Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker in order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Unsafe situations that can cause injuries include repetitive tasks, improper posture, lifting, tool design, lighting, noise, and temperature extremes. The 12 principles of ergonomics are to keep items in easy reach, work at proper heights, reduce excessive force, work in good posture, reduce excessive repetition, minimize fatigue, minimize direct pressure, provide adjustability, provide clearance and access, maintain a comfortable environment, enhance clarity, and improve work organization. Applying these principles can help reduce fatigue, injuries, and improve productivity.

1. Ergonomics

2. What Is Ergonomics
* Ergonomics is the science of fitting
the job to the worker. When there
is a mismatch between the
physical requirements of the job
and the physical capacity of the
worker, work-related
musculoskeletal disorders
(WMSDs) can result.

3. Unsafe Situations
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Repetitive tasks
Improper posture
Improper lifting
Poor tool design
Poor lighting and glare
Noise
Temperature extremes.

4. Twelve Principles Of
Ergonomics
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1- Keep everyting in easy reach
2- Work at proper heights
3- Reduce excessive force
4- Work in good postures
5- Reduce excessive repetition
6- Minimize fatigue

5. Continued
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7- Minimize direct pressure
8- Provide adjustability and change posture
9- Provide clearance and access
10- Maintain a comfortable environment
11- Enhance clarity and understanding
12- Improve work organization

6. 1- Keep Everything in Easy
Reach
• Keep products, parts,
and tools that are
frequently needed
within easy reach.
• Long reaches often
cause you to twist,
bend, and strain which
in turn makes work
more difficult.

7. Easy Reach

8. Work At Proper Heights
• A common workplace
problem is a mismatch
in heights between
employees and the
work that they are
doing.
• This leads to a poor
postures and
unnecessary work.

9. Proper Heights

10. 3- Reduce Excessive Forces
• Excessive forces load
the muscles, creating a
potential for fatigue
and injury.
• Power grips are less
stressful than pinch
grip.
• Use tool grips that are
neither too wide nor
too small.

11. Reduce Excessive Forces

12. Reduce Excessive Forces

13. 4- Work In Good Posture
• Use tools, equipment,
and workstation
layouts that allow you
to work in the best
possible posture.
• Good posture reduces
the stress on your
body and makes it
easier for doing the
job.

14. Work In Good Posture

15. 5- Reduce Excessive Repetition
• Minimizing the
number of
motions required
to do a task
reduce the wear
and tear on your
body.
• Allow machines
to do repetition
for you.

16. Reduce Excessive Repetition

17. 6- Minimize Fatigue
• Overloading your
physical and mental
capabilities can
contribute to injuries,
accidents, poor quality
• Good design of your
jobs can help prevent
undesirable fatigue.

18. 7- Minimize Direct Pressure
• Direct pressure is
uncomfortable.
• It can inhibit nerve
function and blood
flow.
• It commonly affects :
• Palm of the hands
• Forearms
• Thighs

19. Minimize Direct Pressure

20. 8- Provide Adjustability and
Change of Posture
• Adjustability makes it
easier to customize
your workstation to fit
your needs.
• Maintain better
heights and reaches
and to avoid pressure
points and awkward
postures.

21. Continued

22. 9- Provide Clearance and Access
• It is important that you
have both adequate
workspace and easy
access to everything
you need.
• Clearance is needed
for your: Head, Arms,
Feet, Knees, Torso.

23. Clearance and Access

24. 10- Maintain a Comfortable
Environment
• Seek to create
surrounding
conditions that
enhance your ability to
get the job done.
• Appropriate Lighting
• Avoid Temperature
Extremes
• Isolate Vibration

25. Comfortable Environment

26. 11- Enhance Clarity and
Understanding
• Mistakes and errors
may result from poor
design of the displays
and controls you use.
• The configuration and
layout of these
displays and controls
can enhance or hinder
your performance.

27. 12- Improve Work Organization
• Improvements can be
made in the system
which your work is
organized.
• Plan, Be involved,
Communicate, Enlarge
jobs, Be part of the
team, Be considerate.

28. Cumulative Trauma
• One of the important
goals of ergonomics is
to prevent a type of
disorder called
“cumulative Trauma”
• Wear and tear on the
tissue surrounding
your joints.

29. Symptoms of CTD
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Limited range of motion
Stillness in joints
Numbness or tingling sensations
Popping and cracking in the joints
Redness, swelling, and local skin warmth
Weakness and clumsiness
“Burning” sensations

30. Risk Factors
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Repetition
Force
Awkward Postures
Direct Pressure
Vibration
Temperature Extremes

31. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

32. Good Posture

33. Work Station

34. Erg

36. erg

38. Seated – Work Range

42. When Getting Something From
the Ground