| Ergonomics refers to designing jobs and | | | | The work process had not changed, just the |
| workplaces to fit workers and the work that | | | | workstation. |
| they do, instead of trying to change workers to | | | | He and his supervisor could not account for the |
| fit their jobs. | | | | sudden onset of problems. |
| "Good" ergonomics helps prevent injuries, increase | | | | After thinking about possible causes and consulting |
| comfort, and reduce fatigue. It also improves the | | | | with staff trained in ergonomics, they realized that |
| quality and quantity of work and the overall | | | | the new work surface was higher than old one. |
| profitability of a business. | | | | An adjustable workstation allowed the employee |
| Musculoskeletal Disorders | | | | to set the height to the earlier level. |
| Workers can get painful musculoskeletal disorders | | | | Within hours, his symptoms disappeared. |
| from workstations that don't fit them. | | | | Anti-fatigue Mats |
| Tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are two | | | | Many industrial jobs require standing for long |
| common types of musculoskeletal disorders | | | | periods of time or walking throughout a shift. |
| associated with ergonomic problems. | | | | Standing or walking on hard surfaces like cement |
| Symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders include | | | | puts tremendous stress on the back, increasing |
| discomfort, pain, dull ache, numbness, tingling, | | | | fatigue and putting employees at risk for low |
| decreased range of motion, decreased grip | | | | back injuries. |
| strength, and/or swelling of joints or limbs. | | | | Comfortable matting makes it easier to stand for |
| The symptoms are not just unpleasant; they can | | | | hours or walk back and forth in a manufacturing |
| make it impossible for workers to stay on their | | | | or processing facility. |
| jobs. | | | | Anti-fatigue mats come in materials designed for |
| For example: after working for years at a | | | | various industrial environments. Some work in |
| fast-paced assembly job, a middle age woman did | | | | either wet or dry conditions, while others offer |
| not have the strength to hold onto a coffee cup, | | | | chemical resistance. |
| let alone do her demanding job. | | | | Slip-resistance is an added safety benefit of many |
| Risk Factors | | | | anti-fatigue mats. |
| While there is no one cause, several risk factors | | | | Cost vs. Benefit |
| increase the chance of developing a | | | | In 1992 the average cost of a back injury was |
| musculoskeletal disorder: | | | | $9,000 without surgery and $35,000 with surgery. |
| Repetitive motion (doing one task too much or | | | | The cost for carpal tunnel release surgery ranges |
| too fast) | | | | from $4,000 to $10,000 per hand. |
| Forceful exertion (e.g. reaching for a heavy | | | | These figures don't take into account the serious |
| object) | | | | losses in business productivity and employee |
| Awkward posture (e.g. bent wrist, head forward) | | | | well-being that result from back injuries and carpal |
| Static posture (staying too long in one position) | | | | tunnel syndrome. |
| Mechanical pressure (leaning against hard edges) | | | | According to a recent study, the average |
| Heavy lifting | | | | payback period for 25 ergonomic interventions |
| Workstation Setup | | | | was 0.82 years. Businesses may cite high costs of |
| Correct workstation setup may be the single best | | | | new equipment as a reason not to implement |
| way to prevent ergonomic injuries. | | | | ergonomic solutions. However, the economic |
| For example: within days of moving to a new | | | | benefits of "good" ergonomics have been |
| workstation, a long-time employee started | | | | demonstrated repeatedly. |
| experiencing discomfort in his arms and wrists. | | | | |