Most people have heard of ergonomics and think it is something to do with seating or with the design of car controls and instruments – and it is… but it is so much more. Ergonomics applies to the design of anything that involves people – workspaces, sports and leisure, health and safety.

Ergonomics (or ‘human factors’ as it is referred to in North America) is a branch of science that aims to learn about human abilities and limitations, and then apply this learning to improve people’s interaction with products, systems and environments.

Ergonomics aims to improve workspaces and environments to minimise risk of injury or harm. So as technologies change, so too does the need to ensure that the tools we access for work, rest and play are designed for our body’s requirements.

The implementation of ergonomic design
Think about the angle of your computer monitor, or the height of your desk. Think about whether your eyes are strained by the end of the day or if your wrists hurt from typing. A sound understanding of ergonomics can prevent most workplace injuries by adjusting tools to the user, putting an emphasis on proper posture to reduce the impact of repetitive movements.

Ergonomics also takes into account the need for movement throughout the day. Office furniture has traditionally encouraged stiff, fixed postures and little movement. However, a balance between sitting and standing, which can be aided with a height-adjustable desk, is a proven way to combat the effects of sedentary workplace behavior.

All of Humanscale’s work tools are inherently ergonomic. They are created to be intuitive and adjust effortlessly to the user. Our products are created to promote daily movement and physical activity, while supporting the user’s posture.

Environmental factor will lead to poor work then effect human performance. 

The example :

What are the 5 aspects of ergonomics?
There are five aspects of ergonomics:
1)safety
2)comfort
3) ease of use,
4)productivity/performance
5)aesthetics.

Example of Ergonomics:
1) Posture - When we want to do any activity, we should maintain the natural curvature of the back.  When standing, we are advised to place one foot in front so that the spine has the correct position.  While when sitting, lumbar support is recommended

What are the 3 major areas of ergonomics?
1) Physical Ergonomics

Physical ergonomics refers to the body’s response to the physical demands of a person’s workspace or profession. Workplace conditions can immensely affect an individual’s physical health.

- by rearranging work tools and equipment
- reduce the motion needed to complete the task 
- the employee can work with more movement efficiency and reduce the cycle time
- ultimately increasing work productivity 

- ergonomics minimizes the mental fatigue of the employee
- reducing chances of human error through lapses or misjudgement.

- human error, whether intentionally or not, may cause serious safety violation and incidents 
 Health: overexertion may cause physical fatigue that can be causes of chronic ergonomics related symptoms 

- overexertion may cause physical fatigue that can be causes of chronic ergonomics related symptoms 

- work within the employee’s capabilities and limitation enhance the employees’ comfort
- allowing the employee to work at longer duration with less undue fatigue 

How to know if something is an ergonomic hazard
-Ergonomic hazards one of the factors in your environment that can harm the your musculoskeletal system. Some injuries that are caused by strain placed on the body from ergonomic hazards and aren’t always immediately obvious, making these hazards difficult to detect. 


•Improperly adjusted workstations and chairs

•Frequent lifting

•Bad posture

•Awkward movements, especially if they are repetitive

•Using too much force, and worse if it’s done frequently

Ergonomic hazards are often a result of the way a space is designed, meaning that planning ahead and thinking about how employees interact with their work space is crucial.

Most commonly affected areas: 

 

When the principles of ergonomics are applied in the context of workplace safety, the concept of ergonomic safety is born. Ergonomics safety ensures that the products, methods, and environment that a worker uses are appropriate to fit the worker’s job requirements and personal capabilities. 
 
What is the goal of ergonomics?

1. Effeciency :
Employees can operate with higher movement efficiency and minimise cycle time by reorganising work tools and equipment or reducing the motion required to complete the task. This will increase work productivity.

2. Quality :
Ergonomics reduces employee mental strain, lowering the likelihood of human mistake due to lapses or misjudgment.

3. Health :
Overexertion can result in physical weariness, which can lead to chronic health problems.

4. Work :
Working within an employee's strengths and limitations improves their comfort, allowing them to work for longer periods of time with less weariness

5. Safety :
Because human error, whether deliberate or unintentional, can result in major safety violations and incidents.

 

Physical ergonomics refers to the body’s response to the physical demands of a person’s workspace or profession. Workplace conditions can immensely affect an individual’s physical health. Overexertion, repetitive movements, and poor posture are just some of the causes of musculoskeletal disorders. These can result in employees having to take a leave of absence from work. To avoid these from developing, employers need to prioritize physical ergonomics. This can be done by creating ergonomic workstations, which consist of ergonomic chairs, sit-stand desks, footrests, ergonomic keyboards, and more. It is also important to ensure employees aren’t worked beyond their physical capabilities. 

2. Cognitive Ergonomics

The next type of ergonomics we’ll be discussing is cognitive. Cognitive ergonomics is the study of how a product, system, task, or environment interacts with an individual’s cognitive abilities. It includes designing things that are user-friendly, developing training programs, creating guidelines and brochures, and ensuring that employees can perform what is asked of them. 

3. Organizational Ergonomics

Lastly, organizational ergonomics is important in a work environment. It focuses on the structure of the workplace as a whole. Implementing organizational ergonomics can be done by designating work times, improving communication within departments, promoting participation, hosting team-building events, and more. 

A poorly designed office chair can contribute to a series of problems for the user including: lower back pain, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and worse yet, deep vein thrombosis in the legs.

 

When choosing to invest in a chair, it’s best to choose an ergonomic office chair that has adjustable features. The best ones provide proper height, width, and size adjustments

2） Heavy Lifting

This is a common theme with workers involved in manufacturing. Examples of ergonomic hazards in manufacturing is a very serious issue. Due to the intense load and pressure, heavy lifting without proper form can injure your back, knees, and legs.

 

Be careful when dealing with heavy supplies, files, and books in the office. Never over-extend yourself and use footstools to reach high shelves.

3） Lighting

It’s nearly impossible to provide proper lighting that is suitable for everyone. Artificial lighting may hinder a worker’s productivity and comfort, simply because it is too bright or too dim. The most common problem in the office is dealing with the glare from computer screens.

 

These ergonomic challenges arise from different factors such as different seasons, the position of office windows, and skylights. All of these factors can contribute to eye strain, headaches, and etc.

by rearranging work tools and equipment, or reduce the motion needed to complete the task the employee can work with more movement efficiency and reduce the cycle time, ultimately increasing work productivity 

• Quality

ergonomics minimizes the mental fatigue of the employee, reducing chances of human error through lapses or misjudgment 

• Safety

human error, whether intentionally or not, may cause serious safety violation and incidents 
• Health
overexertion may cause physical fatigue that can be causes of chronic ergonomics related symptoms 

• Work Comfort

work within the employee’s capabilities and limitation enhance the employees’ comfort, allowing the employee to work at longer duration with less undue fatigue

-Each Employer
-Each Employee
REPORT
-Pain is persistent,  severe  or worsening 
- Pain  radiates 
-Symptoms  include numbness  or  tingling 
-Symptoms  keep you  from  sleeping  at  night
- Fingers  blanch  or turning  white
GETTING INVOLVED
-Look at  jobs
- Come up  with solutions
 -Work  with solutions 
-Take  part  in  training 
-Take  responsibility  for changing the way you  do your  job 
-Help to  make  sure efforts  are  successful