BASIS OF ERGONOMICS

Dr. Vashima Veerkumar

Temporary Assistant Professor
Department of Family and Community Resource Management
Faculty of Family and Community Sciences
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

[email protected]
 INTRODUCTION
What is Ergonomics?
• The term ergonomics is derived from the Greek words ergo (work) and nomos (natural laws) to
denote the science of work.

• Ergonomics is the science and the art of fitting the job and the workplace to workers’ needs.
• It is the study of work
• It is a way to make jobs/tasks fit the employees better
• It is a way to make work easier
WHY ERGONOMICS EMERGED..?
As early as 18th century Ergonomics can roughly
be defined as the study
01 doctors noted that workers
who required to maintain 02 of people in their
body positions for long working environment.
periods of time developed
musculoskeletal problems.

It modifies the work to fit

the worker, not the other Hence, ergonomists study
human capabilities in
03 way around. The goal is to
eliminate discomfort and 04 relationship to work
risk of injury due to work. demand.
 OBJECTIVES

To improve the
relationship between To know how to recognize and minimize
Increase work efficiency Promote safety and To reduce physical
people, equipment, the risk of injury, illness, accidents and
and productivity. comfort at work station. workloads.
workplace, and the errors without compromising productivity.
environment.

To improve the efficiency of operation by taking

into account a typical person's size, strength,
Understand how the body Know how to stretch and
Improve quality of life: speed, visual acuity, and physiological stresses,
works warm up
such as fatigue, speed of decision making, and
demands on memory and perception.
 PRINCIPLES OF ERGONOMICS

1. Maintain Neutral Posture

Neutral postures are postures where the body is aligned and balanced while either sitting
or standing, placing minimal stress on the body and keeping joints aligned.

Neutral postures minimize the stress applied to muscles, tendons, nerves and bones
and allows for maximum control and force production.

• Maintain erect position of back & neck with shoulders relaxed

• Position equipment & work directly in front of and close to your major tasks

• Keep upper arms close to the body, elbows 90-100 degrees

• Keep feet flat on floor, upper body weight resting on “sitz bones”

• Wrists as neutral as possible.

• The opposite of a neutral posture is an “awkward posture.”

• Awkward postures move away from the neutral posture toward the extremes in
range of motion.
2. Work in the Power/Comfort Zone

• The power zone for lifting is close to the body, between mid-thigh and
mid-chest height.
• This zone is where the arms and back can lift the most with the least
amount of effort.
• Working from the power / comfort / handshake zone ensures that you
are working from proper heights and reaches, which reduces MSD
risk factors and allows for more efficient and pain-free work.

3. Allow for Movement and Stretching

• Stretching reduces fatigue, improves muscular balance and posture and
improves muscle coordination.
• Everyone is an athlete in life, so you need to prepare your body for work
by warming up to improve performance and lower injury risk.
• A warm-up stretching regime is a great way to prepare your body for
work.
It is also beneficial to take periodic stretch breaks over the course of your
work day to get your blood moving and restore your energy.
4. Reduce Excessive Force

• Excessive force is one of the primary ergonomic risk factors.

• Many work tasks require high force loads on the human body
• Muscle effort increases in response to high force requirements which
increases fatigue and risk of an MSD.
• There are numerous conditions that affect force, but the idea is to recognize
when a job or task requires excessive force and then find ways to reduce that
force.
• Eliminating excessive force requirements will reduce worker fatigue and the
risk of MSD formation in most workers.
• Using mechanical assists, counter balance systems, adjustable height lift tables
and workstations, powered equipment and ergonomic tools will reduce work
effort and muscle exertions.
 5. Reduce Excessive Motions

Repetitive motion is another one of the primary ergonomic risk factors

Many work tasks and cycles are repetitive in nature, and are frequently controlled by
hourly or daily production targets and work processes.

High task repetition, when combined with other risks factors such high force and/or
awkward postures, can contribute to the formation of MSD.

A job is considered highly repetitive if the cycle time is 30 seconds or less.

Excessive or unnecessary motions should be reduced if at all possible.

In situations where this is not possible, it is important to eliminate excessive force

requirements and awkward postures.

Other control methods to consider are job enlargement, job rotation and counteractive
stretch breaks.
6. Minimize Contact Stress

• According to OSHA, contact stress results from continuous contact or rubbing

between hard or sharp objects/surfaces and sensitive body tissue, such as soft tissue
of the fingers, palms, thighs and feet.

• This contact creates localized pressure for a small area of the body, which can
inhibit blood, nerve function, or movement of tendons and muscles.

• Examples of contact stress include resting wrists on the sharp edge of a desk or
workstation while performing tasks, pressing of tool handles into the palms,
especially when they cannot be put down, tasks that require hand hammering, and
sitting without adequate space for the knees.
 ERGONOMICS DOMAINS
• When you apply ergonomic methods early in the design process, they can often identify opportunities for
innovation.

• According to the International Ergonomics Association, there are three broad areas of ergonomics:

PHYSICAL COGNITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL

 •Working Postures •Mental Workload •Communication

Organizational Ergonomics
Physical Ergonomics

Cognitive Ergonomics
•Manual Handling •Decision-making •Work Design
•Repetitive Movements •Human-computer •Staff Resource
•Musculoskeletal Interaction Management
Disorders •Human Reliability •Working Time Patterns
•Workplace Layout And •Attitudes •Co-operative Work
Environment •Stress •Quality Management
•Motivation •Organisational Culture
•Pleasure
•Cultural Differences
•Skilled Performance
•Training As These May
Relate To Human-system
Design