1. Introduction to Industrial Ergonomics
BMFP 3553 Industrial Ergonomics

2. BMFP 3553 Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:
Describe human physical abilities and limitations;
Apply ergonomics principles to create safe, healthy, efficient and effective activities in the workplace;
Evaluate the effectiveness of the work system that they have designed;
Design a work system by taken into consideration human capabilities and limitations.

3. Today’s objective: Understand the concept of ergonomics
Be able to describe ergonomic risk factors

4. Ergonomics Defined
Early 1700’s, Ramazzini’s study of ill-effects of poor posture & poorly designed tools on the health of workers
Greek Words “Ergon = work, Nomikos = law”
Ergonomics Study of Work Laws

5. What Is Ergonomics? Modern Definition
Science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population

6. Brief History of Ergonomics
Ramazzini (1700) - Ramazzini realized that a variety of common workers’ diseases appeared to be caused by prolonged irregular motions and postures
Occupational injury and disease has existed since the beginnings of “work”.
Around , institutions were founded in Britain foroccupational medicine

7. Brief History of Ergonomics
1857 – Jastrzebowski from Poland – treatise on “An outline of ergonomics or Science of Work”
1949 – the term “Ergonomics” was coined by Murrell in USA. In USA, the field is known as “human factors”.

8. What Is Ergonomics? Ergon – work Nomos – laws of
Ergonomics is the laws of work that define the limits to human capability.

9. What Is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the science of improving employee performance and well-being in relation to the
job tasks,
equipment, and
the environment.
Ergonomics is…
a continuous improvement effort to design the workplace for what people do well, and design against what people don’t do well.

10. What Is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is fitting the job to the person.

11. Applying Ergonomics Study, research, & experimentation
Evaluate human traits/characteristics we need to know for engineering design
Application & engineering
Design tools, machines, shelter, environment, work tasks, and job procedures to fit and accommodate the human

12. Ergonomics Human Machine Work Environment
Utmost Goal: “Humanization” of Work
Design with “E & E”: Ease and Efficiency

14. The Basics of Ergonomics

15. INDUSTRIAL
ATHLETE
SKILL
WILL
COACHING
GREAT EQUIPMENT

17. Applications of Ergonomics
Anatomy
Orthopedics
Physiology
Medicine
Psychology
Sociology
Anthropometry
Biomechanics
Work Physiology
Industrial Hygiene
Management
Labor Relations
Industrial Engineering
Bio-Engineering
Systems Engineering
Safety Engineering
Military Engineering
Computer-Aided Design
PG 8, Kroemer

18. Human Machine Systems
Effectors : hands feet and voice ( things that make physical activity possible)
Senses : hearing, seeing, touching, and tasting
Central processor : brain = process info that comes from our senses

19. Ergonomic Risk Factors
Repetition
Awkward postures
Excessive force/Forceful exertions
Vibration
Static postures
Contact stress
Extreme temperatures

20. Ergonomic Risk Factors
Repetition
Ex: Assembly Line work
Doing the same thing over and over again
Thousands of keystrokes typing
Hours of filing, day after day
Stamping dozens of papers
Frequent lifting
Repeated motions with computer mouse

21. Ergonomic Risk Factors
Forceful exertions
Lifting heavy weights
Exerting too much force to operate something

22. Ergonomic Risk Factors
Awkward postures refer to positions of the body (limbs, joints, back) that deviate significantly from the neutral position while job tasks are being

23. Ergonomic Risk Factors
Contact Stress : results from occasional, repeated or continuous contact between sensitive body tissue and a hard or sharp object.

24. Static postures
Static postures (or "static loading") refer to physical exertion in which the same posture or position is held throughout the exertion.
Why are static postures bad? Static postures will impede the flow of blood that is needed to bring nutrients to the muscles and to carry away the waste products of muscle metabolism.
Examples of static postures : 1) gripping tools that cannot be put down,
2) holding the arms out or up to perform tasks,
3) standing in one place for prolonged periods.

25. TEMPERATURE
Cold environments impair sensory and motor function, reduced manual dexterity and accentuates symptoms
Hot environments promote fatigue, overwhelms the body’s ability to deal with heat.
Extreme cold causes the small blood vessels in the extremities to constrict. The blood circulates more slowly and stagnation results.

26. VIBRATION
Contributes to circulatory, skeletal, and neurological impairment and fatigue
Can be local, such as:
Use of hand tools
Can be whole body, such as:
Riding in truck
Operating jackhammer, floor buffers...etc
Vibration stimulates muscle contraction
Reduces tactility. Tactility will affect the amount of force exerted on the object.

27. FORCE + REPETITION

28. + POSTURE + NO REST =

29. CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS!!
ADD IT ALL UP ---
CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS!!

30. MECHANISMS OF INJURY DEVELOPMENT
Increased tendon length Inflammation and pain Tissue remodeling and scarring Decreased structural integrity Soft tissue and bone destruction
Sustained muscle contraction
Repetitive motions
Awkward postures
Neurovascular disorders
Compression of nerves and arteries on hard surfaces
Vibration
Sustained muscle contraction, repetitive motion and awkward postures

31. Summary Define ergonomics according to your understanding.
What is “awkward posture”?
List down THREE of the ergonomic risk factors.

32. THE END!!