Ergonomics Case Study

Also to avoid dangerous moving and handling, the employees then have the responsibility of making sure they use all equipment as they have been trained to do so, follow all health and safety working practices within their workplace, avoid putting themselves, other staff, individuals or visitors at risk, and making sure they report any hazards or risks to their employer.

3. The company needs to invest in ergonomically correct and up to date equipment that will minimize the possibility of employees getting hurt.   Ergonomically correct equipment is more comfortable to operate and will cause the employees less fatigue and this will result in more pride in their work increasing production in the end.

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).

Gathering information from available sources: With the use of tracking Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs), the information provided on existing medical, safety, and insurance records, including the OSHA 300 forms, could help provide any evidence for ergonomic hazards at the workplace. (Gortsch, 2011)

Organizations have the responsibility to provide a safe work environment for their employees. Lift equipment is expensive; however the return on investment is profound (ANA, 2013). In my previous organization, we spent two million dollars on a SPHM program, at three years had a full return on investment, and by year seven saved six million dollars (OSHA, 2013). According to Nelson (2008), it takes less time and less wear and tear on the body to use SPHM equipment than to gather a team of people to lift a patient. Physically fit health care providers are four times more likely to be injured due to repeated requests for lift help (Nelson, 2008). Educating health care workers in ergonomics for the past twenty years

Americans work more than any other country in the industrialized world, which means they spend more time sitting and more time in a sedentary, often non-ergonomic position. What people may not know is that bad posture for an extended period of time can affect mood, health and ultimately, productivity in the workplace.

3. Ergonomics. This scientific discovery is valid. By applying the knowledge involving changing your workspace around to reduce awkward positions, the slumps in you shoulders and neck are reduced. Don't forget to invest in a logical work chair that is designed to support your back while keeping your feet flat onto the deck.

In beginning of a her career she is a licensed physical therapist in ROHC and provided physical therapy treatment and her goal is to prevent work related musculoskeletal injuries. She is experienced over 15 years in treating orthopedic injuries caused by occupation. As a Pilates instructor she used to train rehabilitation professionals. She is expert in using neck and back stabilizing techniques on patients and ergonomic clients. She is now Director of Physical Therapy department at Nova Pain and Rehabilitation. Her quest in field of ergonomics made her to establish an ergonomic evaluating office Ergo-RX and provides custom furnishings to the clients. As an ergonomist and physical therapist, Jeannie incorporates her physical therapy treatment and prevention of injuries to the clients and patients she is serving

These motions are often related to patient handling (OSHA, 2013). Hospital workers face numerous risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) in the workplace, such as back and shoulder injuries (Waters, Collins, Galinsky, & Caruso, 2006). These injuries are associated with excessive back and shoulder loading due to lifting heavy loads during manual patient handling, applying excessive forces during the pushing and pulling of objects, required use of awkward postures during patient care, and working long hours (Waters et al., 2006).

The role of occupational therapy in ergonomics counseling begins with an evaluation of the client, the work environment and the duties required to fulfill the position. During the assessment, the occupational therapist will identify possible hazards and offer reasonable recommendations to minimize risk factors. The therapist will also be focused on suggesting and creating any necessary modifications to maximize client functionality, comfort, and safety in order to regain productivity.

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

Workplace Safety – 7/21/2014 - 9/14/2014 – Developed an Accident / Incident process that included addressing near-miss conditions in an effort to make the workplace safer for all employees. The program emphasized the importance of bringing potentially dangerous conditions to management’s attention and provided procedures to correct the condition. An accident /incident reporting process was established and a designated industrial medical facility to provide worker’s compensation care was identified. Employees, supervisors and managers were trained on the importance of workplace safety and the procedures to follow when a potential unsafe condition existed, or when a workplace incident or injury occurred.

It is no longer news that healthcare workers suffer significant injuries that could lead to a dreadful change in their lives or affect activities of daily living. This issue has been trending for quite a while as a lot of studies have shown that most people who complain of back pain have a history of health occupation. It is expected that with so much awareness of health promotion and education, people will take more precautions in trying to protect their body. However, there is still a lot of safety concern for the nurse, nurses’ aide and other individuals. A work place free of harm or hazardous stimuli facilitates an effective and safe environment for employees in the health field.

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.

In the manufacture industry, companies always facing problems related with the effort to determine appropriate job design that can increase the productivity of the employee. The job design itself constitutes of an approach to arrange and or specifies the task that constitutes a job for an individual or a group. According to Heizer and Render (2006) the job design activities consist of seven components: (1) job specialization, (2) job expansion, (3) psychological components, (4) self-directed teams, (5) motivation and incentive system, (6) ergonomics and work methods, and (7) the visual workplace.