1. ERGONOMICS
(ASPECTS IN WORKSTATION
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS)
Chandrakanth.C
S1 M.Tech
Roll No:01
mail me @ geothomasseril@gmail.com
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2. Contents
 Definition
 Objectives
 Fields interact with ergonomics
 Importance
 Ergonomic approaches
 Advantages & Disadvantages
 Applications
 Conclusion
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3. ERGONOMICS
DERIVED FROM GREEK WORDS
ERGO + NOMOS = ERGONOMICS
“work” + “laws” = “ laws of work ”

4. ERGONOMICS - DEFINITION
 SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF HUMAN WORK
 "DESIGNING THE JOB TO FIT THE WORKER , NOT
FORCING THE WORKER TO FIT THE JOB“
 SCIENCE THAT DEALS WITH DESIGNING AND
ARRANGING THINGS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN USE
THEM EASILY AND SAFELY
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5. ERGONOMICS - OBJECTIVES
 To improve the relationship b/w people , equipment ,
workplace, and the environment.
 Increase work efficiency and productivity.
 Promote safety and comfort at work station.
 To reduce physical work loads.
 To minimize the risk of injury , illness , accidents and
errors without compromising productivity.
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6. FIELDS THAT INTERACT WITH
ERGONOMICS
 Anthropometry
 Psychology
 Operations
Research
 Surgery
 Physics
 Orthopedics
 Physiology
 Statistics
 Engineering
 Biomechanics
 Industrial Hygiene
 Industrial Medicine
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7. JOB RISK FACTORS
 Working in awkward
postures / positions
 Prolonged sitting and
standing
 Bending, reaching,
stretching
 Driving for extended
periods of time
 Heavy lifting
 Illumination
 Awkward lifting
 Lifting in combination with
twisting
 Pushing, pulling, carrying
 Accidents, slips, trips, falls
 Vibration & Noise
 Repetition
 Contact Stress
 Thermal Condition
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8. ERGONOMICS - IMPORTANCE
 Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
(WMSD) are fastest-growing injury
category
1997 study of 420 medical secretaries
◦ 63 % reported neck/shoulder pain
◦ 51% low back pain
◦ 30 % hand/wrist pain
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9. Musculo Skeletal Disorders(MSD)
 MSD’s are injuries caused by sustained exposure to
stresses or repetitive motion.
 They may affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones,
circulation, or nerves.
 Some well-known MSD’s are:
1. Carpel tunnel syndrome
2. Tennis elbow
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10. CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
One of the best known MSDs
 The median nerve does not
work properly due to
pressure on the nerve as it
runs through an opening
called the carpel tunnel
 Pain & tingling, can go up
the arm to the shoulder and
neck, causing waking to
pain in middle of night
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11. TENNIS ELBOW
 Overuse or misuse of the forearm muscles
can cause tendonitis, or a painful
inflammation of the tendons connecting these
muscles to borns.
 This may be when working,
or during certain leisure
activities, such as sports and
gardening.
Symptom are severe pain.
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12. Body Parts Prone To Workplace
MSDs
 Back - Lower
 Neck and Upper Back
 Upper Extremities - Arms and Hands
 Lower Extremities - Legs and Feet
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13. Musculoskeletal Disorders:
Signs and Symptoms
 Decreased ROM
 Decreased grip
and/or pinch
strength
 Swelling
 Fatigue
 Loss of function
 Numbness
 Burning sensation
 Tingling
 Pain
 Cramping
 Stiffness
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14. Leading Causes of Back
Problems
• Poor Body Mechanics
• Stressful Living & Working
• Loss of Flexibility
• Loss of Strength
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15. ERGNONIMICS APPROCHES
• Body Mechanics
• Proper Lifting Techniques
• Exercise
• Stretching
• Improved postures
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16. PROPER WEIGHT LIFTING
TECHNIQUE
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17. Posture check
Increased stress, decreased
circulation
 High risk  Low risk
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18. Posture check
Do you use a headset rather than cradling the
telephone between your head and shoulder?
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19. ERGONOMIC ALIGNMENT
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21. Arranging Your Workspace
 Arrange tools around your desk so
you minimize the distance you have
to reach for them. Divide your work
space into three zones:
 Primary work zone - the
distance from elbow to
hand. Things you touch on
a daily basis.
 Secondary work zone -
within arm's reach. Use this
zone to position those
items that you use
frequently, but don't need
all the time.
 Reference zone - outside
arm's reach. Use this zone
for your least-often used
items. 21

22. To be ergonomic , a design
must
• Fit the user
• Be easy to use
• Improve comfort
• Improve performance
• Improve health and safety
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23. ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED
CHAIR
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24. Materials storage and
handling
 Clear and mark transport routes
 Provide ramps of 5-8% inclination instead of small
stairs
 Use mechanical devices for lifting, lowering and
moving heavy material
 Instead of carrying heavy weights divide them into
smaller lightweights e.g. 2x10 kg instead of 20 kg.
 Combine heavy lifting with physically lighter tasks
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25. Hand Tools
 Use hanging tools for operations repeated in
the same place
 Provide hand support when using precision
tools
 Provide hand tools with a grip of the proper
thickness (hand diameter 30-40 mm, handle
length 125 mm and size to fit male hands)
 Provide a home for each tool (Enables good
housekeeping)
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26. Production machine safety
 Locate controls in sequence of operations
 Make displays and signals easy to distinguish
and easy to read
 Use properly fixed guards and interlock devices
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27. Lighting
 Increased use of daylight
 Light up the work area evenly
 Sufficient lighting for working
 Local lighting for precision work
 Removing shiny surfaces
 Avoid glare
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29. Advantages of
Ergonomics
•Reduction of work-related injuries , higher safety
•Higher productivity
•Increased work quality
•Reduced absenteeism , fatigue
•Better design of machines
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30. Disadvantages
 It costs money to develop and design it.
 Usually take more time and resources than other
methods
 Very high effort in planning, recruiting, and executing
than other methods
 Much longer study periods and therefore requires
much goodwill among the participants
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31. Applications
 Assist in design & operation of man , m/c
,environmental study.
 Help to know about the human activities, capability
and limitations.
 Helps to ensure physical and mental use of human
beings.
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32. Difficulties in achieving the
aims of ergonomics
 Human operator is flexible and adaptable
 Large individual differences
Obvious differences: --> Physical size, strength
Not obvious differences --> Culture, style,
level of skill
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33. Work Smarter – Not Harder
 Notice and report symptoms EARLY
 Stretch
 Take adequate and frequent breathers
 Do a different task or do the
task differently
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34. Conclusion..
 As we discussed above ergonomics
"DESIGNING THE JOB TO FIT THE WORKER ,
NOT FORCING THE WORKER TO FIT THE
JOB“
So it will reduces the fatigue and improve the work
conditions for the workers.
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35. Help Yourself
 Micro-Breaks
◦ Every 20-40 minutes
 Exercises
◦ Body stretch
◦ Raise forearms
◦ Shoulder blade squeeze/shrugs
◦ Eye palming
◦ Arm and shoulder shake
◦ Arm extensions
◦ Side bends
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36. Practice Wellness at Work and
Home !
Exercise(Body)
Nutrition(Mind)
Relaxation(Spirit)
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37. THANK YOU….
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