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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 29 Fotos
Introducing ergonomics
- If you have ever worked in an office, you may have come across the term ‘ergonomic.’ You might have heard of an ergonomic keyboard, for example, or an ergonomic chair.
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Common parlance
- We often talk about ergonomics as a means of making office workers more comfortable in their work environment, and to a certain extent that is what it is.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
Defining the term
- However, ergonomics is actually much broader than that. In fact, it is the practice of fitting a job to a person, so as to prevent muscular-skeletal injury at work.
© Shutterstock
3 / 29 Fotos
Muscular-skeletal disorders - Muscular-skeletal disorders (MSDs) affect the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, and tendons, and they can develop as a result of exposure to work-based risk factors.
© Shutterstock
4 / 29 Fotos
Risk factors
- There are many different risk factors for MSDs, and workers in many different industries and occupations can be affected.
© Shutterstock
5 / 29 Fotos
Multiple industries
- Examples include lifting heavy objects, bending, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy objects, working in awkward positions, and performing repetitive tasks.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
How ergonomics can help
- Applying ergonomic principles can help to reduce the risk of developing a work-related MSD. This is in the interest of both employers and employees.
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
Employer responsibility - It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure there is a safe and healthy work environment. There are a number of elements they need to consider when implementing an ergonomic process.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Provide management support
- Firstly, it should be clear to any employer that management support is critical to the successful implementation of an ergonomic process.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Provide management support
- Managers should define clear goals, discuss them with their workers, delegate responsibilities to designated staff members, and communicate clearly with the workforce.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
Involve workers
- Management should also ensure that the workers themselves are directly involved in the ergonomic process. Firstly, workers should identify and provide information about hazards in their work environment.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Involve workers
- They should then participate by voicing their concerns and making suggestions for how to reduce exposure to certain risk factors.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
Provide training
- Training also has an important role to play. Workers should be made aware of ergonomics and its benefits, as well as the importance of reporting MSD symptoms early.
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
Encourage early reporting - Early reporting of MSD symptoms can help to prevent the progression of symptoms, the development of serious injuries, and therefore the submission of lost-time claims.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
Identify problems - In terms of implementing the actual process, the first step is to identify and assess ergonomic problems in the workplace.
© Shutterstock
15 / 29 Fotos
Implement solutions
- Once the problems have been identified, solutions should be implemented to prevent the development of MSDs. Let’s take the office environment as an example.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Chair
- If you work in an office, you probably spend a lot of time sitting, so it’s important to ensure your chair is in the right position. Adjust the height of your chair so that your feet rest flat on the floor.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Chair
- If the floor is not possible, use a footrest; the most important thing is that your thighs are parallel to the floor. Adjust your armrests so your arms rest gently on them with your shoulders relaxed.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
Key objects
- If you use a number of different objects while sitting at your desk (examples might include a telephone, stapler, or printed materials), make sure these are close to your body.
© Shutterstock
19 / 29 Fotos
Key objects
- It is important to minimize reaching wherever possible, and to stand up to reach anything that you cannot reach comfortably while sitting.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Keyboard and mouse - Your mouse should be placed on the same surface as your keyboard and should always be within easy reach. Try to use keyboard shortcuts wherever possible.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Keyboard and mouse
- While typing, try to keep your wrists straight, your arms close to your body, and your hands at the same level or slightly lower than your elbows.
© Shutterstock
22 / 29 Fotos
Telephone - If you talk on the phone a lot at work, or you need to talk on the phone while typing, try to use a speaker rather than the phone itself.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Telephone
- If a speaker is not possible, try to use a headset. The most important thing is that you avoid cradling your phone between your head and your neck.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Monitor
- Finally, you should place your monitor directly in front of you, about an arm's length away from your body. The top of your monitor should be around eye level.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
Monitor
- The monitor should be directly behind your keyboard and, if possible, placed such that the brightest light source is to its side.
© Shutterstock
26 / 29 Fotos
Evaluate progress
- Once the corrective action procedures have been implemented, these should be evaluated regularly to assess the effectiveness of the ergonomic process.
© Shutterstock
27 / 29 Fotos
All in all
- As such, the ergonomic process should be seen as an ongoing function that forms part of the daily operations of a business, rather than as a standalone project. Sources: (OSHA) (Mayo Clinic)
© Shutterstock
28 / 29 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 29 Fotos
Introducing ergonomics
- If you have ever worked in an office, you may have come across the term ‘ergonomic.’ You might have heard of an ergonomic keyboard, for example, or an ergonomic chair.
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Common parlance
- We often talk about ergonomics as a means of making office workers more comfortable in their work environment, and to a certain extent that is what it is.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
Defining the term
- However, ergonomics is actually much broader than that. In fact, it is the practice of fitting a job to a person, so as to prevent muscular-skeletal injury at work.
© Shutterstock
3 / 29 Fotos
Muscular-skeletal disorders - Muscular-skeletal disorders (MSDs) affect the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, and tendons, and they can develop as a result of exposure to work-based risk factors.
© Shutterstock
4 / 29 Fotos
Risk factors
- There are many different risk factors for MSDs, and workers in many different industries and occupations can be affected.
© Shutterstock
5 / 29 Fotos
Multiple industries
- Examples include lifting heavy objects, bending, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy objects, working in awkward positions, and performing repetitive tasks.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
How ergonomics can help
- Applying ergonomic principles can help to reduce the risk of developing a work-related MSD. This is in the interest of both employers and employees.
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
Employer responsibility - It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure there is a safe and healthy work environment. There are a number of elements they need to consider when implementing an ergonomic process.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Provide management support
- Firstly, it should be clear to any employer that management support is critical to the successful implementation of an ergonomic process.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Provide management support
- Managers should define clear goals, discuss them with their workers, delegate responsibilities to designated staff members, and communicate clearly with the workforce.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
Involve workers
- Management should also ensure that the workers themselves are directly involved in the ergonomic process. Firstly, workers should identify and provide information about hazards in their work environment.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Involve workers
- They should then participate by voicing their concerns and making suggestions for how to reduce exposure to certain risk factors.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
Provide training
- Training also has an important role to play. Workers should be made aware of ergonomics and its benefits, as well as the importance of reporting MSD symptoms early.
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
Encourage early reporting - Early reporting of MSD symptoms can help to prevent the progression of symptoms, the development of serious injuries, and therefore the submission of lost-time claims.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
Identify problems - In terms of implementing the actual process, the first step is to identify and assess ergonomic problems in the workplace.
© Shutterstock
15 / 29 Fotos
Implement solutions
- Once the problems have been identified, solutions should be implemented to prevent the development of MSDs. Let’s take the office environment as an example.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Chair
- If you work in an office, you probably spend a lot of time sitting, so it’s important to ensure your chair is in the right position. Adjust the height of your chair so that your feet rest flat on the floor.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Chair
- If the floor is not possible, use a footrest; the most important thing is that your thighs are parallel to the floor. Adjust your armrests so your arms rest gently on them with your shoulders relaxed.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
Key objects
- If you use a number of different objects while sitting at your desk (examples might include a telephone, stapler, or printed materials), make sure these are close to your body.
© Shutterstock
19 / 29 Fotos
Key objects
- It is important to minimize reaching wherever possible, and to stand up to reach anything that you cannot reach comfortably while sitting.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Keyboard and mouse - Your mouse should be placed on the same surface as your keyboard and should always be within easy reach. Try to use keyboard shortcuts wherever possible.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Keyboard and mouse
- While typing, try to keep your wrists straight, your arms close to your body, and your hands at the same level or slightly lower than your elbows.
© Shutterstock
22 / 29 Fotos
Telephone - If you talk on the phone a lot at work, or you need to talk on the phone while typing, try to use a speaker rather than the phone itself.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Telephone
- If a speaker is not possible, try to use a headset. The most important thing is that you avoid cradling your phone between your head and your neck.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Monitor
- Finally, you should place your monitor directly in front of you, about an arm's length away from your body. The top of your monitor should be around eye level.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
Monitor
- The monitor should be directly behind your keyboard and, if possible, placed such that the brightest light source is to its side.
© Shutterstock
26 / 29 Fotos
Evaluate progress
- Once the corrective action procedures have been implemented, these should be evaluated regularly to assess the effectiveness of the ergonomic process.
© Shutterstock
27 / 29 Fotos
All in all
- As such, the ergonomic process should be seen as an ongoing function that forms part of the daily operations of a business, rather than as a standalone project. Sources: (OSHA) (Mayo Clinic)
© Shutterstock
28 / 29 Fotos
Ergonomics: what's it all really about?
The business buzzword that few really understand
© Shutterstock
At a high level, ergonomics is about fitting a job to a person to prevent muscular-skeletal injury. The term is thrown about a lot in office environments, but ergonomic principles can be applied in just about any place of work. But these days it's almost a buzzword; think about it: do you really understand the concepts behind ergonomics?
No time like the present! Check out this gallery to learn all about ergonomics.
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