Anti-Aging Guide

Ergonomics refers to designing jobs and workplaces to fit workers and the work that they do, instead of trying to change workers to fit their jobs.

“Good” ergonomics helps prevent injuries, increase comfort, and reduce fatigue.

It also improves the quality and quantity of work and the overall profitability of a business.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Workers can get painful musculoskeletal disorders from workstations that don’t fit them. Tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are two common types of musculoskeletal disorders associated with ergonomic problems.

Symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders include discomfort, pain, dull ache, numbness, tingling, decreased range of motion, decreased grip strength, and/or swelling of joints or limbs. The symptoms are not just unpleasant; they can make it impossible for workers to stay on their jobs.

For example: after working for years at a fast-paced assembly job, a middle age woman did not have the strength to hold onto a coffee cup, let alone do her demanding job.

Risk Factors

While there is no one cause, several risk factors increase the chance of developing a musculoskeletal disorder:

Repetitive motion (doing one task too much or too fast)

Forceful exertion (e.g. reaching for a heavy object)

Awkward posture (e.g. bent wrist, head forward)

Static posture (staying too long in one position)

Mechanical pressure (leaning against hard edges)

Heavy lifting

Workstation Setup

Correct workstation setup may be the single best way to prevent ergonomic injuries.

For example: within days of moving to a new workstation, a long-time employee started experiencing discomfort in his arms and wrists.

The work process had not changed, just the workstation.

He and his supervisor could not account for the sudden onset of problems.

After thinking about possible causes and consulting with staff trained in ergonomics, they realized that the new work surface was higher than old one.

An adjustable workstation allowed the employee to set the height to the earlier level. Within hours, his symptoms disappeared.

Anti-fatigue Mats

Many industrial jobs require standing for long periods of time or walking throughout a shift. Standing or walking on hard surfaces like cement puts tremendous stress on the back, increasing fatigue and putting employees at risk for low back injuries.

Comfortable matting makes it easier to stand for hours or walk back and forth in a manufacturing or processing facility.

Anti-fatigue mats come in materials designed for various industrial environments.

Some work in either wet or dry conditions, while others offer chemical resistance. Slip-resistance is an added safety benefit of many anti-fatigue mats.

Cost vs. Benefit

In 1992 the average cost of a back injury was $9,000 without surgery and $35,000 with surgery. The cost for carpal tunnel release surgery ranges from $4,000 to $10,000 per hand.

These figures don’t take into account the serious losses in business productivity and employee wellbeing that result from back injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome.

According to a recent study, the average payback period for 25 ergonomic interventions was 0.82 years. Businesses may cite high costs of new equipment as a reason not to implement ergonomic solutions.

However, the economic benefits of “good” ergonomics have been demonstrated repeatedly.

For more case studies in a FREE “Insider Report On Ergonomics” simply go to www.KesslerAmerica.com