Ergonomics Brought to you by: OESD 114 Colleen Kragen - Safety & Health Specialist Last Revised: September2017

What is Ergonomics? Miriam-Webster Definition: an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely - called also biotechnology, human engineering, human factors.

Fitting the job to the worker to prevent repetitive injuries. Simplified Fitting the job to the worker to prevent repetitive injuries.

What Does Ergonomics Mean for You? Poor Ergonomics can lead to Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs Carpal tunnel syndrome (wrists) Tendinitis (joints) Rotator cuff injuries (shoulder) Epicondylitis (tennis elbow) Trigger finger (index finger) General muscle strains and low back injuries

What Can Cause MSDs? Years of hard labor Poor Posture Lack of stretching Excess weight Bad lifting techniques Overreaching Lack of regular activity or exercise

How Do MSDs Affect Us? Information provided by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. http://www.anationinmotion.org/ value/societal-and-economic- impact-and-value-of- orthopaedics/

How Does Ergonomics Relate to MSDs? The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) emphasizes “Implementing an ergonomic process is effective in reducing the risk of developing MSD’s in high-risk industries as diverse as construction, food processing, firefighting, office jobs, healthcare, transportation, and warehousing.” From: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/

Myth: Work Hurts

A Few Tips for Preventing MSDs Review of good posture Stretching Exercises Increasing blood flow Ergonomics workplace assessment The right tools for the job Proper lifting techniques

Standing Posture

Proper Posture & Body Alignment

Why Stretch? Increases blood flow, which helps prevent injuries Reduces fatigue Improves muscular balance and posture Improves muscle coordination

Stretching At Work Stretching a few times during the work day can keep joints from cramping up and helps prevent MSDs.

Larger Stretches Stretching larger muscles is recommended when sitting for a long period of time, before manual labor, and before heavy lifting. These stretches help prevent immediate injuries and MSDs over time.

Workplace Ergonomic Assessment Conduct an Ergonomic Analysis - identify the potential/actual repetitive injury risks associated with the job Create an Opportunity List - prioritize the risks and develop solutions based on available materials and cost evaluations. Implement Improvements - use the opportunity list to put in place the ergonomic changes. Review - go back and perform a reassessment to ensure the changes are effective.

Thank you!