Introduction to Ergonomics

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Introduction to Ergonomics

• IENG 321 Ergonomics and Human Factors
  Engineering
• Spring 2008

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What is Ergonomics? Answer Its all Greek to me

• Ergo - Work
• Nomos Laws
• A multidisciplinary activity that assembles
  information of peoples capacities and applies
  that information in designing jobs, products,
  workplaces, and equipment

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Philosophy of Ergonomics

• The science and art of Fitting the task to the
  employee
• The Dual Goals
• Minimize injuries
• Improve productivity quality

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Ergo requires skills in . . .

• Teamwork
• Problem solving
• Innovative thinking
• Communications
• Economic accountability
• Desire to help people

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Why Address Ergonomics?

• Regulatory reasons - OSHA
• General Duty Clause - shall furnish to each of
  his/(her) employees employment and a place of
  employment which are free from recognized hazards
  that are causing or are likely to cause death or
  serious physical harm to his/(her) employees
• Ergonomic Guidelines
• Humanitarian reasons
• Good business practice

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Why Address Ergonomics?

• Cases involving 31 or more days away from work
  accounted for 44.5 of CTD cases and 22 of all
  nonfatal injuries and illnesses (2003 BLS)
• A single CTD could reach 50,000
• But, we dont need to justify based on claim
  costs
• Because ergonomics is good business!

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Severity of CTS Cases with all nonfatal injury
and illness cases when measured by days away from
work in 2001. (BLS 2003)
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Magnitude and Trend Numbers and types of
occupational illness cases between 1972 and 2001.
(BLS 2002)
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Nature of the Injury or Illness Nonfatal
injuries and illnesses distributed by nature of
injury or illness in 2001. (BLS 2003)
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Which injuries and illnesses accounted for the
most severe work loss in 2001. (BLS 2003)
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How nonfatal injuries and illnesses were
distributed by body part affected in 2001. (BLS
2003)
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Cost Accounting

• Account for safety injury costs by department
  or unit
• Coordinate Workers Compensation costs and
  Medical costs

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Cost Categories Forgotten?

• Lost productivity
• Medical plan
• Absenteeism
• Reduced quality / service
• Employee turnover
• Training

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Occupational Safety Ergonomics Hazard Risk

• Safety
• The state of being relatively from harm,
  danger, or damage
• Hazard
• The potential of a situation to do harm
• Risk
• The expected value of harm
• Risk Index
• Hazard Severity x Hazard Probability

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The Risk Factor Model
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Non-Occupational Risk Factors

• Hobbies
• gardening, knitting, sewing, musical instruments,
  etc.
• Sports
• jogging, softball, rock climbing, golf, racquet
  sports, etc.
• Miscellaneous
• household chores, carrying children, driving cars
• Sleep

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Personal Risk Factors

• Aerobic capacity
• age
• alcoholism
• body build
• diabetes
• flexibility
• gender
• gout
• hypertension
• medical history
• menopause

• Nutrition
• obesity
• oral contraceptives
• posture
• pregnancy
• prior history of injury
• renal disease
• rheumatoid arthritis
• smoking
• stature
• strength

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Psychosocial Risk Factors

• Organizational climate culture
• Job attitude job satisfaction
• Personality traits
• Personal problems
• marital problems
• death of loved ones
• financial problems

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Ergo Sources

• OSHA
• NIOSH
• ACGIH
• Scientific Literature
• Universities
• http//personal.health.usf.edu/tbernard/
• Consulting Firms
• Humantech, Auburn Engineers