ERGONOMICS
ER-GO-NOM-ICS
Ergonomics: What, Why, and How
Ergo.Dave.CPE.LLC@Hotmail.com
CPE LLC
ERGONOMICS DEFINITIONS
Fitting the task to the person
 an applied science concerned with designing
and arranging things people use so that the
people and things interact most efficiently and
safely —called also biotechnology, human
engineering, human factors (MerriamWebster’s)
 Controlling fatigue

ERGONOMICS RISK FACTORS
Force
 Posture
 Repetition
Overall Ergo Risk


Secondary
Cold
 Vibration
 Static positions
 Impact/contact stress

F
R
P
QUIZ: FIND AS MANY ERGO
FEATURES AS YOU CAN
Wind screen
Throttle Rocker
Highway bars
Floor boards
Heel and toe shifters
USE A VARIETY OF NEUTRAL POSTURES
ERGONOMICS CULTURE EXISTS WHEN:
New work processes, tools and equipment have
ergonomics designed into them from the start
 Ergo issues are found before they cause harm
 All employees report discomfort
 Ergo issues are resolved quickly and at the
lowest possible organizational level
 All employees use good work methods, use
provided ergo tools, and follow written SOP or
JHA

ERGO TOOL EXERCISE
Work in groups at your table
 Review set of tools
 Pick speaker to report findings

 Most
ergonomic tool
 Least ergonomic tool
TOP 10 INJURIES
http://www.libertymutualgroup.com / omapps / ContentServer?c=cms_docu /
cms_document / ShowDoc&cid=1138365240689
PERSONAL ERGONOMICS RISK FACTORS
Increasing age
 Previous injury
 Tobacco use
 Arthritis
 Diabetes

M. Hagberg, B.A. Silverstein, R.P. Wells, R. Smith, P. Carayon,
H. Hendrick, M. Pe´russe, I. Kuorinka, L. Forcier (Eds.),
Workrelated musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD): A handbook
for prevention, Taylor and Francis, London, UK, 1995.
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/27/14176059
1/workplaces-feel-the-impact-of-obesity
ADDRESSING ERGO ISSUES
Act
Plan
Check
Do
• Finalize new design
• Document in SOP
and/or JHA
• Correct similar cases
• Ask for feedback
• Repeat comfort survey
• Repeat detailed
assessment
• Screen w/comfort
survey first.
• Detailed assessments:
NIOSH Lifting index; Job
Strain Index etc.
• Brainstorm solutions
• Check design guidelines
• Build/buy prototype
COMFORT SURVEY
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/9
7-117/pdfs/97-117.pdf
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 97-117
MOST POPULAR ERGO ASSESSMENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
NIOSH Lifting Equation
Snook Tables
RULA
REBA
Job Strain Index
Washington State checklist
http://ehstoday.com/health/ergonomics/erg
onomics_assessment_tools_1215/
REVISED NIOSH LIFTING EQUATION
Read pages 1 - 35
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 94-110
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/94-110/pdfs/94-110.pdf
THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ht-nioshlift-calculator/id447112695?mt=8
EMC Insurance
Companies
Dr. Bernard, USF
http://www.emcins.com/losscontrol/quick_links/employee_safety_health/ergon
omicsNIOSH.aspx
http://personal.health.usf.edu/tbernard/ergotools/index.html
PUSH PULL MEASUREMENT

In Series In-100 $115
described as good to weigh
“Muskie, Sturgeon, Coyote,
Fox” (1 lb markings 2 to 100
lbs)

Chatillon DFXII; listed at
$582.55; 200 lb capacity;
accuracy +/- 0.3%
SNOOK TABLES
Also called Push/Pull tables or Liberty Mutual
tables
 Need force gauge
 Need set acceptable criteria


OK for
 95% of all females
 90% of all females
 75% of all females
 (same as NIOSH Green Lifting Index)
Liberty Mutual
http://libertymmhtables.libertymutual.com/CM_LMTablesWeb
DESIGN GUIDELINES
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/
97-117/pdfs/97-117.pdf
DHHS (NIOSH)
Publication
Number 97-117
Page 125
EVALUATING YOUR COMPUTER WORKSTATION
How to make it
work for you
http://www.oros
ha.org/pdf/pubs
/1863.pdf
4 KEY OFFICE ERGO CHECK POINTS
Eyes on task
Back supported
Hands on task
Feet supported
http://www.oros
ha.org/pdf/pubs
/1863.pdf
CREATING YOUR
OFFICE ERGO
CHECKLIST
Select 10 to 20 questions
From pages 38 to 43
http://www.oros
ha.org/pdf/pubs
/1863.pdf
RESOURCES
NIOSH
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ergonomics
Cornell
http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/cutools.html
Washington State
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/Ergonomics/default.asp
OSHA National
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/resources.html
MSD Prevention
Toolbox
http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/PreventMSD
Oregon OSHA
http://www.orosha.org/subjects/ergonomics.html
Oregon Office ergo
guide
http://www.orosha.org/pdf/pubs/1863.pdf
AIHA ergo tool kit
http://www.aiha.org/insideaiha/volunteergroups/Ergonomics/Documents/ECToolkit.
pdf
MEMBERSHIP
BENEFITS HFES
HFES members enjoy the following benefits:
1. Free annual subscriptions to:
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Choose either the print or the online version. View the journal FAQ for details.
Ergonomics in Design: The Quarterly of Human Factors Applications. Choose either the print or the online version.
JCEDM: Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making. Members have access to the online version or may purchase the print version for $30.
Reviews of Human Factors and Ergonomics: Members have access to the online version and may also purchase printed volumes.
HFES Annual Meeting Proceedings: Members have access to the online version and may also purchase the CD-ROM version.
HFES Bulletin: A monthly e-newsletter bringing members news about important activities related to the field, Society news, a calendar of meetings and other events, and news
from related fields.
HFES Directory and Yearbook: Includes descriptions of activities within HFES committees, chapters, and technical groups; alphabetical member listings; a geographical index
of members, as well as historical information about the Society and the field.
2. Special member prices on all other HFES Publications
3. Opportunity to participate in the HFES Annual Meeting and other HFES meetings: Reduced registration fees, Discounts on workshops, On-Site Career Center
Paper presentations, panel sessions, and posters
4. Subscription to the HFES Members-only Career Center, including Confidential résumé posting, Job search, Résumé search for employers
5. Members-only access to the Online Member Directory
6. Members-only access to placing listings in the Online Consultants Directory (requires full membership)
7. Access to Membership in 23 Technical Groups, including, Newsletters, Technical program tracks, Listservs, Networking
8. Members-only participation in
Webinars: Monthly webinars with access to previous recordings and handouts.
Linkedin group: For HFES, with sub-groups for Technical Groups and chapters.
9. Local and Student Chapters
10. Discounts from other publishers/providers:
20% off software, workload assessment tools, data analysis tools, and other products from the Human Systems Information Analysis Center (formerly CSERIAC)
15% off Taylor & Francis books and subscriptions to Ergonomics
15% off selected book from Academic Press
11. Discounts on car rentals from Hertz
KEEPING UP TO DATE ON ERGO NEWS
http://www.ergoweb.com/news/
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS?
Ergonomics: What, Why, and How
Ergo.Dave.CPE.LLC@Hotmail.com
CPE LLC