Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Ergonomics Part I

This is the first of a three part series of articles on ergonomics. Ergonomics is a multi-disciplined science that includes biomechanics, engineering, psychology, sociology, and economics, combined with human factors/error. It investigates all aspects of the mind, body, and soul connections, and analyzes/compares their functions to the tools, equipment, and methods used in the workplace. To put it simply, ergonomics looks at human ability versus the demands of one’s work, play, and daily activities.


ErgoWorks teaches three basic steps for performing an ergonomic analysis:

1) Identify ergonomic hazards.
2) Quantify the hazards and eliminate/reduce them through engineering, administrative, or work practice controls.
3) Demonstrate cost-effectiveness and implement solutions.

The first step is the easiest to teach and everyone can learn it. There are only six ergonomic hazards that cause injury. ErgoWorks has developed an acronym F.R.E.D. V.P. © as a way of remembering these causes of aches and pains:

FORCE – Lift, carry, push, pull, grasp, pinch, swing, strike, jerky/sudden movement, contact stress.
REPETITION – How many?
ENVIRONMENT – Hot, cold, wet, dry, humid, noise, bright, dark, slippery, outdoors, indoors, confined, hazardous, heights, dust, fumes, mist, negotiate irregular terrain.
DURATION – How long? How much recovery?
VIBRATION – Whole body or segmental.
POSTURE – Twisting, static, restricted movement, bending, reaching, poor seating, inadequate tool, squat, kneel, crawl, manipulates: slippery, bulky, sharp, awkward objects.

When the demands of these hazards are greater than human ability, they can cause fatigue; the beginning of the injury cycle. The one hazard that causes fatigue quickly is. . . Posture!

1) Carpal tunnel – stems from deviated wrist postures.
2) Rotator cuff injuries – elbow at, or higher than your shoulder.
3) Lateral and medial epicondylitis – wrist deviations of flexion and extension respectively combined with grasp force.
4) Postural back injuries – not maintaining lumbar lordosis posture and forward bending > 30 degrees.
5) Neck injuries – forward head posture.
6) Knee injuries – bending the knee > 90 degrees.

Posture is the one hazard that your patients usually have the greatest control over. Learn to identify these hazards and teach them to your patients for better compliance and reduce risk for re-injury.
Part II will discuss how to quantify these hazards and eliminate/reduce them through engineering, administrative, or work practice controls.

Glenn Orser - CEO of ErgoWorks

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