What is ergonomics?
It is the science concerned with the physical and psychological relationship between machines and the people who use them. Ergonomics removes barriers to quality, productivity and safe human performance by fitting products, tasks, and environments to people.
Do I need to consider ergonomics?
Ergonomics can help, ensure that your organisation complies with Government regulation, improve productivity and work quality, reduce absenteeism, occupational injury and illness
What will an ergonomist do for my organisation?
An ergonomist will evaluate the control of workplace risk factors, identify and quantify existing work site risk conditions and recommend engineering and administrative controls to reduce identified risk conditions, and educate management and workers on how to implement an ergonomic program to control risks
How can I assess the workplace for ergonomic risks?
The evaluation of ergonomic risk conditions involves two steps, identification of the existence of ergonomic risks and the quantification of the degree of ergonomic risk.
What is an "ergonomic injury"?
Ergonomic injuries are often described by the term "musculoskeletal disorders" or "MSDs." This term is used in the scientific literature to refer collectively to a group of injuries and illnesses that affect the musculoskeletal system. It is important to note that there is no single diagnosis for MSDs.
Are all Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) work related?
No. MSDs can and do develop outside the workplace When carrying out an assessment check what the worker does outside of work (playing guitar, using the computer …)
Do I need help from an ergonomist?
The answer is yes if you have employees in the workplace that experience soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis, back injuries, sore upper limbs?
Why do hands hurt from using a computer?
Typing and using a mouse involve repetitive movement at the wrists and hands. This results in decreased blood supply to the muscles of your hands and wrists, causing them to cramp.
How can I tell if I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
If you experience pain, tingling and numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers or weakness and swelling in the wrist and hand – then you should consult your medical advisor as soon as possible.
Why do you get I get neck and shoulder pain?
A forward had posture causes a decreased blood supply to the neck region and increases the weight of the head on the postural muscles of the neck threefold.
Rounded shoulders posture compresses the tendons in the front of the shoulder, causing pain in the shoulder and arm.
Why do frequent headaches occur during and after working at the computer?
The forward head posture can be the result of the computer monitor being placed too far away. As a result, computer users move their heads forward over their neck to see the screen. Visual glare from a computer monitor can also cause headaches.
Is it okay to have the computer monitor off to my left side?
Having the monitor off to the left will cause the postural muscles on the left side of your neck to tighten and on the right side to elongate.
Are exercises important during a work day?
If you take just two to three minutes every hour to perform some very simple stretching exercises, the likelihood of you feeling pain at the end of the day greatly decreases. Exercise helps restore blood flow to working tissues, allowing the muscle greater endurance to perform the work at hand.
Why do occasion muscle spasms occur?
A muscle spasm is a protective mechanism your body employs to prevent an injury from occurring. Aspasm is caused by an insufficient blood flow to the working muscles. It is your body’s way of telling you to slow down or stop what you are doing in order to rest the muscle.
What do you mean by Posture?
Posture is the position of the body while performing work activities. Awkward posture is associated with an increased risk for injury. It is generally considered that the more a joint deviates from the neutral (natural) position, the greater the risk of injury.
