what is ergonomics? ____________________ is the study of how the physical health of workers is...
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What is Ergonomics?What is Ergonomics?
____________________ is the study of how the physical health of workers is affected by their workplace
Ergonomics deals with; 1. Temperature2. Air Quality3. Lighting and Colour4. Furniture/Equipment Design
Ergonomics
What is Ergonomic Design? What is Ergonomic Design?
_____________________ means creating a healthier work area for employees, by applying knowledge of ergonomics to the design of tools, machines, systems, work areas, tasks, and jobs
Ergonomic Design
What is an Ergonomist?What is an Ergonomist?An ________________ is someone who
uses physical characteristics of a work area to make the workplace safe, comfortable, and more productive
Ergonomists work with designers and engineers to ensure that a product or service will be used correctly and that it will not cause physical injury to those who use it
Ergonomist
The HistoryThe History
The need for a ‘good fit’ between humans and their tools was realized early in the development of humanity
16th Century: work injury complaints began to be documented and Scientific Management (a process designed to improve the job process) became popular
The HistoryThe History
WWII prompted further interest in human-machine interaction due to the growing sophistication of military equipment. This included fitting the machine to the size of the soldier
How Ergonomics Relates to How Ergonomics Relates to the Workplacethe Workplace
1. Decreases risk of injury/illness
2. Enhances worker productivity
3. Improves quality of work life
4. Decreases numbers of days absent
5. Enhances worker retention (keeping employees employed with the company)
What are the Hazards?What are the Hazards?The 2 most common physical injuries:
1. Overexertion & Back Injuries
2. Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)
Overexertion & Lower-Back Overexertion & Lower-Back InjuriesInjuries
Caused by lifting, carrying & lowering heavy material
Material handling is commonly done in organizations and can result in high-risk injuries which are the result of overexertion, poor posture and improper lifting techniques
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)
• The cause can be traced back to continuous and repetitive actions that produce muscle and/or skeletal strain
• This results in excessive wear and tear on soft body tissue (tendons, nerves & circulatory system)
• Usually RSI affect one or more of the following: fingers, wrists, arms, elbows, shoulders, neck, back and sometimes the lower body
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)• RSI is becoming the
most common occupational disease
• Examples of RSI include: tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, telephone operator’s elbow, writer’s cramp and postal worker’s shoulder
Examples of Injuries Examples of Injuries Considered to be RSIConsidered to be RSI
The 2 most common forms of RSIs are:
1. Tendonitis
2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
RSI Risk FactorsRSI Risk Factors
1. Spending a large amount of time in
continuous computer use
2. Repetitive actions
3. Poorly designed workstations
4. Poor typing skills (i.e. poor hand position, excessive force in striking the keys, etc)
RSI SymptomsRSI Symptoms
1. Weakness in the limb
2. Tingling/numbness in limb
3. Lack of Endurance (hand tires rapidly)
4. Clumsiness
5. Tightness/general soreness
6. Dull ache, throbbing and/or sharp pain
7. Burning and swelling
ALERT!ALERT!
If you are experiencing RSI related pain,
immediately see your
doctor. The longer you
wait the worse your
condition will get.
Workstation DesignWorkstation Design
4 major components of workstation design are;
1. Layout
2. Control and display panels
3. Seating
4. Lighting
Ergonomic ExamplesErgonomic ExamplesFurniture: chair
with back support Accessories: “V”
shaped keyboardsWorkstations:
adjustable deskAtmosphere: air
filters
A Growing ConcernA Growing Concern
Ergonomic hazards have become a growing concern because they are increasingly being recognized as responsible for;
1. Employee injury, illness and absenteeism
2. Overall employee happiness
Ergonomics and the InternetErgonomics and the Internet To see just how big of a growing concern ergonomic
hazards have become in today’s society, you need only to look on the Internet. There is a variety of websites dedicated to:• New ergonomic products• Ergonomic suppliers• Ergonomic consulting firms• Proper work methods/processes• Implementation info• Statistics• Legal Issues
Websites & VideoWebsites & Video
www.ergoweb.com– Consulting, training &
software
www.ergonomichome.com– Sells products for home &
office use
www.ergopro.com– Sells products for home &
office use
You Tube Video
The EndThe End
Be sure to keep these notes in your binder, as you will need
them to study from for an upcoming quiz.
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