Ergonomic Assessment Methods and Programs

Adjustable workstations are increasingly becoming a main benefit for organizations using them. When using computers at the workplace, employees typically sit down for longer periods without adjustable designed workstations. Such situations can lead to regular back injuries, stress injuries and other forms of injuries. All these injuries result in lost work time and reduced productivity. Using adjustable workstations reduces employee fatigue, makes them comfortable and helps them avoid standing or sitting in awkward postures. Adjustable designed workstations lowers the rate of suffering from tunnel syndrome injuries, which improves both employer and employee morale. This is characterized by improved productivity, reduction in employee absenteeism and minimal workplace complaints (Washington (State), 2009).

U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/

Importance of Ergonomics in Retail: An ergonomic hazard is a physical factor within the environment that harms the musculoskeletal system. Ergonomic hazards include themes such as repetitive movement, manual handling, workplace/job/task design, uncomfortable workstation height and poor body positioning (Australian Government Comcare, 2014). Cynthia L. Roth makes a great claim about the importance of ergonomics in retail by stating that at every stage of the supply chain, ergonomics can be used to protect

OSHA is the most appropriate agency to examine musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). OSHA has issued a standard developed by workers to reduce the risk of employee exposure to ergonomic health hazard. The purpose of the ergonomics standard is to reduce risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). This includes fatigue muscles, bad posture, and repeated tasks. The principle behind ergonomic is to design workstations that adjust to fit the workers; rotate employees between jobs with similar responsibility can reduce MSD.

The use of adjustable standing workstation is considered a promising intervention to reduce the effects of occupational sitting. Most of the studies that have compared between the occupational sitting and alternate sitting-standing postures found advantages in the use of adjustable standing workstation. These advantages include reductions in musculoskeletal disorder symptoms, less body discomfort, and a more consistent performance at work (Dainoff, 2002; Hedge & Ray, 2004; Davis & Kotowski, 2014). However, some studies also found mixed results regarding the use of adjustable standing workstation, such as unsustainable effects on performance or higher performance but increase discomfort (Hasegawa, Inoue, Tsutsue, & Kumashiro, 2001; Ebara et

Various methods can be used to assess risks associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), including self-reports, observational methods, and direct measurement (Li & Buckle, 1999). Observational methods have often been used to identify the risk factors of WMSDs due to various reasons because it minimally interferes the observation object’s body and it requires simple tools such as paper a pen during the assessment process. In addition, Winkel & Mathiassen (1994) also describe that this kind of methods have been considered to be cheaper and easier to use than the direct measurement method.

When it comes to ergonomics, engineering is the best tool to use. The company can use many different resources that can help them to eliminate the stresses causing MSDs (musculoskeletal Disorders). The NIOSH article publication Manual Material Handling (Ergonomic guidelines for manual material handling (DHHS [NIOSH] Publication No. 2007-191) gives some great example for engineering control of ergonomics when it comes to the work place. Examples from the article include rearranging, modifying, redesigning, providing or replacement tools, and equipment to name a few (NIOSH

The purpose for my memo is to demonstrate how office work, such as sitting, can cause injuries the same as one could be injured lifting something heavy. I am interested in this topic because I have scoliosis and understand the pain of sitting in a chair on a day to day basis. I would like to learn how to prevent this in the future for others, as well as for myself. Many people may not realize that an employee can undergo severe back pain from sitting in an office chair for eight hours or more a day. However, after reviewing my research, this common problem can be resolved with new equipment and educating employees with the proper actions to take.

At present, MSDs are one of the most obvious problems ergonomists come across in the workplace all over the world (Choobineh et al., 2007). According to the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine (2014) musculoskeletal disorder cases per 10,000 fulltime workers were 45.3, 52.7 and 33.5 cases for state government, local government and private sectors respectively. In 2013, 35.8 days-away-from-work cases were reported per 10,000 full-time workers owing to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) which was one-third of all the reported cases of days-away-from-work (NIOSH publication,

I am making an assignment on the musculoskeletal disorder to my employers from sport and Fitness Company. So, I will explain how to prevent this disorder and what harm employers have due to musculoskeletal disorders. I will evaluate and describe the treatment of this disorder and how to treat with this disorder.

According to Audrey Nelson et al (2004) in the journal Evidence-Based Practices for Safe Patient Handling and Movement said that changes in the environment, layout of equipment and work environment is one way to overcome problems related to musculoskeletal injuries.

Healthcare works are experiencing injuries from moving and handling patients. Research by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows healthcare workers often experience musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) at a rate exceeding that of workers in construction, mining, and manufacturing). Injuries are becoming a problem due to repeated manual patient handling activities. The patient handling usually involves heavy manual lifting associated with transferring and repositioning patients. The problem of lifting patients is compounded by the increasing weight of patients to be lifted due and the rapidly increasing number of older people who require assistance with the activities of daily living. This is such an important issues affecting healthcare that

In a recent study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine "Impact of a Sit-Stand Workstation on Chronic Low Back Pain Results in a Randomized Trial," Stanford University researchers concluded that lower back pain may be improved through the use of sit-stand workstations. Postural variation, or the intermittent transition from sitting to standing, was the key difference noted between the use of traditional and sit-stand desks in the study. Of

The theories of ergonomics, underlying principles and design methods put forward assistance to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. Its scientific applications make the working environment most efficient, safe and comfortable. The International Labour Organisation defines Ergonomics as 'the application of the human biological sciences in conjunction with the engineering sciences to the worker and his working environment, so as to obtain maximum satisfaction for the worker which at the same time enhances productivity'. Historically, the employers in the manufacturing sector have been addressing the issues related to improvement in the health and well being of the employees. There are enough statutes to protect and further the health and welfare of employees in this segment. But, now a days in the service sector also, there is an increasing trend in adopting scientific methods to

What is ergonomics? Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker. When there is a mismatch between the physical requirements of the job and the physical capacity of the worker, work-related musculoskeletal disorders can result. Workers who must repeat the same motion throughout their workday, work in an awkward position use a great deal of force to perform, repeatedly lift heavy objects or face a combination of these risk factors are most likely to develop work-related musculoskeletal disorders.