UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA
OCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICS
Tutorial 1
Tutorial Session: Wednesday: 3pm – 6pm
Date: January 20,2020
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What are the objectives of ergonomics?
 Enhance effectiveness and efficiency of work (human activities): convenience,
reduced errors, increase productivity.
 Enhance desirable human values: safety, reduced fatigue/ stress, comfort, acceptance,
job satisfaction
2. How do physical, chemical and biological hazards relate to ergonomics?
Biological
Biological hazards include viruses, bacteria, insects, animals, etc., that can cause adverse
health impacts. For example, mould, blood and other bodily fluids, harmful plants, sewage,
dust and vermin.
Chemical
Chemical hazards are hazardous substances that can cause harm. These hazards can result in
both health and physical impacts, such as skin irritation, respiratory system irritation,
blindness, corrosion and explosions.
Physical
Physical hazards are environmental factors that can harm an employee without necessarily
touching them, including heights, noise, radiation and pressure.
3. What are the consequences of poorly designed jobs?
Some other consequences could include:
Increased physical and mental exhaustion and stress
Low morale within the team
Lack of individual and team motivation
Low productivity/ unsatisfactory work
Increased costs on hiring and training
Employee turnover increase
4. What are cost of poor ergonomics in workplace?
Cost for the worker: Physiological & physiological
•Localized muscle fatigue
•Stress
•Accidents
•Low job satisfaction
•Low quality of work life Cost
for the company:
•Increased risk for accidents and overexertion
•Increased turnover & absenteeism
•Pressures on wage level
•Difficulty finding replacements
•Extended time for training & acclimatization
•Product/technology rejection
Cost of poorly designed jobs Cost
for the company:
•
Low employee morale
•
Increased breaks
•
Lower productivity and quality
•
Difficult return to job (recovery)
•
Frequent short duration medical absences
•
Insurance cost
•
Legislation & Union support
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What are the main body parts that impact musculoskeletal disorders?
 Bones
 Tendons
 Muscles
 Ligaments
2. How do physical, chemical and biological hazards relate to ergonomics?
Biological
Biological hazards include viruses, bacteria, insects, animals, etc., that can cause adverse
health impacts. For example, mould, blood and other bodily fluids, harmful plants, sewage,
dust and vermin.
Chemical
Chemical hazards are hazardous substances that can cause harm. These hazards can result in
both health and physical impacts, such as skin irritation, respiratory system irritation,
blindness, corrosion and explosions.
Physical
Physical hazards are environmental factors that can harm an employee without necessarily
touching them, including heights, noise, radiation and pressure
3. What are anatomical positions?
Standing Supine position
 Standing tall
 Face and eyes forward
 Hands at sides
 Palm forward
 Heels together
 Big toes adjacent
4. Define Reference frames
When an organism is in its standard anatomical position, positional descriptive terms are used
to indicate regions and features. The Reference frames includes:
Median or sagittal plane
 Divides the body into equal right and left halves
Coronal plane
 Divides the body into anterior or posterior parts
Horizontal plane
 Divides the body into superior and inferior parts
5. What are the spatial anatomical relationships?
 Anterior (ventral): nearer the front surface of the body
 Posterior (dorsal): nearer the back surface of the body
 Superior: nearer the crown of the head
 Inferior: nearer the soles of the feet
 Pronation: palm from posterior to anterior
 Suppination: palm from anterior to posterior
 Medial: Closer to the midline
 Lateral: Farther from the midline
References
Harvey, A. (2020, January 16). Welcome to Ergonomics .
Martinelli, K. (2019, January 07). High Speed Training .
Retrieved from
A Guide to the Most Common Workplace Hazards :
https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/hazards-in-the-workplace/