Workplace Ergonomics, Ergonomics Assessment, Ergonomics Training

1. Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population (Ergonomics).

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).

According to recent reports by the health and safety executive, there are thousands of cases that are related to upper limb disorders. These cases include a wide range of work related complaints that include shoulder, neck, hand, elbow, wrist and fingers. Most of this is brought about by continuous repetitive or strenuous activities. According to the law if a person is affected by a work-related upper limb disorder an employer could be held liable especially if they failed to control and manage the risks related to the condition effectively.

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.

Office professionals often develop severe pain from sitting in the same position all day long and by using their keyboard and mouse in the same manner day-in and day-out for years. Additionally, video game users frequently report pain from their steady use of their hands and fingers in an unnatural way. Assembly line workers, construction workers, and even gardeners can suffer from similar pain as a result of repetitive motion. This sort of pain is also found fairly regularly in new mothers, who suffer hip pain as a result of carrying their newborn around with them.

Although the percentage of families owning a desktop or laptops has remained relatively constant over the past two decades, the use of computers in the workplace is predicted to rise. In addition, the number of people owning smartphones has nearly doubled since 2011. The use of computers and smartphones can put extensive wear and tear on the wrists. This may lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a common problem among adults. This is the numbness, tingling, and weakness in one’s hand(s) due to pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. Bending the wrists while typing or texting is a major source of development for carpal tunnel. My mother, for example, works at a computer all day and has dealt with carpal tunnel for many years. If I were given funding

RSI or CTS from typing- Repetitive strain injury because my job role involves a lot of typing on a laptop, CTS- carpel tunnel syndrome as the most common cause for CTS is typing- and incorrect posture while sitting at a computer all day.

Someone who works with a computer is also at high risk. If you are leaned over your keyboard for long periods of time, this can lead to back pain. If you keep your head in the same position for a long time, you can develop muscle tension in your neck and shoulders, as well as headaches. One can become nearsighted, OSHA recommends sitting in a neutral body position, or a position that allows your joints to be naturally aligned to reduce the risk of developing MSD-related issues.

Brian, your discussion post shows a lot of thought and research from you before you posted it (B. Baldwin; Personal Communication; January 17, 2017). Computer use has exponentially grown to include all facets of our lives. Rather at home, or at work the plethora of digital devices to use is substantial. In relation to these thoughts, you brought to the forefront some thought-provoking factors relating to repetitive stress injuries that we can discuss.

With the rise of Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI) in the workplace, the question arises; is RSI a personal issue, or is it a problem for business and schools (Bethel University,???)? Our society is becoming an increasingly digital world with the advance in personal computing furthering on a daily basis (Christopherson, 2015). Laptops, tablets, smartphones, and a multitude of other electronics devices increase in user-friendliness and decrease in price. While the progress in personal computing has definite appeal for our society, it also brings with it the potential for new health risks.

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.

Annual report on WMSD by United States Department of Labor in 2014 revealed that WMSD incidents cost about $20 billion in the year 2013 as direct cost and five times to that amount as indirect cost (OSHA, 2014). All these statistics are alarming and signifies the necessity of assessment of design of computer workstations and the work postures of users to draw out the root-causes of growing number of cases of WMSDs.It has become a priority to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in many countries (da Costa and Vieira,

Back and neck, shoulder and arm related injuries are also common computer related injuries. A poor work station design

This book report will contain information on the processes of design thinking and how it can help with analyzing and creating workplaces, and assessing job demands and stress, and how that can affect people’s health at work. I decided to do a summary of these two chapters because I feel that design thinking plays a big part in building a better environment for the people. We need to understand what the real problem is first and using the process of design thinking to help with better planning and better methods to approach each project. Also as many people are in the workforce, I want to understand the demands people are facing in their jobs and how their workplace can affect their health. I also hope to implement this knowledge in my future workplace and hope it will enable me to handle these demands and stress well.

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.