Ergonomics
A science that focuses on human
capabilities and limitations in the
design of work tasks, workstations,
tools and equipment.
PRESENTED BY:
Joan M. Spencer
Compliance Assistance Specialist
Tampa Area Office 813-626-1177
Costs to the Employer
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Insurance Premiums
Medical Costs
Absenteeism/Turnover
Re-Training
Decrease in Production
Decrease in Quality
Costs to the Employees
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Pain/Suffering
Stress
Loss of ability to work
Loss of wages
Loss of ability to enjoy life
Indicators of Need
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Employee Generated Change
Manual Material Handling
Seasonal Hiring
Downsizing
Over-time
Incentive Programs
Indicators of Need
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Complaints
Absenteeism
Turnover
Accident Trends
Poor Quality
Decrease in Production
• 2001, Congress passed, and the
President signed, Senate Joint
Resolution 6, which rescinded the
original ergonomics rule, and under
the Congressional Review Act,
prohibits the agency from issuing a
rule that is substantially the same as
the former one.
OSHA Enforcement Program
• OSHA assesses MSD-related issues in
complaints, referrals, and targeted
inspections.
• Issue General Duty Clause citations or
hazard alert letters for ergonomics
hazards where appropriate.
• Conduct follow-up inspections or
investigations within 12 months of
certain employers who receive
ergonomic hazard alert letters.
Full Ergonomics Program
• Management leadership and
employee participation
• Hazard information and reporting
• Job hazard analysis and control
• Training
• MSD management—that includes
taking care of the injured employee
• Program evaluation
Risk Factors
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Force
Posture
Repetition
Temperature
Vibration
Pressure Points
Job Factors
Physical demands of job
Force, repetition, postures,
duration, contact stress
Workstation layout and
space
Reaches, heights, seating,
floor surface, contact stress
Equipment used and
objects handled
Size, shape, weight, weight
distribution, handle and
grasp surfaces, vibration
Environmental conditions
Cold, heat, glare
Work organization
Work-recovery cycles, work
rate, task variability
Hazard Identification
& Information
• Is there a method for employee reporting
of signs, symptoms, hazards and
recommendations 
• OSHA Form 300 
• Medical Records 
• Insurance Records
• Safety Records
• Personnel Records
Job Hazard Analysis
• Include each of or a representative sample
of employees in the problem job
• Expand JHA to similar jobs (if comprehensive)
• Question employees on
• experience signs and symptoms
• difficulties of performing physical
• work activities of job
• which activities they associate with any
problem
Job Hazard Analysis and Control
• Ask employees for recommendations
• Identify, evaluate and suggest (implement)
feasible control measures
• Do you track progress in eliminating or
materially reducing the MSD
• Do you identify and evaluate MSD hazards
when you change, design or purchase
equipment or processes in problem jobs
Tools OSHA May Use for
Evaluation
NIOSH Lifting Equation
RWL = LC X HM X VM X DM X AM X FM X CM
where LC is the load constant (23 kg),
•HM, the "Horizontal Multiplier" factor
•VM, the "Vertical Multiplier" factor
•DM, the "Distance Multiplier" factor
•FM, the "Frequency Multiplier" factor
•AM, the "Asymmetric Multiplier“ factor
•CM, the "Coupling Multiplier" factor
•RWL, the "Recommended Weight Limit
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/niosh/calculating_rwl.html
Controls
Engineering,
Administrative, and/or
Work practices
Personal protective equipment
Engineering Controls
• Preferred method
• Act on the source of the hazard
• Control without relying on employee to
take self-protective action or intervention
• Changing, modifying or redesigning
workstations
tools
facilities
equipment
materials
processes
Engineering Controls
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Mechanical lifting hoists
Tool design
Automation of work
Work station design
Use of handles
Repackage for weight and size
Padding/absorption systems
Engineering Controls: Avoid low or high reaches
Engineering Controls: Hoist, lifters
Engineering Controls: Powered Equipment
Engineering Controls: Use correct tools:
Sand rammer in foundry was modified with
“home-made” vibration absorbing rings
instead of original manufacturer’s equipment.
Engineering Controls: Handles
Engineering Controls: Automation
Manually handling packaged product.
Company is in the process of installing
automatic filling & conveyor system
Engineering Controls: Workstation Design
Insufficient work space to accommodate
mouse/pointing device; chair has little
adjustability.
Administrative Controls
 Alternate heavy tasks with light tasks.
 Provide variety in jobs to eliminate or reduce
repetition (i.e., overuse of the same muscle groups).
 Adjust work schedules, work pace, or work
practices.
 Provide recovery time (e.g., short rest breaks).
 Modify work practices so that workers perform work
within their power zone (i.e., above the knees, below
the shoulders, and close to the body).
 Rotate workers through jobs that use different
muscles, body parts, or postures.
Administrative Controls: Use your power
zone
Use a Lifter
Raise the Worker
Raise or Lower the Work Surface
Tilt the Container
Administrative Controls:
 Employees involved in
manually turning
dough to form
pastries. Company
had instituted a
rotation policy to other
areas within
department.
Administrative Controls: Employees
involved in manually handling products.
Two person lift with handles.
Work Practice Controls: Training on body
mechanics provided to reduce twisting at
the waist. Also suggested using carts of
same height as work area to reduce
elevation changes.
PPE
 Interim control device
 Worn or used by employee
 Provide in a variety of sizes
 Should not contribute to extreme
postures and excessive forces.
 Examples include: gloves or knee pads
 “Braces, splints, back belts,
and other similar devices are
not PPE.”
Personal Protective Equipment: Gloves
Gripping gloves.
Outreach and Assistance:
• OSHA provides tools to help workplaces
reduce and prevent ergonomic injuries:
• Provide expertise to assist businesses and
workers
• Support programs through training grants,
curriculum development and other means
• Design compliance assistance tools, new
partnerships and recognition programs
• Encourage others to develop best practices
Industry Specific Guidelines:1
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Meat Packing Guidelines
Nursing Homes
Retail Grocery Stores
Poultry Processing
Shipyards
1 The guidelines are not new standards or regulations and do not
create any new OSHA duties for employers. An employer's failure
to implement a guideline is, therefore, not a violation, or evidence
of a violation of the general duty clause of the OSH Act
Additional Information
www.osha.gov
www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html