Ergonomics and Its 10 Principles !

Table of Contents

What is Ergonomics?

Derived from the Greek words ‘Ergon’ meaning work and ‘nomos’ meaning laws.
Thus, ergonomics can be simply defined as the how workplace and equipment can be best used and designed for comfort, safety, efficiency and productivity.
“Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of the interactions among human and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”-International Ergonomics Association Executive Council, August 2000
Simply, ergonomics is the branch of science that deals with the people and their working environment.
Ergonomics is for worker safety and health and maintaining the healthy working environment.
It can also be understood as the study of worker in their working environment.
Ergonomics is concerned with designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they fit the people who use them and the maximum output can be obtained from them
Ergonomics extends beyond the proper posture of the workers.

a) Increases productivity

Best ergonomic solution enhances the productivity
Ergonomic reduces the unwanted tension, awkward position of the body.
Ergonomic is focused in making the work your easier and comfortable, this thereby reduces any kind of stress, risk and enhances the satisfaction and productivity.

b) Reduces the cost

Ergonomics can be considered as the one-time investment
As ergonomics is focused about marinating the better health of the worker it can further reduce the cost of compensation that would be made by the injured or unhealthy staffs.
It also reduces the indirect and the opportunity cost that could have incurred due to injury.

c) Improves the quality of the work

Improved ergonomics favors the favorable environment where the workers can work efficiently.
As the ergonomics improves, level of satisfaction in the quality of the work increases.

d) Others

Helps to reduce the absenteeism due to more comfort, safety and healthy working environment
Assurance to the worker as their workplace is safer (acts as the motivation)
More focus on the working environment and worker’s health makes them feel valued and boost of moral.

There are 10 fundamental principles of ergonomics which are:

Keeping everything in reach would help in avoiding unneeded stretching and strain
More or less this principle is related with maintaining good posture.

Working at right makes things way easier
Sometimes height can be maintained by adding extensions or avoiding extensions on the chair or tables

One needs to be aware of pressure points
Almost everyone of has to sit on chairs that had cushioning, one of the pressure point is behind knees, which happens if air is too high or when you dangle your legs. Pressure point is also created in between your thigh and the bottom of a table when you sit.
Anti-fatigue mats or insole can be used

Work area should have enough clearance
Let the worker not worry about the bumps that they have to encounter on daily basis.

Ergonomic injuries or MSDs can affect the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs.
Musculoskeletal disorder (MSDs) is also known as the repetitive motion injury.
MSDs are the condition that can affect muscles, joints and bones.
MSD are caused due to individual risk factor or ergonomic risk factor.
MSDs are the single largest category of workplace injuries and are responsible for almost 30% of all worker’s compensation costs
Individual risk factor include age, nutrition, activity, etc., while ergonomic risk factors includes:
- High task repetition
- Awkward body posture for longer period
- Sitting in same posture
- Lifting heavy weights.