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Learn about the importance of ergonomics in the workplace, ergonomic hazard prevention, and ergonomic principles to improve quality of work and productivity.

Ergonomics and Safety: A Powerful Pairing

Ergonomics, as defined by the International Ergonomic Association, is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans 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.

How is Ergonomics Related to Safety?

When the principles of ergonomics are applied in the context of workplace safety, the concept of ergonomic safety is born. Ergonomics safety ensures that the products, methods, and environment that a worker use are appropriate to fit the worker’s job requirements and personal capabilities.

Why is Ergonomics Important in Workplace Safety?

Ergonomic disorders are the fastest-growing category of work-related illness. According to the most recent statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, they account for 56-63 percent of illnesses reported to OSHA. Further, around two million work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) also occur yearly in the United States alone.

Many of these are caused by ergonomic work-related injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome alone, tendinitis, rotator cuff injuries, muscle strains, and low back injuries due to risk factors like high task repetition, forceful exertions, and repetitive awkward postures.

What are the Benefits of Ergonomics?

The implementation of ergonomics safety as part of the workplace safety program helps ensure that employees’ capabilities and physical limitations are matched with the right tools and working spaces to ensure comfortable and safe working conditions for them. The benefits of an ergonomics safety program can not only make an impact on the lives of employees, but it can also make a difference in the overall efficiency of the entire organization. Here are some of the most notable benefits of ergonomic safety in the workplace:

Helps reduce costs

By systematically reducing ergonomic risk factors, you can prevent costly MSDs. With approximately R20 out of every R60 in workers’ compensation costs attributed to MSDs, this represents an opportunity for significant cost savings.

Helps prevent other incidents and injuries

Workers who experience discomfort on the job may find shortcuts or workarounds that could result in incidents and injuries such as slips, falls, and lacerations. Implementing an ergonomics program and encouraging workers to report ergonomic issues early helps prevent MSDs as well as other common workplace incidents.

Improves overall productivity

Healthy employees are your most valuable asset; creating and fostering the safety & health culture at your company will lead to improved productivity for your organization. Effective ergonomic safety programs can promote good posture at all times, less exertion, fewer motions, and better heights and reaches, thus helping employees to work more comfortably and efficiently in their workstations.

Helps foster employee engagement and satisfaction

Employees notice when the company is putting forth its best efforts to ensure their health and safety. It shows your company’s commitment to safety and health as a core value. If an employee does not experience fatigue and discomfort during their workday, it can reduce turnover, decrease absenteeism, improve morale, and increase employee involvement.

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How to Spot and Correct Ergonomic Hazards

Here are some general ergonomic safety tips to help prevent the most prevalent ergonomic hazards:

Workstation improvements

  • Redesign workstations to eliminate awkward postures.
  • Provide adjustable equipment that can be used by workers to allow neutral postures.
  • Maintain good body posture.

When transporting and handling

  • Be knowledgeable about body limitations.
  • Provide carts for transporting materials to eliminate lifting.
  • Require all loads to be labelled with their weight.
  • When lifting, keep your back straight and lift with your legs.
  • Assign two or more staff to lift heavy objects depending on weight.
  • Lift slowly and carefully.
  • Don’t twist or turn your spine while carrying the load.
  • Use shoulder pads to cushion loads carried on the shoulder.
  • Use knee pads for kneeling tasks.
  • Store materials at waist height to minimize reaching.
  • Design containers with handles for easy gripping.

Staff scheduling and training

  • Rotate workers among different tasks to avoid repetitive motions.
  • Improve the work schedule to minimize excessive overtime that causes fatigue.
  • Increase staff to reduce individual workloads.
  • Provide sufficient employee breaks.
  • Adequate recovery time can reduce fatigue.
  • Provide workers with training on ergonomics policies and procedures.

General housekeeping

  • Follow good housekeeping practices.
  • Keep floors free of obstruction.
  • Use tools in good condition that fits the hand.
  • Properly maintain power tools to reduce exposure to vibration.
  • Use gloves to protect against vibration and rough surfaces.
  • Always practice proper machine handling.

Create your own Ergonomics Safety Checklist

Build from scratch or choose from our collection of free, ready-to-download, and customizable templates.

How to Improve Ergonomics: 10 Principles

Follow these 10 ergonomic principles to help reduce injuries and improve productivity tasks in the workplace.

  1. Joints must be in a neutral position

In the neutral position the muscles and ligaments, which span the joints, are stretched to the least possible extent

  1. Keep work close to the body

If the work is too far from the body, the arms will be outstretched, and the trunk bent over forwards

  1. Avoid bending forward

The further the trunk of the upper body is bent forward, the harder it is for the muscles and ligaments of the back to maintain the upper body in balance.

  1. A twisted trunk strains the back

Twisted postures of the trunk cause undesirable stress to the spine.

  1. Alternate posture as well as movements

No posture or movement should be maintained for a long period of time. Prolonged postures and repetitive movements are tiring.

  1. Avoid excessive reaches

It is necessary to limit the extent of forward and sideways reaches to avoid having to bend over or twist the trunk

  1. Avoid carrying out tasks above shoulder level

The hands and elbows should be well below shoulder level when carrying out a task

  1. Limit the weight of a load that is lifted

Be guided on weight limits

  1. Avoid carrying loads with one hand

When only one hand is used to carry a load, the body is subject to mechanical

  1. Use mechanical aids

Many lifting accessories are available to help lift and move loads

Nico Calogero