the employees and eliminates work conditions that 

   put harmful strain on the employee’s body or exceed their physical 

   limitations, such as extended reaching, repetitive stooping and bending, 

   and overhead lifting. 

● Potential risk factors must be eliminated or significantly modified. 

● Employees can suggest ways to eliminate or reduce ergonomic stresses e.g. 

   modifying a worktable's height, rearranging access to parts, or rotating 

   employees who perform repetitive tasks.

● Supervisors and employees must understand and be convinced that getting 

   the job done properly also includes doing the work safely and avoiding 

   injury. 

● It is of no value to a business to get a large order out the door and then 

   spend all of the profit—and then some—on work injuries.

                  

Standing Position

Work that involves standing all day puts a lot of strains on the legs. This may result swelling of the legs, because the muscles do not move sufficiently to pump the correct amount of blood back to the heart.

Important Safety Points :

●  Working height should allow people to work with back naturally straight 

   and the shoulders relaxed.

●  Controls such as levers or switches, should be lower than the shoulder 

    height.

●  Work should be done with a natural hand position as close to the body 

    as possible.

●  All equipment and tools need for the job should be within easy reach.

●  Bending of back should be avoided.

●  Sufficient room should be available for the legs and feet.

●  Proper foot wear should aim to reduce strain on the back and legs.

       

Sitting Position

Work which does not require a lot of muscular power and which can be performed within a limited area should be done in a sitting position.

Important Safety Points :

●  The working table height should be at level of the elbow.

●  The chair height must be adjusted so that feet are placed flat on the floor.

●  Sufficient large foot rest support should be used when the chair height is 

    not adjustable.   

●  The people should sit straight in front of and close to the work.

●  Backrest with padding should be used to give comfortable support to the 

    back.

●  Sufficient rooms is required to allow free change of leg positions.

●  Materials and tools should be placed within easy reach.

            

Visual Condition

Concentrating on small objects through microscope or watching a monitor screen for a long period of time puts a considerable strain on the eye muscles. It can result in blurred vision.




Important Safety Points

●  Objects should be able to be clearly seen from the normal work position.

●  Objects should be 50cm away from eyes.

●  Illumination is adjusted to make visual condition easier, including local    

    lighting.

●  Allow longer or frequent short breaks for work which puts a strain on the 

    eyes.

●  Provide a comfortable (separate) room for resting purpose.

    

Lifting

It is the legs and not the back that should be used to lift loads.

The Correct Way to Lift

●  Throw your shoulders backwards.
●  Arch your back and bend at the knees.
●  Keep the load as close to your chest as possible.
●  Straighten your legs to lift the load while keeping your back straight.

Important Safety Points

●  Lifting or carrying of heavy loads should be mechanized as much as 

    possible.

●  When lifting, the feet are apart and the knees bent.

●  When lifting is combined with pushing, one foot should be placed ahead in 

    the direction of movement.

●  When moving heavy objects, the height difference is minimal.

●  Twisting of body while lifting should be avoided.

Ergonomic Related Injuries and Disease

The 3 main risk factors in the office are :

● Repetition : Tasks or body movements carried out over and over again;

● Awkward Postures : Body positions that deviate from neutral, such as 

   twisting the neck to view a monitor or reaching to use a mouse; and

● Static Forces : Maintaining a position for a prolonged period of time 

   (e.g., prolonged sitting, viewing the monitor with a bent neck, or reaching 

   for the keyboard).

The 4 most common types of ergonomic-related pain are in the back, neck, wrist & shoulder.

Examples :

Low back pain, carpel tunnel syndrome, tension neck syndrome, numbness, tingling or overuse injuries involve the nerves, tendons, muscles and supporting structures such as intervertal discs.