INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS
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Transcript INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS
OFFICE ERGONOMICS
UNC - Charlotte
Safety and
Environmental
Health Department
King Building – 1st
Floor
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Understand the definition of ergonomics
Understand Primary Causes of
Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs).
Understand ways to prevent CTDs
Learn about PC workstation accessories
to reduce computer work stress
Basic exercises to reduce / relieve ergostress.
DEFINITION
ERGONOMICS is a way of working
smarter--not harder by designing tools,
equipment, work stations and tasks that
allow a job to fit the worker and NOT by
fitting the worker to the job:
Layout / type of controls & displays
Lighting & Temperature
Process (Heights, reaches, weights)
WHY WORRY ?
Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
(WMSDs) are fastest-growing injury/illness
category (accounting for over 1.8 million
annual lost workday cases in 1997 BLS stats).
Up 600% over last 11 years
$13 to 20 billion total injury cost / year &
average $29 K / case compensation claim
cost
More lost workdays for Repetitive Stress
Injuries (RSI’s) (avg = 30 days for a Carpal
Tunnel injury)
MSD INJURY DATA
600,000 MSDs require time off
from work.
Women suffer more ergonomic
injuries due to:
jobs requiring more heavy lifting,
repetitive movement while completing
tasks and awkward postures and as a
result account for:
70% of Carpal Tunnel
62% of Tendonitis
CAR COST IS (PARTIALLY)--A PAIN IN
THE BACK !!
According to Dr. E.W. Simmons,
president of the American Back
Society, medical costs related to
back injuries can add up to
$1,800 to the price of every car
made in Detroit!
CTD INJURY FACTORS
CTD Injuries cause Lesions
to tendons of the neck,
back, shoulders, arms,
wrists or hands
Primary causes:
Repetitive movements
over long periods of time
Awkward postures
Use of excessive forces
CTD RISK CONTROL: POSTURE
NEUTRAL & COMFORTABLE:
Wrists straight
Shoulders relaxed with
elbows close to body
head / shoulders & back in
vertical alignment
Feet flat on floor
Frequent breaks when
bent postures can’t be
avoided
ERGONOMIC ALIGNMENT
Proper tool alignment illustrated – note
wrist and elbow positioning
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Up to 15% occurrence rate in certain industries.
A natural occurrence with repetitive motion of
hands & wrists -- especially with high force levels
and awkward wrist positioning.
Proper keyboard positioning and good wrist
support can help most PC users avoid problems
GOOD NEWS: rates have dropped about 30%
since 1990 -- which most attribute to strong
workplace ergonomics programs
CTD RISK CONTROL:
REPETITION
Use automatic tools for repetitive tasks
(screw and bolt tightening)
Eliminate unnecessary tasks /
movements by redesigning maintenance
procedures and workstations
Take short, frequent breaks
Alternate tasks and processes to use
different muscle groups
ERGONOMICS SUMMARY
Good ergonomic design of tools, processes
and furniture can markedly improve
personnel comfort, health, morale, and
productivity.
Individual effort as part of a departmental
workshop team is the greatest means of
identifying / improving workplace
ergonomic issues.
It’s critical to seek prompt medical aid for
symptoms of ergonomic stress / CTDs.
Computer Ergonomics
Routine PC user is defined as a person spending
20 hours or more per week working at a
computer.
Studies of PC users have not shown a risk of eye
damage...although fatigue is quite possible
during extended usage.
NIOSH studies have not indicated a radiation
hazard nor pregnancy risk from PC usage.
Workers using bi/tri-focal glasses that use a PC
may need special purpose glasses for computer
work that keep eyes/head on level plane.
ERGONOMIC KEYBOARDS
Three types: Fixed split, Adjustable split &
“Sculptured”
Awkward wrist postures minimized with 15 to
25 horizontal degree key split AND 8 to 66
degree vertical incline.
Key Layout Design Changes Have:
increased comfort (81% of users)
improved postures
reduced muscle activity
lowered carpal tunnel pressure in lab
settings
Obtained primarily to alleviate an injury
WRIST RESTS
No medical evidence that they reduce RSI injuries. They
work for some, but not for others
Usage Guidelines:
Buy rest that is even with top of keyboard
Material should be “medium-soft” (foam--gel mix) so
foam doesn’t break down. AVOID hard plastic types
DON’T leave wrists on rest...which compresses carpal
tunnel. Palm rest instead.
Changing typing habits more critical than wrist support
MOST APPROPRIATELY USED TO REST HANDS DURING
PAUSE IN TYPING
LEARN TO TYPE CORRECTLY WITH “FLOATING WRISTS”
FIRST!!!
Ergonomic chairs
Adjustable back height
Adjustable arm rests
Adjustable Seat Pan Tilt
and Height to
accommodate user body
type
Note: Chair on left is
NOT ergonomically
designed – it is equipped
with fixed arm rests and
non-adjustable back and
seat pan height
Alternative Pointing Devices
Track-balls
“Scrolling” Mouse
Other Ergonomic PC
Accessories
Height-adjustable articulating keyboard tray – controls
height and tilt adjustments, allows proper keyboard
positioning for many different body types.
3M model AKT 100 shown above is a good example of
a well made keyboard tray.
Ergonomically Incorrect PC Station Design
Ergonomically Correct PC Station Design
Model Computer Workstation
Keyboard trays WITH wrist
support.
Split "Natural" keyboards to
facilitate neutral wrist angle
Fully adjustable ergonomic
chair
Document holder to minimize
head / eye & neck movements
Corner desk units to position
monitor directly in front of
employee
Foot rest where requested.
Re-organization of working
materials within employee arm
reach.
Alternative pointing devices
Ergonomic Evaluation
Questions ??... Contact S & EH
Workplace ergonomic assessments will
be provided by Safety and
Environmental Health Dept upon
request.
S, & EH phone extension – 4279
HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY DAY