This document provides an overview of ergonomics from Dr. Vaibhav Gupta. It defines ergonomics as the science of designing work to fit the human body. The document outlines objectives of ergonomics like reducing injuries and fatigue. It discusses training workers in ergonomics and factors like individual physiology and behavior that influence ergonomic risk. Principles of neutral posture and avoiding forceful exertions are covered. The basics of ergonomic chair, keyboard, mouse and monitor setup are explained. Risk factors, signs of musculoskeletal disorders, and control methods like job rotation are summarized.

1. DR. VAIBHAV GUPTA
MPH 1st year Student
Dept. of community medicine
JSSMC
09/01/2013
MODERATOR: DR. MADHU B.

2.  INTRODUCTION
 OBJECTIVES
 BENIFITS
 TRANING
 FACTORS
 PRINCIPLES
 BASICS OF ERGONOMICS
 CONTROL & PREVENTION

3. Derived from two Greek words:
“Ergon” meaning work
“Nomos” meaning principles of laws
Ergonomics is the science of work.
DEFINITION: “The science of designing uses interaction
with equipment and work place to fit the job.”

4. International Ergonomics Association Executive Council,
“Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline
concerned with the understanding of the interactions among
human and other elements of a system and the profession that
applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to
optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”

5.  Know how to recognize injury risks
 Understand how the body works
 Realize how to eliminate or reduce injuries
 Know how to stretch and warm up
 Improve quality of life

6.  Reduce worker discomfort
 Improve & increase general health awareness
 Improve morale
 Reduce fatigue related costs
 Decrease errors and product defects
 Decrease time required to perform tasks
 Financial savings YOU JUST FEEL
BETTER

7.  The purpose of training and education in Ergonomics is
to ensure that employees are sufficiently informed
about the ergonomic hazards to which they may be
exposed and with that information actively participate
in their own protection.

8. 1.The Human Factor
• People are different
 Biological :everyone has their limitations
 Shapes and sizes
 Tall and short
 Congenital defects, vision, hearing
 Emotional & physical stress
 Educational level
 Physical restrictions

9. Behavioral: People have predictable reaction
 Attitude
 Lifestyles
 Job satisfaction or employer relationships
 Time pressures (stress)
( No time for stretching, breaks, lunch)
 Work culture
 Interaction with co-workers
 Personal problems

10.  Lifestyle influences
 Obesity
 Lack of physical fitness
 Age and gender
 Leisure/hobbies/sports
 Smoking
 Medical/psychological factors
 Previous injuries & illness
 Stress

11. Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries or
illnesses to soft body tissue such as:
 Muscles
 Nerves
 Tendons
 Ligaments
 Joints
 Cartilage
 Spinal Discs

12. CONTD……….
MSDs do not include injuries caused by slips, trips,
falls or other similar accidents.
MSDs can differ in severity from mild, periodic
symptoms to severe, chronic and debilitating
conditions.

13. MSDs – Signs & Symptoms
 Aching
 Burning
 Cramping
 Loss of Color
 Numbness

14. COTND.........
 Pain
 Swelling
 Stiffness
 Tingling
 Weakness

15. Risk Factors are the elements of workstation design or
employee action that can result in MSDs
 Environmental Factors
 Psychosocial& behavioural
 Activity Factors

16.  Heat
 Effects blood circulation & causes
cramps, burns/rashes and general discomfort
 Cold
 Effects the body’s blood circulation, causes
hypothermia,
 loss of flexibility, distraction

17.  Lighting
Poorly lighted areas contribute to trip and fall hazards
and poor coordination
 Under and over lighted areas can cause:
• Headaches
• muscle strains
• fatigue
• eye strain

18.  Vibration
 Excessive vibration causes pain to muscles, joints and
internal organs
 Soft tissue trauma to the hands, arms, feet and legs

19.  Noise
Noise peaks above 100 decibels cause
 headaches
 increased blood pressure
 muscle tension
 fatigue
 irritability and distraction
 Noise levels above 85 decibels need to adhere to the
Hearing Conservation Program

20.  Job Dissatisfaction
 Depression/Anxiety
 Home problems
 Psychological "distress”
 Intensified work load, work pressure, fatigue, rotating
shifts
 Increased physical pain from stress with muscle tightness
and tension

21. Force & Exertion
 Force: Lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, poor body
mechanics & posture
 Forceful exertions: Pinching, grasping, keying,
moussing, writing, stapling

22.  Manual Material Handling – Lifting Use good body
mechanics
 Walking surfaces are level, wide enough, clean and dry
 Know your limits
 Weight
 Size
 Repetition
 Twisting, Bending

23. Lifting
 Assess the load (weight & size) and plan your lift
 Bend your knees – do not bend at the waist
 Tighten your stomach muscles
 Keep the load close to your body
 Keep your back upright & head up
 Avoid twisting – Move toes before the nose Stretch
before the lift

24.  Maintain the neutral position
 Use the power position – knees bent and legs slightly
staggered with one foot in front of the other
 Stay within your reach zone
 Promote the most effective work process
 Maintain and use the correct tools and equipment
 Provide and take adequate rest breaks
 Control and reduce the duration, frequency and severity of
exposures

25.  NEUTRAL POSITION
25PPT-010-02

26. Basics of Ergonomics
 Awkward Posture
 Chair
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Monitor

27.  Document Holder
 Phone
 Amount of Reach
 Additional accessories
 Tools, equipment and procedures

28.  Posture
 Maintain the “S” curve in your spine
 Feet flat on the floor
 Legs should be parallel to the floor
 Shoulders relaxed and elbows close to body

29.  Sitting Basics
 Height of the chair – adjustable
 Allows feet to be flat on the floor or on a foot rest
 Adjustable backrest with lumbar support - back rest
should move up and down
 Good casters
 Chair Tilt and seat pan angle

30.  Keyboard
 Standard or split keyboard – adjustable
at elbow height with straight wrists!!
 Raise/lower the keyboard and workstation
 Change the angle of the keyboard

31.  Mouse
Move mouse closer to the keyboard
Try alternate pointing devices –vertical mouse
Do not use a wrist rest with the mouse

32.  Monitor
 Face the monitor straight ahead
 Top of monitor should be same as eye level with the
head slanted downward ever so slightly
 Tilt the monitor back – like reading a book
 Adjust the work surface height
 Move forward or backward – depends on vision
 Avoid “turtle necking” - head forward

33.  Eye Strain
◦ Dry Burning Eyes
◦ Blurred Vision
◦ Delayed Focusing
◦ Altered Colour Perception
◦ Headaches
◦ Neck Pain

34.  Vision – Eye Strain
 Move the monitor – improve line of sight
 Set contrast /brightness –reduce glare
 Increase/decrease lighting – task lighting
 Colour of print (black print on white is the best)
 Dust/clean screen
 Avoid “turtle necking”, starring & blink often
 Provide a document holder

35. 20-20-20 Rule
 Every 20 Minutes -
 Take a 20 second break
 Look 20 feet away
(Stretch/exercise during those 20 seconds)

36.  Additional Accessories
 Large grip pen/pencils
 Decrease stress on muscles/tendons
 Footrest
 Feet flat on the floor
 Supply footrest if needed
 Adjust the foot rest
 Adjust the seat pan height

37.  Phone
 Move the phone to the right (if left handed)
 Move the phone to the left (if right handed)
 Move phone closer to the operator
 Provide head-rest or fixed head-set
 Use speaker phone
 Avoid cradling the hand set between your shoulder and
head

38.  Tools and Equipment
 Tools are selected to limit or minimize exposure to
excessive vibration
 Tools are powered where necessary and feasible
 Tools are evenly balanced
 The tool grip/handle prevents slipping during use

39. Hazard Control & prevention
 Engineering Control
 Design of tools, job workstations & work method
 Administrative Controls
 Work load
 Job Rotation/Cross training
 Ergonomic training
 Work Practice Control
 How worker approaches the job
 Psychosocial issues/behaviour
 Exercise
 Personal Protective Equipment

40.  Re-design or modify the work station
 Re-design of tools and stress proper tool for the task
 Lighting modification – comfort & performance
 Vibration control
 Noise control
 Automation/Mechanical lifting
 Material flow and process

41. Administrative Controls
 Employee job rotation
 Adjustment of the work space
 Re-design of work methods
 Alternative tasks
 Increase rest breaks
 Increase workforce
 Reduce workload
 Monitoring work practices

42. Work Practice Controls
 Work techniques & procedures
 Conditioning period
 Using proper body mechanics and proper body posture
 Training in work techniques
 Monitoring of work practices
 Enforce use of Personal protective equipment (PPE)

43. Personal Protective Equipment(PPE)
 Reduces the duration, frequency, or intensity of exposure
 Gloves –vibration, heat, cold, cut/abrasive, chemical
resistant
 Knee pads
 Respirators
 Hearing Protection
 Eye Protection
 Footwear – comfortable/flexible, slip resistant, steel toe

44. Other Options for Improvement
 Maintain your work zone
 Reference - Outside of arm’s reach
 Avoid twisting, bending and reaching
 Rest and a healthy diet (stop smoking)
 Drink water to help with joint function
 Exercise and stretch

45. Ideas for Prevention
 To increase circulation, use exercises while in the
workplace such as:
 The body stretch
 Side bends
 Upper body twist
 Shoulder shrugs
 Fingers stretch
 Wrist stretch
 Thumb stretch

46. THANK YOU