Ergonomics

 

Workplace ergonomics is the science of designing the workplace, keeping in mind the 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. A workplace ergonomics improvement process removes risk factors that lead to musculoskeletal injuries and allows for improved human performance and productivity.

     Workplace Ergonomics – Control Method

After ergonomic opportunities are prioritized, it’s time to determine the best engineering or administrative controls to implement. This process takes a team approach. Information and input should be gathered from affected employees, members of the safety and/or ergonomics team(s), supervisors, and process managers and/or engineers to determine the best solution to the problem that has been identified.

      Engineering Controls:

Engineering controls eliminate or reduce awkward postures with ergonomic modifications that seek to maintain joint range of motion to accomplish work tasks within the mid-range of motion positions for vulnerable joints. Proper ergonomic tools should be utilized that allow workers to maintain optimal joint positions.

      Administrative Controls:

Administrative controls establish processes and procedures that can reduce injury risk. Administrative controls include work practice controls, job rotation, and counteractive stretch breaks.

      Control Methods to Consider for High Task Repetition

Engineering Controls – Eliminating excessive force and awkward posture requirements will reduce worker fatigue and allow high repetition tasks to be performed without a significant increase in MSD risk for most workers.

Work Practice Controls – Providing safe & effective procedures for completing work tasks can reduce MSD risk. In addition, workers should be trained on proper work technique and encouraged to accept their responsibilities for MSD prevention.

Job Rotation – Job task enlargement is a way to reduce duration, frequency and severity of MSD risk factors. Workers can rotate between workstations and tasks to avoid prolonged periods of performing a single task, thereby reducing fatigue that can lead to MSD.

Counteractive Stretch Breaks – Implement rest or stretch breaks to provide an opportunity for increased circulation needed for recovery (Ergoplus, 2022).

(Ergoplus, 2022)

References

Ergoplus, 2022. Workplace Ergonomics. [Online]
Available at: https://ergo-plus.com/workplace-ergonomics/#controls