The document outlines a workshop on ergonomics, aiming to equip participants with skills to identify ergonomic injury costs, apply ergonomic principles, and implement safe lifting techniques. It discusses the definition of ergonomics, factors influencing ergonomic safety, and provides guidelines for manual material handling and back injury prevention. Additionally, it includes models for analyzing lifting and methods to reduce risks associated with lifting tasks.

1. OSHAcademy Course 711
Introduction to
ERGONOMICS

2. TRAINER NAME
Position
Company
Phone Number
Email Address

3. Objectives
Given the information and exercises in this workshop, you will be able
to:
1. Identify the costs of ergonomics injuries,
2. Clearly define the activities involved in ergonomics,
3. Apply the concepts of ergonomics modeling to hazard recognition,
4. Recognize the factors that influence ergonomics,
5. Understand and apply the guidelines for safe lifting,
6. Be familiar with back injury reduction strategies.

4. Form Groups!
Introductions
Elect a leader ______________________
Select a spokesperson ______________________
Name your group ______________________

5. What Is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is a way of designing workstations,
work practices, and work flow to accommodate
the capabilities of workers.
Ergonomic design reduces risk factors known
to contribute to occupational ergonomic injuries
and illnesses, such as sprains and strains and
cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs).

6. What Is Ergonomics?
The Study of the problems of people in
adjusting to their environment; especially the
science that seeks to adapt work or working
conditions to suit the individual worker.
Ergonomics may also be thought of as the
science of fitting the job to the individual
worker.
When there is a mismatch between the
physical requirements of the job and the
physical capacity of the worker,
musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can result.

7. On your own...
Make a list of anything that the instructor did that you
believe could result in an injury to the back.
What did you see?
Instructor Demonstration

8. Direct
Insured Costs
Indirect Costs
Uninsured
Out of pocket
What do accidents cost your company?
Unknown
Costs

9. Factors that Influence ergonomics
The
Worker
The Work
Environment
The Work
Setting

10. What are worker attributes that may
be important considerations for
manual material handling?
size
weight
fitness
range of motion
strength
intellect
education
expectations

11. What are work (job/task) characteristics
that may be important considerations for
manual material handling?
tools
machines
materials
display panels
work benches
conveyors
other

12. What are work environmental characteristics
that may be important considerations for
manual material handling?
noise
lighting
vibration
atmosphere
temperature
humidity

13. Work Risk Factors
List risk factors associated with the interaction
between worker and the work setting:
posture
force/grip
location
speed
duration
repetition
frequency
exertion

14. Work Risk Factors
List risk factors associated with the interaction
between the worker and the work environment:
heat stress
cold stress
whole body
vibration
segmental
vibration
stress
workhours
workload

15. Five Activities Involved in ergonomics
List ways to reduce risk factors associated with...
Lifting/Lowering
Pushing/Pulling
Twisting
Carrying
Holding

16. True Confessions
Has anyone out there suffered from a
ergonomics injury?
Tell us about it...

17. 3
4
L-5
S1
Sacral
Area
Lumbar
Area
1. Biomechanical Model
Ergonomic Models

19. The Great Herniated Tomato Experiment
Imagine placing a tomato
between the palms of your
hands and applying direct
pressure. You could apply
enough force to cause the
tomato to burst.
Now , imagine doing the
same thing to another
tomato, but this time you
also twist your hands in
opposite directions.
What happens?

20. Effort (E)
Effort Distance (DE)
Load (L)
Load Distance (DL)
The Arm-Lever Equation
DE = _____ inches DL = _____ inches
E ____ lbs.
L ____ lbs.
E+L _____ lbs.
E x DE = L x DL
E/L = DL/DE
2 22
550
600
50

21. The following diagrams show the sources of force on L5 / S1 disc. It does
not address the impact of added forces during twist/bend lifting and
backward bending situations.
• Angle from upper vertical of trunk . . . . . A
• Angle from lower vertical of upper arm . .B
• Angle from upper vertical of lower arm . .C
A
B
C

22. Keep The Weight Close To The Body

23. Squat, Head Up, Back Arched, Feet Spread One Foot
Ahead As You Lift
The Diagonal Lift

24. The Power Lift
Partial Squat, Head Up, Back Arched, Feet
Spread One Foot Ahead As You Lift

25. Body Mechanics
Remember, it’s not how much you lift, but the technique you
use. Remember the four general lifting rules:
* Plan the lift.
* Both squat and stoop lifting is now considered
acceptable for jobs requiring repetitive lifting.

26. Body Mechanics
The term used to describe this is free form lifting. No matter
what type of lift is used, it is never permissible to exceed the
maximum acceptable load of the worker.
* Keep the load as close to the body as possible.
* Lift the load with a smooth body motion. (Avoid jerking)
* When turning, do not twist. Turn with the feet rather than
twisting of the trunk.

27. Body Mechanics
Keep Back Arched When Lifting
Keep Head and Shoulders Up
Plan Ahead, Test The Load
Before Lifting.
What are your options if
the load is too heavy?
What is so special about the
way a weight lifter lifts?

28. 2. Physiological Model
When a task requires more than 3 lifts per minute a
second model must be considered in addition to the
Biomechanical model.
This second approach presumes that the load is within
the physical strength of the worker. Note the following.
• A person’s endurance is primarily limited by the capacity of the
oxygen transport system.
• Increased metabolism demands an increase in the delivery
of oxygen and nutrients
• Energy cost, heart rate, blood pressure and blood lactate
are common physiological responses used to measure
physiological stress

29. Weight
Lifted
Frequency of Lifts (lifts/minute)
14
13
12
11
10
9
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

30. Effective Use of Muscles
For dynamic effort (work) the optimal
load is about 30% of maximum.
For static effort (work) the optimal load is
only about 10% of maximum.
Why is the optimal load under static effort so much
less?

31. 3. NIOSH Model
The NIOSH guidelines determine what the maximum
load should be, given the following characteristics:
• Weight of the object lifted.
• Position of load with respect to the body; starting and
ending point of horizontal and vertical distances.
• Frequency of lift.
• Duration of lift.

32. Body Interference
Limit
Hazardous
Lifting
Conditions
Functional Reach
Limit
Maximum
Permissible
Limit
Action
Limit
(cm)
(in.)
Administrative
Controls
Required
Acceptable Lifting Conditions
HORIZONTAL LOCATION OF LOAD
W
E
IG
H
T
L
IF
T
E
D
(lb.) (Kg)
200
150
100
50
0
80
40
20
0
0
60
20 40 60 80
0 10 20 30
NIOSH guidelines apply to loads which are
symmetrically balanced in front of the body.

33. (Adapted from: The Saunders Group inc.,
4250 Norex Drive, Chaska, MN 55318)
(Adapted from: The Saunders Group inc.,
4250 Norex Drive, Chaska, MN 55318)
Develop at least five rules for safe lifting.
Safe Lifting Guidelines

35. ergonomics Survey Exercise: Complete the survey for the following seven task.
The Golfer’s Lift
(Adapted from: The Saunders Group inc.,
4250 Norex Drive, Chaska, MN 55318)

36. Kneel When Working In A Low Position
(Adapted from: The Saunders Group inc.,
4250 Norex Drive, Chaska, MN 55318)

37. Partial Squat Lift
(Adapted from: The Saunders Group inc.,
4250 Norex Drive, Chaska, MN 55318)

38. Reaching With a Heavy Load
(Adapted from: The Saunders Group inc.,
4250 Norex Drive, Chaska, MN 55318)

39. Back Unsupported
(Adapted from: The Saunders Group inc.,
4250 Norex Drive, Chaska, MN 55318)

40. Working Surface Too Low and Far Away
(Adapted from: The Saunders Group inc.,
4250 Norex Drive, Chaska, MN 55318)

41. 1. Do not exceed the __________________ ability of the
worker doing the lifting.
2. Provide adequate ____________ time for tasks that
require frequent lifting.
3. Provide easy access so the load is in ____________
of the person lifting.
4. Eliminate _____________ by changing the start or
end point of the lift.
5. Put items to be lifted between ______________ and
_______________ height.
Materials handling guidelines
physical
recovery
front
twisting
knee
shoulder

42. 6. Provide ____________ or ______________ to make
grasping easier, permit a closer lift, and allow items
to be carried near the body.
7. Change an object’s ___________ to make it easier to
grasp.
8. Decrease the __________of objects.
9. Decrease the ____________ and/or _____________
over which the object must be moved.
10. Distribute a load ___________ within a container.
Materials handling guidelines
handles cutouts
shape
weight
distance height
evenly

43. 11. Use hand carts or _____________ ____________.
12. Use a ___________- assisted hoist or integrated
conveyors.
13. Use ______________, ______________ and
motorized material __________ to help move loads
that are larger or heavier than one or two people can
safely handle.
Materials handling guidelines
hand carts hand trucks
vacuum
loaders cranes
pallets

44. Back Injury Reduction Plan
1. Employee Selection. Pre-employment
physical:
- including spinal exam and lift capacity;
- supervisor receives report prior to start of
work.

45. 2. Education and Training. For management and
employees:
- Managers. Ergonomics and new hire policies;
responsibility and accountability; training
techniques; identification.
- Employees. New hire orientation including
body mechanics and proper lifting techniques,
responsibilities and accountability; follow-up
training with supervisor.

46. 3. Ergonomics:
- Worksite ergonomics hazard analysis;
- Classification of physical work intensity:
Level 1. Sedentary
Level 2. Low Activity
Level 3. Active
Level 4. Very Active

47. 4. Injury Management:
- Review injury reports
- Recommend corrective actions
- Early Return to Work Program. Pre-approved
assignments.

48. That's It.
Thanks for coming!