1. ERGONOMICS

2. Ergonomics “Study of Work”
“The science of fitting the job to the worker”
“ergo” = work
“nomics” = study of

3. History
As early as 18th century doctors noted that workers who required to maintain body positions for long periods of time developed musculoskeletal problems.
Within last 20 years research has clearly established connections between certain job tasks and RSI or MSD*.
* RSI - Repetitive strain injury
* Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

4. Main Ergonomic Principles:
Work activities should permit worker to adopt several different healthy and safe postures.
Muscle forces should be done by the largest appropriate muscle groups available

5. FACTS
The average person working at a keyboard can perform 50,000 to 200,000 keystrokes a day
Overexertion, is most common cause of workplace injury
An average of 125,000 back injuries due to improper lifting each year.
Muscles overuse results in tiny tears in the muscles and scarring; these contribute to inflammation and muscle stiffness

6. PREVENT, PREVENT, PREVENT !!!
What to do ??
PREVENT, PREVENT, PREVENT !!!
Warm up & stretch before activities that are repetitive, static or prolonged
Take frequent breaks from ANY sustained posture every minutes
Respect pain positions or stop painful activity
Recognize early signs of inflammatory process.

7. Maintain Neutral Posture

8. Avoid bending neck forward for prolonged periods of time.
Avoid static positions for prolonged time; muscles fatigue---MOVE to circulation!

9. Body Mechanics Use the largest joints & muscles to do the job
Use 2 hands to lift rather than one, even with light objects and tasks.
Carry objects close to body at waist level

10. Correct & Incorrect Techniques

11. Good and Bad of “ TILT”

12. ERGO REMINDERS

13. Practice Wellness at Work and Home !
Exercise
Relaxation
Nutrition
Mind
Body

14. MOVE
STRETCH

15. Prevention is God

16. What are the physical demands of your job…
Have class participants name the physical demands of their jobs & list them on flip chart.
Examples: sitting, reaching, driving, lifting, standing, typing, phone, computer work, filing, vibrating tools.
Focus on participant jobs.

17. Job Risk Factors Working in awkward postures / positions
Prolonged sitting and standing
Bending, stretching
Driving for extended periods of time
Heavy lifting
Awkward lifting
Lifting in combination with twisting
Pushing, pulling, carrying
Accidents, slips, trips, falls

18. What are MusculoSkeletal Disorders?
MSDs are injuries and illnesses that affect muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints or spinal discs.
MSDs are problems that affect our musculoskeletal system.

19. Common Body Parts Prone To Workplace MSDs
Back - Lower
Neck and Upper Back
Upper Extremities - Arms and Hands
Lower Extremities - Legs and Feet
These are the areas of our body that experience the most frequent problems.

20. Musculoskeletal Disorders: How & Why? listening to our body…
Disruption in balance between breakdown and recovery
1st sx….fatigue (of body part)
2nd sx…ache
3rd sx…pain
Leading to loss of function
This is the typical injury continuum
French & Zecha, 2005

21. Introducing our 2nd focus area for today…
Back care
Posture
Contact stress
Repetition
Think of posture as “position” of joints. (ie: wrist posture, leg posture, etc.)
Not just standing or sitting erect.

23. Posture check Increased stress, decreased circulation…
Left diagram demonstrates awkward posture of elbow joint.
This is example of “garden hose being bent…cutting off circulation to hands”
Higher risk
Lower risk

24. Posture check ask yourself…
Do you use a headset rather than cradling the
telephone between your head and shoulder?
If so, a hands-free headset may be appropriate.

25. Posture check ask yourself…
Are you sitting against the back of your chair while you work?
Is your head/neck upright and centered over your shoulders when you look at the screen or documents?
Are your shoulders relaxed when keying and using the mouse?
Are your arms close by your sides when you use the keyboard or pointer?

26. Equipment set-up example risk identification…
This is an example of a high-risk computer workstation set-up.
Elbow and shoulder away from body, reaching increased strain on shoulder and wrist

27. Equipment set-up example risk identification…
This is an example of an ergonomic intervention to address the risk.
Notice the more relaxed posture at shoulder, arm, wrist.
Elbow and shoulder more relaxed and closer to body
decreased strain on shoulder and wrist

28. A word on contact stress
At your workstation notice where your body comes
into contact with objects…
Where are your:
Front & back of knees
Elbows
Wrists
Back
Behind

30. Is my “ergonomic” potato chip really ergonomic?
To be ergonomic a design must…
Fit the user
Be easy to use
Improve comfort
Improve performance
Improve health and safety
Not just bells and whistles!

31. Chair Basics Good lumbar (low back) support
Comfortable sitting for at least 2 hours
Chair has 5 point base
Adjustable arm rests (or none)
Seat pan is comfortable
Easily adjustable while sitting
Appropriate height & depth of seat pan

32. Monitor issues and glare protect your eyes !
Eye-to-screen distance at least 18 inches
Top of screen at eye level or slightly below
Don’t stare…blink frequently to lubricate eyes
Use blinds to control outside light
Screen colors: dark letters on light background (IBM blue)
Eye demo exercise (see highlighted handout)
Eye strain
Finger track
Business card…screen height

33. Watch those deadlines! tension and stress - ask yourself…
                                     
During deadlines, we tend to stare more at screen (less blinking dries out and strains eyes).
We also tend to stay in one position which leads to decreased circulation and increased muscle strain.

34. Some final words Let’s think about it…

35. Back Safety & Ergonomics isn’t just a work thing! The big picture…

36. Ergonomics isn’t just a work thing! think of sleeping in your bed…
For long periods of time: static and awkward positions,
decreased circulation, increased compression!
Neck posture
Shoulder and arm posture
Wrist posture
Knee and hip posture
Back posture

37. Another cause of back problems… accidents
It is also possible to injure your back due to accidents.

38. See how we were unaware