The work desk of a worker needs to be flexible to enable a worker to freely move about and perform a varied range of movements and activities, and the furniture should be designed taking into consideration the worker’s needs and tasks that are to be performed (Chandra et al., 2009). Starting with the tables, they should be height adjustable and balanced so that the worker is able to increase or decrease the height of the table according to the tasks to be performed, while ergonomically designed chairs must be provided to the workers, and the chairs must have certain features that include -the height of the seat must be adjustable, and the seat height should be such that the worker is able to put feet down on the floor on footrest …show more content…
29-30) 2.3 Interventions Ergonomic training of the workers is also very important as it makes the workers aware of all the body postures and workstation setup in order to avoid muscular problems and injuries (Robertson & O'Neill, 2003).A study by Mahmud, Kenny, Zein, and Hassan (2011), which was a randomized control trial was carried out to determine the effects of office ergonomics training on individuals. After the intervention, it was found that there were significantly lesser complaints by workers regarding the musculoskeletal problems, and it was also noted that workstation habits of the workers improved along with reduced stress levels. Thus, showing that the training was helpful for the workers (Mahmud et al., 2011). Rasoulzadeh and Gholamnia
True enough, relaxing at the working office is less challenging when compared with walking, biking, or traversing difficult trails. Due to the sedentary lifestyle of several people, their bodies greatly suffer. According to studies, back pain is an extremely common condition and almost all of today’s workforce is experiencing it. While using cool atmosphere provided by the air-conditioning systems and limited body movements, the physical is
Companies should invest in ergonomically correct furniture because it will earn them money in the long run. Workers will be sick less often, be more productive, be absent less and quit their job less often. Workers will be sick less because of less dust in the air around them and will be injured less because ergonomically correct furniture drastically lowers one’s risk of musculoskeletal and other injuries. They will be more productive because they are happier, healthier and not be fatigued or sore from incorrect posture or equipment. This will also lead to them calling in absent less as they enjoy work and are not injured or sick from the workspace. Finally, there will be less employ turnover because the employs will be happier and will love coming to work.
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)
A majority of the nurses and transportation workers had a less than 5 years of experience at work. Years of experience did not seem to have a significant association with low back pain. This differed with Rahman et al. [12] who observed that job tenure along with awkward posture can cause low back pain. The prevalence of low back pain among nurses and transportation workers was analyzed in the study. The crude odds ratio of nursing reporting back pain was (OR 1.633) and transportation workers (OR 1.156). Furthermore, the association between the low back pain in the past 3 months persisted after controlling for overexertion, high demand, low control, being harassed at work, the White race, married and having more than one minor child. As the majority of the nursing workforce comprised of females, being married and having children seemed to increase the low back pain as in addition to their jobs they have to take care of house and kids. [11]. About 13.59% nurses had more than one job which could contribute to low back pain especially if the other job is also physically demanding. A majority of nurse reported low back pain, however, they did not perceive the pain as work-related. Less than 1% discussed the low back pain with their doctors. The reason could be that with intermittent pain, nurses try to take medications regularly to alleviate the pain. [10] However, medications only provide short-term relief,
After carefully reading the guidelines made by WorkSafeNB, and the article titled “Development and evaluation of an office ergonomic risk checklist: ROSA - Rapid office strain assessment” by Sonne et al., the following recommendations can be made:
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 “Reducing Occupational Sitting Time and Improving Worker Health: The Take-a-Stand Project, 2011” researchers Pronk NP1, Katz AS, Lowry M, Payfer JR studied employees in Minneapolis during March to May in the year 2011 to study the prolonged health risk factors of sitting for long periods of time. Researchers developed a study that was designed to limit the amount of time employees sit ultimately improving upon their health in sedentary jobs. The study occurred during a 7 week period with two groups. Group one was given a sit-stand device and group two did not receive a device. Ultimately the group whom was given the sit stand device reduced sitting time by 224% or 66 minutes a day, reduced upper back and neck pain by 54% and improved
Postural exercises may help patients to be more aware of their posture and make self-corrections to avoid future injury throughout the workday. In the systematic review by Drescher (Reference 22), the study compared a group receiving postural exercises to a control group who were not receiving postural exercises. It was found that the group that completed postural exercises demonstrated decreased pain and increased cervical ROM. Another high quality study (references 17-19) within this review compared an intervention group receiving postural exercises to the control group. The postural exercise group showed significant reduction in pain at both the 6 month and 3 year follow up, as well as a lower amount of sick days taken from work at the 3 year study. There was no significant different in cervical ROM improvement in these two groups. Initially the cost of this postural training was higher, however ended up being lower when taking into account the cost of sick-leave days, loss of productivity and other interventions.(Drescher) In a study by Schnabel et al, it was determined that active therapy including postural advice and exercise was superior to passive modalities such as massage and ultrasound. (Schnabel) There is limited evidence on specific postural exercises which would best benefit this population, however there has been some proof that
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
The significance of coordinating human elements, and ergonomics standards and techniques in these endeavors has been highlighted. The safety culture of the healthcare environment has a vital commitment to make to the quality and security of patient care. Key components of a security culture incorporate compelling initiative and collaboration, taking in lessons from disappointment and making a situation of trust. lastly, there is a proposal that healthcare needs to address human variables, and ergonomics standards and strategies to make further enhance patient
Issues such as the one outlined in this scenario and other ergonomic concerns in the workplace are well suited for OSHA’s General Duty Clause. One of the reasons for this is because the General Duty Clause is a broad but yet effective regulation tool that allows it to adapt to the work environment. Simply put, the General Duty Clause ensures that employees are “free from recognizable hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious harm to employees” (OSHA, 2016). Ergonomic issues fall nicely here because of the broad umbrella OSHA has to mitigate and protect employees from hazards. With that said, it does fall on the employee to properly use their equipment, tools, and training to protect themselves from the effects of ergonomic
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.