Basic Ergonomics
Webster's New World Dictionary (College Edition) defines ergonomics as "The study of the problems of people in adjusting to their environment, especially the science that seeks to adapt work or working conditions to suit the individual worker.” To better understand what ergonomics is and how it affects you and other employees, we need to go explore the topic further.
Ergonomics may be thought of as the science of fitting the job to the individual worker. Ergonomics studies the various risk factors brought to a job. Listed below are three areas within which ergonomic risk factors exist.
- Risk factors inherent in the worker. Workers come in all shapes and sizes and have varying degrees of physical fitness.
- Risk factors inherent in the task. Job tasks, especially repetitive tasks, can present risk factors that increase the likelihood of an injury.
- Risk factors inherent in the environment. The workplace environment, within which the worker and job exist, may also contain exposures to risk factors.
Each of these ergonomic categories can present risk factors that can result in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). To better understand ergonomics, we need to understand musculoskeletal disorders. Let's take a closer look at these MSDs.
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2-8. What is the primary focus of ergonomics in the workplace?
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