Functional Ergonomics

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Functional Ergonomics
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Definition of Ergonomics

• The fundamental definition of ergonomics is given
  as "the study of work in relation to the
  physiological and psychological capabilities of
  people."
• The word "Ergonomics" comes from the two Greek
  words
• Ergos which means "work"
• Nomos which means "laws"
• Thus, ergonomics is quite literally "the laws of
  work."

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The 4 Ergo Questions????

• Where Does it Hurt?
• What Makes it Hurt?
• How Do You Find it?
• How Do You Fix it?

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Three Basic Steps

• Hazard Identification
• Risk Assessment
• Control

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Hazard Identification

• Surveillance
• Passive Is a statistical review of
• Frequency of injuries
• Severity of injuries
• Types of injuries
• Active is a process of soliciting response of
  job/task, usually by working input
• Symptom survey
• Body map

All for the purpose of determining if injuries
are of an ergonomic cause.
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Assessment

• Is the physical measurement or data collection of
  the hazard.
• What are you measuring?
• Need to know risk factors.

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Risk Factors

• Posture what is neutral posture?
• Hazard
• any deviation from normal
• Greater deviation equates to greater risk

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Risk Factor

• Repetition No universal definition
• Generally, a task is repetitive if
• Task cycle time (e.g. time to complete one task)
  is less than 30 seconds, OR, in the case of
  longer cycle times, 50 of cycle requires
  same/similar shoulder/elbow/forearm/wrist
  movements
• Task is repeated at a frequency that promotes
  greater than 3 shoulder movements per minute and
  10 elbow/forearm/wrist movements per minute, and
  this is repeated continuously for greater than
  one hour per shift
• Hazard The more movements performed will
  increase the likelihood of injury

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Risk Factor

• Force any push, pull, lift, lower, carry in
  order to move, displace or hold an object
• Hazard when force exceeds acceptable limits
• Acceptable limits on weight change depending on
  height, distance, frequency, duration, coupling,
  size of object

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Other Risk Factors

• Duration
• Studies being conducted to determine acceptable
  holding times for various positions/task
• Vibration
• Even low levels of vibration sufficient to change
  the integrity of soft tissue
• Environmental
• Cold heat change in energy consumption/demand

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Criteria Checklist

• Once have objective data, comparison is needed to
  standard/criteria.
• Posture REBA, RULA
• Repetition RULA, Kilbom (1994)
• Force NIOSH, Liberty Mutual Tables
• Duration Rodger Muscle Fatigue
• http//www.hsc.usf.edu/tbernard

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Control

• Eliminate the hazard rather than control
• Prioritize from greatest to least
• When possible allow for adjustability
• Engineer vs. Administrative Controls

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Evaluate

• Repeated Surveillance
• Passive
• Active

Ergo-Committee
Encourages response from workers Worker
buy-in Wider range of ideas/solutions
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Return on Investment

• Ergonomic Projects that Result in ROI
• Are effective in reducing hazard exposures
• Engineering controls
• Administrative controls
• Work practices
• Are efficient in reducing hazard exposures
• Start with low cost/high impact
• Gain grass roots involvement