Introduction to Industrial Ergonomics BMFP 3553 Industrial Ergonomics.

Introduction to Industrial Ergonomics

BMFP 3553 Industrial Ergonomics

BMFP 3553 Course ObjectivesUpon successful completion of this course the student should be able

to:

• Describe human physical abilities and limitations;

• Apply ergonomics principles to create safe, healthy, efficient and effective activities in the workplace;

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the work system that they have designed;

• Design a work system by taken into consideration human capabilities and limitations.

Today’s objective:

• Understand the concept of ergonomics• Be able to describe ergonomic risk factors

Ergonomics Defined• Early 1700’s, Ramazzini’s study of ill-effects of poor posture

& poorly designed tools on the health of workers

Greek Words “Ergon = work, Nomikos = law”Ergonomics Study of Work Laws

What Is Ergonomics?

Modern Definition

Science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the

working population

Brief History of Ergonomics

• Ramazzini (1700) - Ramazzini realized that a variety of common workers’ diseases appeared to be caused by prolonged irregular motions and postures

• Occupational injury and disease has existed since the beginnings of “work”.

• Around 1914-1918, institutions were founded in Britain foroccupational medicine

Brief History of Ergonomics

• 1857 – Jastrzebowski from Poland – treatise on “An outline of ergonomics or Science of Work”

• 1949 – the term “Ergonomics” was coined by Murrell in USA. In USA, the field is known as “human factors”.

What Is Ergonomics?

Ergon – workNomos – laws of

Ergonomics is the laws of work that define the limits to human capability.

What Is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the science of improving employee performance and well-being in relation to the

» job tasks,» equipment, and» the environment.

Ergonomics is…» a continuous improvement effort

to design the workplace for what people do well, and design against what people don’t do well.

What Is Ergonomics?Ergonomics is fitting the job to the person.

Applying Ergonomics

1. Study, research, & experimentation– Evaluate human traits/characteristics we need

to know for engineering design

2. Application & engineering– Design tools, machines, shelter, environment,

work tasks, and job procedures to fit and accommodate the human

Ergonomics

Human Machine

Work Environment

Utmost Goal: “Humanization” of Work

Design with “E & E”: Ease and Efficiency

The Basics of Ergonomics

INDUSTRIAL

ATHLETE

SKILL

WILL

COACHING

GREAT EQUIPMENT

Applications of Ergonomics

AnatomyOrthopedicsPhysiologyMedicine

PsychologySociology

Industrial EngineeringBio-Engineering

Systems EngineeringSafety EngineeringMilitary Engineering

Computer-Aided Design

AnthropometryBiomechanics

Work PhysiologyIndustrial Hygiene

ManagementLabor Relations

Human Machine Systems

Ergonomic Risk Factors

• Repetition• Awkward postures• Excessive force/Forceful exertions• Vibration• Static postures• Contact stress• Extreme temperatures

Ergonomic Risk Factors

• Repetition– Ex: Assembly Line work– Doing the same thing over

and over again Thousands of keystrokes

typing Hours of filing, day after day Stamping dozens of papers Frequent lifting Repeated motions with

computer mouse

Ergonomic Risk Factors

• Forceful exertions– Lifting heavy weights– Exerting too much force

to operate something

Ergonomic Risk FactorsAwkward postures refer to positions of the body (limbs, joints, back) that deviate significantly from the neutral position while job tasks are being

Ergonomic Risk FactorsContact Stress : results from occasional, repeated or continuous contact between sensitive body tissue and a hard or sharp object.

Static postures• Static postures (or "static

loading") refer to physical exertion in which the same posture or position is held throughout the exertion.

• Why are static postures bad? Static postures will impede the flow of blood that is needed to bring nutrients to the muscles and to carry away the waste products of muscle metabolism.

TEMPERATURE

• Cold environments impair sensory and motor function, reduced manual dexterity and accentuates symptoms

• Hot environments promote fatigue, overwhelms the body’s ability to deal with heat.

VIBRATION

• Contributes to circulatory, skeletal, and neurological impairment and fatigue

• Can be local, such as:– Use of hand tools

• Can be whole body, such as: – Riding in truck – Operating jackhammer, floor buffers...etc

FORCE + REPETITION

+ POSTURE + NO REST =

ADD IT ALL UP ---

CUMULATIVE TRAUMA

DISORDERS!!

MECHANISMS OF INJURY DEVELOPMENT

• Increased tendon length Inflammation and pain Tissue remodeling and scarring Decreased structural integrity Soft tissue and bone destruction– Sustained muscle contraction– Repetitive motions – Awkward postures

• Neurovascular disorders– Compression of nerves and arteries on hard surfaces– Vibration– Sustained muscle contraction, repetitive motion and awkward

postures

Summary

• Define ergonomics according to your understanding.

• What is “awkward posture”?• List down THREE of the ergonomic risk factors.

THE END!!