Ergonomics at Work
Ergonomics at Work
Done right, a focus on ergonomics will result in increased worker well being and optimized performance.
Fit the task to the worker — not the worker to the task.
As people, we all have different capabilities, needs, and limitations. Especially in the United States, we are facing a considerable workforce diversity, and have to find ways to accommodate the majority of our workforce to be successful. Societal trends like, e.g., an aging population, make it even more important to adjust the jobs to meet the employees’ needs. As such, industrial ergonomic design is the basis of sustainable success in a competitive business environment.
The Economics of Ergonomics
TOP 10 Causes and Direct Cost of the Most Disabling U.S. Workplace Injuries Highlighting the Importance of Ergonomics.
WMSDs account
for 33% of all lost
workday injuries and
illnesses annually.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD)
While automation in the workplace can improve quality and productivity, many of the manual tasks that remain are repetitive.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD)
| Disorders | Occupational Risk Factors | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Tendonitis / tenosynovitis | Repetitive wrist or shoulder motions, consistent hyper extension of arms, shouldering loads for length of time | Pain, weakness, swelling, burning sensation or dull ache |
| Epicondylitis (elbow tendonitis) | Repeated rotation of the forearm and bending of the wrist at the same time | Pain, weakness, swelling, burning sensation or dull ache |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome | Repetitive wrist motions | Pain, numbness, tingling, burning sensations, wasting of muscles at base of thumb, dry palms |
| DeQuervain’s disease | Forceful gripping and continuous twisting of the hand | Pain at the base of thumb |
| Thoracic outlet syndrome | Prolonged shoulder flexion, reaching arms above shoulder height, shouldering loads for length of time | Pain, numbness, swelling of the hands |
| Tension neck syndrome | Prolonged restricted or unnatural posture | Pain |
Why is Ergonomics Important?
Please wait..