Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker

2. ERGONOMICS DEFINED
•ERGONOMICS IS THE SCIENCE OF
FITTING THE JOB TO THE WORKER.

3. FITTING THE JOB TO THE WORKER

4. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve
independence in all facets of their lives

5. PHYSICAL THERAPY
The assessment, prevention, and treatment of
movement dysfunction and physical disability, with
the overall goal of enhancing human movement
and function.

6. Services typically include the following:
 Customized treatment programs to improve one’s
ability to perform daily activities
 Comprehensive homeand job site evaluations with
adaptation recommendations
 Skill Performance assessments and treatment
 Adaptive equipment recommendations and usage
training
 Guidance for family members and caregivers

7. ERGONOMISTS INCLUDE
Psychology
Engineering
Ergonomics
Industrial design
Education
Physiology
Medicine
Health and rehabilitation
sciences,
Business administration
Computer science
Industrial hygiene.

8. Ergonomic design for children is challenging.

9. WHY USE ERGONOMICS
 Ergonomists could start by evaluating
 Safety practices, procedures, and records, including deaths, injuries,
and near-miss occurrences in terms of patient safety
 Injuries, illnesses, turnover, and workers’ compensation cases
among the employees
 The health are practitioners’ perceptions regarding the products they
use and environments they work in

10.  Costs and revenues to see where they might have
the most impact on a redesign effort
 Information flow throughout the facilities, including
client care, team interactions, and data
management

11. THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THERAPISTS AND ERGONOMISTS
Therapists and ergonomists share some common interests
and therapists can contribute their unique strengths to
the practice of ergonomics in five principal areas

12. 1. Ergonomics-for-one (individuals who have a
disability)
2. Ergonomics for special population
3. Prevention of musculoskeletal injuries
4. Equipment design
5. The Application of the ADA.

13. WORK-SITE ANALYSIS
 Therapists should be familiar with the field of ergonomics
as a whole to understand terminology being used
 Describe their own expertise, and recognize when an
ergonomist with specialized training should be consulted

14. (1) Workplace analysis aimed at prevention of
work-related musculoskeletal trauma
(2) Workplace and tool design for individuals with
disabilities
(3) Research through the development and use of
databases.

15. Therapists sensory nervous system
considerations, anthropometry, kinesiology, human
development, anatomy and physiology, work capability
analysis, and basic research.
knowledge base of therapists compared
with that of ergonomist

16. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
 Communication, learning, motivation, normal and
abnormal psychology (including the effects of
stress)
 Job and task analysis
 Measures of job satisfaction

17. Topics in ergonomics
 Workplace design, seating and posture, and safety may or
may not be included in the knowledge of entry-level
therapists.
 Workstation design, vibration, noise, temperature,
illumination , training, inspection and maintenance error
and reliability, signal detection theory, visual displays, legal
aspects of product liability, physics as applied to machinery
as well as human motion

18.  Person machine communication
 Advanced statistical research methods
 Therapists may consider themselves educated in
safety, they may be unfamiliar with safety as it is
taught in ergonomic

19. SAFETY IN ERGONOMICS
 Accident losses
 Occupational Safety and Health Act; standards,
codes, and safety documents
 Designing, planning, and production errors
 Hazards; acceleration, falls, and other impacts
 Pressure and electrical hazards
 Explosions and explosives; toxic materials; radiation;
vibration and noise

20.  Slip, trip, and fall (traction and physical materials, as well as
biomechanics and physiology); and methods of safety analysis
 Therapists excellent allies for ergonomists
 Workplace consultation directed at preventing musculoskeletal
injuries
 Functional capacity testing, work hardening, and graded return-
to work placements along with workplace evaluations

21. DESIGN FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
 Between 11.5% and 18.1% of the total population in
the USA has a disability
 Individuals who have a disability are less likely to
finish high school or to attend college and are
more likely to live in poverty
 Ergonomic intervention could do much to enhance
quality of life, at work and home

22.  Severely handicapped most affected category
 Therapists have the skills and are in the settings
to gather information for a database on various
populations with disabilities.
 Technologic aids for individuals with disabilities
are expensive because small-scale production is
not cost-effective

23. RESULTING INJURIES ARE CALLED
•CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS (CTD),
OR
•REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURIES (RSI),
OR
•MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS (MSD)

24. COMMON CAUSES:
•Repetitive and/or prolonged activities
•Awkward postures/positions for an extended time
•Static postures
•Vibration
•High/low temperatures for an extended time
•Forceful exertions

25. ERGONOMIC STRESS AREAS
Knee
Hip

26. SIGNS OF MSD
Decreased range of motion
Loss of function
Deformity
Cramping
Loss of color
Decreased grip strength
Loss of balance
Swelling
Redness

27. SYMPTOMS OF MSD
Muscle fatigue or pain
Aching
Burning
Numbness
Stiffness
Tingling

28. EXAMPLES OF MSD
TENDONITIS- an inflammation of the tendon. Typically
occurs in the shoulder, wrist, hands, or elbow.
Carpal tunnel syndrome- irritation of the median nerve,
which runs through a bony channel in the wrist called
the carpal tunnel. Usually results from excessive flexing
or twisting of the wrist.

29. CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

30. MSD CONT.
TRIGGER FINGER SYNDROME- tendons in the
fingers become inflamed, causing pain, swelling, and a
loss of dexterity.
Eye strain - the eyes become strained as a result of
poor lighting, glare or viewing from awkward positions.

31. MSD CONT.
HAND/ARM VIBRATION SYNDROME- tingling,
numbness, blanching, loss of dexterity in the hand/arm
Muscle strain – pain in muscles

32. WHAT CAN WE DO?
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS
ENGINEERING CONTROLS

33. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
Employee rotation/job task expansion
Physical adjustments to the work pace
Redesign of work methods
Alternative tasks
Breaks

34. WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS
Safe & proper work techniques & procedures
Training
Physical conditioning period

35. POSTURE & ANGLES
•Whether your tasks are performed while Sitting or
standing, always maintain proper posture & angles--
and avoid:
awkward positions, and
Extreme reaches for materials

38. BODY ANGLES
Head
Shoulders
Elbows
Hands
Waist
Legs
Feet

39. SITTING POSTURES

40. MORE ANGLES…

41. MORE ANGLES…

47. ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Workstations
Tools/equipment
Facilities

48. WORKSTATIONS
The objective is to:
•Fit the workstation to the employee
•Reduce awkward positions
This can be done by using two methods:

49. WORKSTATIONS CONT.
Standard way
Adjustable workstation
Adjustable chair
Foot rests
Adjustable monitor
Document holder
Innovative way
Cut legs off
Add blocks
Build foot rest
Thick book
Build platform

53. TOOLS
Use of force or of grip-strength
Longer/shorter and thicker/thinner handles
Repetitive motion
Ratcheting mechanism or gears
Power tools
Electric stapler
Electric knife
Spring-loaded returns

54. TOOLS CONT.
Awkward positions
Bent or curved handles
Extensions or add-ons
Headphones
Support equipment overhead
Step stool
Forceful exertions
Soft-touch keyboards/buttons
Lifting devices

57. TOOLS CONT.
Static positions
Anti-fatigue mats
Vibration
Anti-vibration materials
Anti-vibration mounts/handles
External support
Anti-vibration gloves

58. FACILITIES
• LIGHTING

60. FACILITIES
• TEMPERATURE

61. FACILITIES
•NOISE

62. EXERCISES & STRETCHES
These are exercises or stretches that can
be performed at your workstation, home,
just about anywhere.

63. EYE
•Eye comfort exercises
•Blinking
•Yawning
•Focus change

64. EYE PALMING
While seated, brace elbows on the edge of the desk
Let weight fall forward
Cup hands over eyes and close eyes
Inhale slowly through nose & hold for 4 seconds
Continue deep breathing for 15-30 seconds

66. EYE MOVEMENTS
Close eyes and slowly & gently move eyes up to the
ceiling, then slowly down to the floor
Repeat 3 times
Close eyes and slowly & gently move eyes to the left,
then slowly to the right
Repeat 3 times

67. NECK STRETCH
Tilt ear towards shoulder
Reach up and touch top of head with palm to hold in
tilted position
Hold 5-10 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times (come out of
stretch slowly)
Reverse side and repeat

69. PEC CORNER STRETCH
Stand at a corner about a foot away from the wall with
forearms on opposite sides of the corner. One foot
should be forward.
Elbows should be at slightly below shoulder height
Keep abdominals tight to avoid arching back
Lean gently towards corner by bending the front knee
until a stretch is felt in front of the chest.
Hold 5-10 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times

70. OVERHEAD REACH
Take a deep breathe and reach up over head
with both arms.
Hold 5-10 seconds
Exhale and lower slowly
Repeat 2-3 times

71. SHOULDER PINCH
Place arms behind head being careful not to press
hand into head
Relax shoulders, and squeeze shoulder blades
together while keeping shoulders back and down
Hold 5-10 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times

73. SHOULDER SHRUG
Sitting up straight, slowly bring shoulders up toward
your ears.
Hold positions 5-10 seconds
Then bring the shoulders down and hold
Repeat 2-3 times

75. CHAIR ROTATION STRETCH
Sit in chair and place feet flat on floor
Reach across your body and grab the back of the chair
Pull gently to increase stretch in mid back
Hold 5-10 seconds. Repeat 5 times
Repeat on other side

77. ARMS BEHIND BACK STRETCH
Hold hands behind back and grasp hands together
Pull shoulder blades back and down
Hold 5 seconds. Repeat 5 times

79. THORACIC SPINE EXTENSION
STRETCH
Lie on your back with a pillow under your knees. Place a
firmly rolled towel under your shoulder blades across your
upper back
Raise arms up as you inhale
Lower arms as you exhale, and hold a couple of seconds
Do this 5 times

80. PROP UPS OR PRESS UPS
Lie on stomach and either prop up on forearms or if
wrists are not compromised, press up through hands.
Let stomach sag, and allow back to arch without using
back muscles.
If propped on elbows, hold 5-10 seconds. Repeat 5
times
If on hands, press up and down slowly 10 times

81. FOOT ROTATIONS
While sitting upright, slowly rotate each foot
from the ankles 3 times in one direction
Then rotate 3 in the opposite direction

82. WRIST FLEXED & EXTENDED
Hold arm straight at waist height
With fingers of other hand, gently press down above the
knuckles, bending wrist down. (DO NOT hold at the fingers to
push down.)
Hold 5-10 seconds and repeat 2-3 times
For extending, hold onto palm of hand and stretch wrist back.
(DO NOT pull on fingers.)
Hold 5-10 seconds and repeat 2-3 times.

85. FINGER MASSAGE
VERY gently, massage the fingers of each hand
individually.
Move toward the nail gently.
Massage the space between your fingers to widen
and relax

86. FINGER SQUEEZE
Squeeze a foam block OR the edge of your desk
firmly with all fingers
Hold for 3 seconds
Relax your grip

87. ERGONOMICS PROGRAM
Essential elements:
Management leadership and employee
participation
Hazard information and reporting
Job hazard analysis and control
Training
MSD management
Program evaluation

88. Workstation Design

89. Anthropometry
Design guidelines
Design tools
Tools/Methods of Workstation Design

90. Measurement of human dimensions
Anthropos = human
Metrikos = measuring
Anthropometry

91. People Are Different
Age Differences Height Differences

92. Dimension, In
Body dimension Sex 5th 50th 95th
1. Stature (height) Male 63.7 68.3 72.6
Female 58.9 63.2 67.4
2. Eye height Male 59.5 63.9 68.0
Female 54.4 58.6 62.7
3. Shoulder height Male 52.1 56.2 60.0
Female 47.7 51.6 55.9
4. Elbow height Male 39.4 43.3 46.9
Female 36.9 39.8 42.8
5. Knuckle height Male 27.5 29.7 31.7
Female 25.3 27.6 29.9
13.Chest depth Male 8.4 9.5 10.9
Female 8.4 9.5 11.7
Anthropometric Data

93. Dimension, In
Body dimension Sex 5th 50th 95th
6. Height, sitting Male 33.1 35.7 38.1
Female 30.9 33.5 35.7
7. Eye height, sitting Male 28.6 30.9 33.2
Female 26.6 28.9 30.9
8. Elbow rest height, Male 7.5 9.6 11.6
sitting Female 7.1 9.2 11.1
9. Thigh clearance Male 4.5 5.7 7.
height Female 4.2 5.4 6.9
10.Knee height, sitting Male 19.4 21.4 23.3
Female 17.8 19.6 21.5
11.Buttock-knee Male 21.3 23.4 25.3
distance, sitting Female 20.4 22.4 24.6
12.Popliteal height, Male 15.4 17.4 19.2
sitting Female 14.0 15.7 17.4
Anthropometric Data

94. Design for the extremes
Design for an adjustable range
Design for the average?
Using Anthropometric Data

95. Design Guidelines

96. Posture Definitions

97. Affect of Posture on Grip Strength

98. Acceptable/Unacceptable
Work Positions

99. Effect of Workstation Design
on Posture

100. Reach/Work Envelopes

101. Reach/Work Envelopes

102. Optimal Work Zone

103. Work Surface Heights

104. Work Surface Heights