Ergonomics is the science of fitting a job to a person. It emerged in the 18th century when doctors noticed workers in prolonged body positions developed musculoskeletal problems. Ergonomics aims to maximize productivity while lowering risks like musculoskeletal disorders. It analyzes physical, cognitive and organizational factors. Solutions include adjustable workstations, lifting aids and correct techniques to reduce risks like awkward postures and forces. Proper ergonomics can prevent injuries and increase comfort, efficiency and cost savings.

1. Ergonomics
By:
Ihsan Ali Wassan
1
25/10/2020
Occupational Health and Safety
U.S.- Pakistan Centre for Advanced
Studies in Water

2. Presentation Outlines
 What is Ergonomics?
 Why Ergonomics emerged?
 Why ergonomics is important?
 Types of Ergonomics
 Objectives of Ergonomics
 Effects of Ergonomics
 Ergonomics Risk Factors
 Preventing and Minimising injuries
 Anthropometry ?
 Ergonomics principles
 Ergonomics solutions
 Advantages of Ergonomics
 Conclusion
 References
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Ergonomics is term comes from two Greek
words “ergos” and “nomos” which
could be literally translated as the
”study of work”.
What is Ergonomics?

4. What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is a discipline that involves
arranging the environment to fit
the person in it.
In other words
Ergonomics is the science and the art of
fitting the job and the
workplace to workers’ needs.
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• Ergonomics principles should be
applied to reduce the risk of
manual handling injury.
• This approach not only delivers legal
compliance, but will help reduce
body-related sickness and
absenteeism, lower healthcare
costs, insurance premiums and
compensation claims and improve
the productivity of the workforce.
Ergonomics?

6. Why Ergonomics emerged?
As early as 18th century doctors noted that workers who
required to maintain body positions for long periods of time
developed musculoskeletal problems.
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Why Ergonomics is important?
In the workplace:
According to Safe Work Australia, the total economic cost of work-related
injuries and illnesses is estimated to be $60 billion dollars.
Recent research has shown that lower back pain is the world’s most
common work-related disability – affecting employees from offices, building
sites and in the highest risk category, agriculture.

8. Types of Ergonomics?
Physical ergonomics
is the human body’s
responses to physical and
physiological work loads.
Repetitive strain injuries from
repetition, vibration, force,
and posture fall into this
category.
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Cognitive ergonomics
deals with the mental
processes and capacities
of humans when at work.
Mental strain from
workload, decision
making, human error,
and training fall into this
category.
Organizational ergonomics
deals with the organizational
structures, policies and
processes in the work
environment, such as shift
work, scheduling, job
satisfaction, motivation,
supervision, teamwork,
telecommuting, and ethics.

9. Objectives of Ergonomics?
 Ergonomics aims to create safe, comfortable and productive
workspaces by bringing human abilities and limitations into the design of a
workspace, including the individual’s body size, strength, skill, speed, sensory abilities
(vision, hearing), and even attitudes.
 To maximize productivity while lowering the risk of
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).
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Risks of hazardous manual handling task
The person being moved
may also suffer from
damage to fragile skin,
cuts, grazes, bruises,
and injuries to the
neck, shoulders and
arms if they are not
handled with care.

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An MSD is a disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments,
joints, cartilage, blood vessels or spinal discs.
Examples:
• carpal tunnel syndrome,
• tendonitis and
• back disorders.
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

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Back/lower limb pain (Sciatica)
Sciatica is a pain
that radiates from the low
back down a lower
extremity; it is caused by
irritation of the sciatic
nerve.

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Being in these work positions for more than 2 hours total per day
1. Hands above head
2. Back or neck bent forward more than 30 degrees
3. Squatting & Kneeling
4. High hand force
Awkward Posture?

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Working with the Hands Overhead
For more than 2 hours per day

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Neck or Back Bent Forward More than 30º
For more than 2 hours per day

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Squatting or Kneeling
For more than 2 hours per day

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Pinching 2 or
more pounds
weight or 4
or more
pounds force
Gripping 10 or more
pounds weight or
force
High Hand Force
For more than 2 hours per day

18. Repetition
Force
Static
Loading
Ergonomics Risk Factors
Risk of injury increases with:
 Prolonged exposure to any of these ergonomic risk factors
 Presence of multiple risk factors within a single job task
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19. Preventing and Minimising injuries.
25/10/202019
• Take short breaks hourly.
• Every 5 minutes, look away from the screen and focus your eyes on something in the
distance.
• Warm up & stretch before activities that are repetitive, static or prolonged.
• Take frequent breaks from any sustained posture every 20-30 minutes.
• Respect pain- positions or stop painful activity.
• Be aware of workstation environment.

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Anthropometry
Anthropometry, or anthropometrics; is the study of human body measurements.
The typical body
measurements used in
anthropometrics include
height, weight, body
mass index (or BMI),
waist-to-hip ratio and
body fat percentage.

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ANTHROPOMETRICS IN ERGONOMIC DESIGN

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Ergonomic Solutions
This gives chair makers data
they can use to devise
more comfortable seating,
for example.
Desk manufacturers can
build desks that don't force
workers to hunch in
uncomfortable positions

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Ergonomics principles
Ergonomics principles applied to:
1. Manual Handling
MINIMIZE SIGNIFICANT BODY MOTIONS
1. Reduce Bending Motions
2. Reduce Twisting Motions
3. Reduce Reaching Out Motions
2. Work Movement procedures
REDUCE OBJECT WEIGHTS/FORCES
1. Reduce Lifting and Lowering Forces
3. Work area layout
Reduce Pushing and Pulling Forces‘
4. Seated & Manual
Handling workstation jobs
Reduce carrying forces
5. Standing & Manual Handling
workstation jobs

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Unfavorable ergonomics
conditions, involves risk,
particularly back injury to
employees
Manual handling

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Minimize Significant Body Motions
1. Eliminate the need to bend by
 Using lift tables, work dispensers and similar
mechanical aids.
 Raising the work level to an appropriate height.
 Raising or Lowering the worker.
 Providing all material at work level.
 Keeping materials at work level (e.g., don't lower
anything to the floor that must be lifted later).

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Minimize Significant Body Motions
2. Reduce Twisting Motions
Eliminate the need to twist by
• Providing all materials and tools in front of the worker.
• Using conveyors, chutes, slides, lifts or turntables to change
direction of material flow.
• Providing adjustable swivel chairs for seated workers.
• Providing sufficient workspace for the whole body to turn.
• Improving the layout of the work area.

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3. Reduce Reaching Out Motions
Minimize Significant Body Motions
• Providing tools and machine controls close to the worker,
to eliminate horizontal reaches over 16 inches.
• Placing materials, workplaces and other heavy objects as
close to the worker as possible.
• Reducing the size of cartons or pallets being loaded, or
allowing the worker to walk around them; rotate. raise or
lower them.
• Reducing the size of the object being handled.
• Allowing the object to be kept close to the body (i.e.
Scissor Lifts).

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REDUCE OBJECT WEIGHTS/FORCES

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Reduce Lifting and Lowering Forces
• Using lift tables, lift trucks, cranes,
hoists, balancers, industrial
manipulators, drum and barrel
dumpers, elevating conveyors,
and similar mechanical aids.
• Raising the work level. Lowering
the operator. Using gravity
dumps and chutes.

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Reduce Lifting and Lowering Forces

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Reduce the weight
of the object
Reduce the hand
distance

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Powered Conveyer
Powered industrial trucks
powered scissor lift
Reduce Pushing and Pulling Forces
powered truck

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• Improving layout of work area.
• Relocating production or storage area
Reduce the distance of push or pull by:
Reduce Pushing and Pulling Forces

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Reduce carrying forces
Hand trucks
two wheel hand trucks

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Reduce carrying forces
Reduce the weight of the object

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Variety of good posture at workstation.

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The following key advice from the TUC (Britain's
peak union council) and the Canadian Centre
for Occupational Health and Safety on Standing
& Manual Handling Workstation job should be to
1. Reduce the time spent standing or walking
2. Obtain suitable, adjustable chairs
3. Have more rest breaks
4. Alternate standing and walking with sitting
5. Make work surfaces height adjustable.
Work station Job

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Floor/standing surface
Wooden, cork or rubber-covered floors
are far preferable to concrete.

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Relief stress on a Pedestal Stool
A pedestal stool is an adjustable
seat, usually 65-85cm high,
which is tilted forwards between
15 and 30 degrees.

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Other Ergonomic Solutions
Using foot controls instead of standard mice controls

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Ergonomic Solutions
Lift assist device to eliminate heavy, awkward lifts

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Ergonomic Solutions
Shoulder harness for landscaping tool to reduce hand forces

43. Keep your
wrist s
Comfortably
straight
Avoid
reaching out
for the
mouse or
keyboard
Ergo Reminders
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Strengthen
your fingers
with a rubber
band
Move
Breathe

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Correct & Incorrect Techniques
correct incorrect

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Object lifting techniques
incorrect correct

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Comfortable footwear

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Keep good posture

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The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
(as amended) requires employers to:
avoid the need for hazardous manual
handling, as far as reasonably practicable;
assess the risk of injury from any hazardous
manual handling that can’t be avoided; and
reduce the risk of injury from hazardous
manual handling, as far as reasonably
practicable.

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The manual handling risk assessment procedure

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Practice Wellness at Work and Home !
Exercise
Nutrition
Relaxation
Body
Mind
Spirit

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Advantages
 Maximize productivity, efficiency and quality
Reduce MSD risk by eliminating or minimizing ergonomic risk
factors
 Cost savings associated with injury
 help you do work safely
 make you more comfortable & prevent injuries

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• Minimize ergonomic risk factors in your area!
• Stretch throughout the shift especially before and
after activities that require awkward positions or lifting
• Pay attention to your body and know your physical
limitations!
• Report ergonomics issues through appropriate channels.
• Ergonomic injuries are preventable, and you own your own safety!
Conclusion

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Thank you very much !

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References:
https://www.slideshare.net/WASSAN14CH 18scimonogre/-81605017
https://www.ergonomics.com.au/what-is-ergonomics/
https://www.slideshare.net/timothywooi/ergonomics-manual-handling