ERGONOMICS PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE

ERGONOMICS PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS First Aid Occupational Safety & Health Act 1994 Safety & Health Policy Accident Reporting Safety & Health Committees Safety & Health Training

Ergonomic • ERGO (work and effort) + NOMOS (law or surroundings)= Law of work • the science on how to fit a system to a person using scientific approach • Fitting the task and working environment to the workers

OSHA 1994 • Third objective of the Act • ‘Work environment that is adapted to the physiological and psychological needs of the worker’

The Need for Ergonomic • To maintain and maximize productivity and competitiveness • Ever efficient workplace (simple to human workers) • Achievable Quality (within the human physical and mental capacity) • Safety ( to minimize unsafe acts) • Health (to minimize acute and chronic injuries)

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASE DISABILITY Disorders, Injury, Diseases PRONOUNCED SYMPTOMS Soreness, Aches & Pains -Affecting Performance MINOR SYMPTOMS Occ. movement problem, Minor aches,Fatigue, Discomfort -Considered ‘Normal’

Ergonomic Risk Factors • Static position • same position held for extended periods without movement • Lack of recovery • when cumulative fatigue exist • Contact stress • soft tissues pressed against a hard object • Force • amount of force required to perform task • Frequency • repetition of similar actions without rest • Awkward position • other parts of the body are tense not due to work but maintaining posture

OFFICE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH Temperature Lighting Humidity Color Ventilation Office Floor Space Contaminated Air Welfare Facilities Smoking Cleanliness Ozone/Photocopiers Sick Building Syndrome

SAFETY IN THE OFFICE Emergencies Office Accidents Manual Handling Stress Transport Work Equipment Chemical

Computer Work Station • ‘Typing Injuries’ • Eye Strain • Back Pain • Psychological Stress

KEYBOARD EQUIPMENT Using a Mouse Workstation Checklist for Keyboard Workers Keyboard Equipment and Radiation Keyboard and Telephone Operations Workstation Dimensions Lighting for VDUs Glare & Reflection

TYPING POSITION WRONG CORRECT

Neutral Posture

REST BREAKS & EXERCISE Muscle Care & Preparation Rest Breaks & Keyboard Work Eye Strain Exercises for Rest Breaks

EXERCISE -reduce muscle fatigue -improve circulation

Visual Discomfort • ICT era- widespread use of computer/video display terminals (VDT) • Commonplace: office work, engineering, architecture---- personal use • Importance of visual comfort: • enhance job performance & productivity

Eye Muscles

Common Eye Symptoms Occurs when the visual demands of the task exceed the visual abilities • Blurred vision • Double vision • Eye strain • Headache • Red/sore eyes

Causes of Visual Discomfort • High visual demand • Sustain, close-screen work: visual fatigue • Less short breaks • Non ergonomic work station • Ambient lighting, VDT brightness/contrast, glare • Refractive errors (uncorrected) • Radiation? • Non conclusive ‘EYE FATIGUE’

Ergonomic Work Station • VDT monitor and screen: brightness, contrast, text size • Glare prevention • Good lighting

Good Work Practice • Maintain correct working distance- physiological resting accommodations and vergence • Regular blinking of the eyes- minimize excessive tear evaporation • Take frequent and regular short breaks- enough time for eye muscle to recover (STOP, LOOK AWAY & BLINK) • Adopt good work posture • Reference materials placed close to the screen • Choose proper spectacles or lenses

Back Pain and Manual Handling • Manual handling- strength and power to lift up/down, push, pull, carry, transfer or hold objects • it increases risk of back pain • heavy load • non neutral position (bending, twisting) • increase stress to the back • physical load- acute and chronic effect to back pain

Participatory Ergonomic Approach • Joint employee-employer involvement in planning and executing ergonomic activities • Task specific- small group • Based at each worksite • Both sides should maintain periodic communication

ERGONOMICS PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE