ERGONOMICS PROBLEMS IN THE ERGONOMICS PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACEWORKPLACE

LEGAL REQUIREMENTSLEGAL REQUIREMENTSLEGAL REQUIREMENTSLEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Occupational Occupational Safety & Health Act 1994Safety & Health Act 1994

Safety & HealthSafety & HealthPolicyPolicy

Safety & HealthSafety & HealthCommitteesCommittees

First First AidAid

Accident Accident ReportingReporting

Safety & HealthSafety & HealthTrainingTraining

ErgonomicErgonomic

ERGO (work and effort) + NOMOS ERGO (work and effort) + NOMOS (law or surroundings)= Law of work(law or surroundings)= Law of work

the science on how to fit a system to the science on how to fit a system to a person using scientific approacha person using scientific approach

Fitting the task and working Fitting the task and working environment to the workersenvironment to the workers

OSHA 1994OSHA 1994

Third objective of the ActThird objective of the Act ‘‘Work environment that is adapted to Work environment that is adapted to

the physiological and psychological the physiological and psychological needs of the worker’needs of the worker’

The Need for ErgonomicThe Need for Ergonomic

To maintain and maximize To maintain and maximize productivity and competitivenessproductivity and competitiveness Ever efficient workplace (simple to human Ever efficient workplace (simple to human

workers)workers) Achievable Quality (within the human Achievable Quality (within the human

physical and mental capacity)physical and mental capacity) Safety ( to minimize unsafe acts)Safety ( to minimize unsafe acts) Health (to minimize acute and chronic Health (to minimize acute and chronic

injuries)injuries)

MUSCULOSKELETAL MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASEDISEASE

DISABILITY

PRONOUNCED SYMPTOMS

MINOR SYMPTOMS

Disorders, Injury, Diseases

Soreness, Aches & Pains-Affecting Performance

Occ. movement problem, Minor aches,Fatigue, Discomfort

-Considered ‘Normal’

Ergonomic Risk FactorsErgonomic Risk Factors

ForceForce amount of force amount of force

required to perform taskrequired to perform task

FrequencyFrequency repetition of similar repetition of similar

actions without restactions without rest

Awkward positionAwkward position other parts of the body other parts of the body

are tense not due to are tense not due to work but maintaining work but maintaining postureposture

Static positionStatic position same position held for same position held for

extended periods without extended periods without movementmovement

Lack of recoveryLack of recovery when cumulative fatigue when cumulative fatigue

existexist

Contact stressContact stress soft tissues pressed against soft tissues pressed against

a hard objecta hard object

OFFICE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTHOFFICE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTHOFFICE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTHOFFICE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH

TemperatureTemperatureTemperatureTemperature

HumidityHumidityHumidityHumidity

VentilationVentilationVentilationVentilation

Contaminated AirContaminated AirContaminated AirContaminated Air

SmokingSmokingSmokingSmoking

Ozone/PhotocopiersOzone/PhotocopiersOzone/PhotocopiersOzone/PhotocopiersSick Building SyndromeSick Building SyndromeSick Building SyndromeSick Building Syndrome

LightingLightingLightingLighting

ColorColorColorColor

Office Floor SpaceOffice Floor SpaceOffice Floor SpaceOffice Floor Space

Welfare FacilitiesWelfare FacilitiesWelfare FacilitiesWelfare Facilities

CleanlinessCleanlinessCleanlinessCleanliness

4219/MRP

SAFETY IN THE OFFICESAFETY IN THE OFFICESAFETY IN THE OFFICESAFETY IN THE OFFICE

Office AccidentsOffice Accidents

Manual HandlingManual Handling

Work EquipmentWork Equipment

ChemicalChemical

EmergenciesEmergencies

StressStress

TransportTransport

Computer Work Station

•‘Typing Injuries’

•Eye Strain

•Back Pain

•Psychological Stress

KEYBOARD EQUIPMENTKEYBOARD EQUIPMENTKEYBOARD EQUIPMENTKEYBOARD EQUIPMENT

Workstation Checklist forWorkstation Checklist for Keyboard Workers Keyboard Workers

Workstation DimensionsWorkstation Dimensions

Lighting for VDUsLighting for VDUs

Glare & ReflectionGlare & Reflection

Using a MouseUsing a Mouse

Keyboard Equipment Keyboard Equipment and Radiationand Radiation

Keyboard and TelephoneKeyboard and TelephoneOperationsOperations

WRONG CORRECT

TYPING POSITION

Neutral Posture

REST BREAKS & EXERCISEREST BREAKS & EXERCISEREST BREAKS & EXERCISEREST BREAKS & EXERCISE

Rest Breaks & KeyboardRest Breaks & KeyboardWorkWork

Eye StrainEye Strain

Muscle Care & PreparationMuscle Care & Preparation

Exercises for Rest BreaksExercises for Rest Breaks

EXERCISE-reduce muscle fatigue-improve circulation

Visual DiscomfortVisual Discomfort

ICT era- widespread use of ICT era- widespread use of computer/video display terminals computer/video display terminals (VDT)(VDT)

Commonplace: office work, Commonplace: office work, engineering, architecture---- personal engineering, architecture---- personal useuse

Importance of visual comfort: Importance of visual comfort: enhance job performance & productivityenhance job performance & productivity

Eye Muscles

Common Eye SymptomsCommon Eye Symptoms

Occurs when the visual demands of Occurs when the visual demands of the task exceed the visual abilitiesthe task exceed the visual abilities Blurred vision Blurred vision Double visionDouble vision Eye strainEye strain HeadacheHeadache Red/sore eyesRed/sore eyes

Causes of Visual DiscomfortCauses of Visual Discomfort High visual demandHigh visual demand

Sustain, close-screen work: visual fatigueSustain, close-screen work: visual fatigue Less short breaksLess short breaks

Non ergonomic work stationNon ergonomic work station Ambient lighting, VDT brightness/contrast, Ambient lighting, VDT brightness/contrast,

glareglare• Refractive errors (uncorrected)Refractive errors (uncorrected) Radiation?Radiation?

Non conclusiveNon conclusive

‘EYE FATIGUE’

Ergonomic Work StationErgonomic Work Station

VDT monitor and screen: brightness, VDT monitor and screen: brightness, contrast, text sizecontrast, text size

Glare preventionGlare prevention Good lightingGood lighting

Good Work PracticeGood Work Practice

Maintain correct working distance- physiological Maintain correct working distance- physiological resting accommodations and vergenceresting accommodations and vergence

Regular blinking of the eyes- minimize Regular blinking of the eyes- minimize excessive tear evaporationexcessive tear evaporation

Take frequent and regular short breaks- enough Take frequent and regular short breaks- enough time for eye muscle to recover (STOP, LOOK time for eye muscle to recover (STOP, LOOK AWAY & BLINK)AWAY & BLINK)

Adopt good work postureAdopt good work posture Reference materials placed close to the screenReference materials placed close to the screen Choose proper spectacles or lensesChoose proper spectacles or lenses

Back Pain and Manual Back Pain and Manual HandlingHandling

Manual handling- strength and power to Manual handling- strength and power to lift up/down, push, pull, carry, transfer or lift up/down, push, pull, carry, transfer or hold objectshold objects

it increases risk of back painit increases risk of back pain heavy loadheavy load non neutral position (bending, twisting)non neutral position (bending, twisting) increase stress to the backincrease stress to the back

physical load- acute and chronic effect to physical load- acute and chronic effect to back painback pain

Participatory Ergonomic Participatory Ergonomic ApproachApproach

Joint employee-employer Joint employee-employer involvement in planning and involvement in planning and executing ergonomic activitiesexecuting ergonomic activities

Task specific- small groupTask specific- small group Based at each worksiteBased at each worksite Both sides should maintain periodic Both sides should maintain periodic

communicationcommunication