Ergonomics is known for it’s integration with risk factors we recognize such as posture and force. We understand that heavy lifting in an improper manner can injure our backs etc. However, how does an ergonomic specialist identify what these factors are? Are they obvious, can they be taught simply through a class or an ergonomic evaluation session? These are questions that some human resource and office managers ask when determining what to offer their employees. The idea that there will be some inherent amount of ergonomic risk found in various tasks, whether they are in a stock room, computer workstation, etc. So the first thing is to understand how an ergonomic specialist will approach risks that employees can be exposed to.
The first method is to ergonomically assess the worker at their unique workstation. Typically, this is done for an employee experiencing signs of a cumulative related injury such as a musculoskeletal disorder such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis. The ergonomic evaluation specialist will consult with the employee, then observe the employee work and look for any associated risk factors that could be aggravating their conditions. This is very effective at preventing exacerbation of an injury but it’s focused on that one individual. Which brings us to the second method. A workstation evaluation focused on reducing risk factors for multiple users of that workstation. This relies on incorporating anthropological measurements, adjustability, and identifying general ergonomic risks that would be present when a worker is interacting with it.
Workstation ergonomic assessments typically focus on workflow and engineering controls that do not require training. Administrative controls or training requires the employee to abide by the actions recommended. Humans can sometimes be in a rush or forget, or just unaware of our body postures and biomechanics which may require unpractical multiple training sessions. So, in terms of the ergonomic risk factors, the way the ergonomic specialists then approach these is by prioritizing them to understand what changes need to be made and the impact they will have on the worker population. The specialist will strive for neutral body postures (center or range of motion), reduced forces (push, pull, carry, lift), as well as reduced repetition and duration.
If your team works in a physically demanding job ensure these tasks are ergonomically sound so to prevent worker injury. Our team at Ergobility can bring ergonomics and body mechanics education programs as well as workstation assessments to your facility. Call us today for more information about our services or to learn how we can help your team.
