Ergonomics Ergo – Work Nomos – Low Interaction man– work/environment Physical, psychological och organizational conditions Ewa Gustafsson Occupational.

ErgonomicsErgo – WorkNomos – Low

Interaction man– work/environment

Physical, psychological och organizational conditions

Ewa Gustafsson Occupational and Environmental Medicin, Göteborg

Physical ergonomics Temperature

Lighting

Sound level

Postures/Movements

Manual handling

InteractionHuman– task/tool

Ewa Gustafsson Arbets- och miljömedicin, Göteborg

Why ergonomics?

Optimize healthAvoid illhealth/disorders


Why do we get pain?

We use the body in a way it is not built or trained for



Work demands and level of tolerance

LoadNegative eller positive?

(Winkel, 1989)


Laboratory workers

High prevalence of complaints (pipette use)

Neck, shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, thumb

Tendon, nerve, muscle, vascular cirkulation, joint, bursa

Tiredness, tingling/numbness, burning sensation, aching

Why?Ewa Gustafsson Arbets- och miljömedicin, Göteborg

Risk factors Non-neutral postures


Risk factors Non-neutral postures

Work with hands above shoulders


Risk factors Non-neutral postures Work with hands above shoulders Static work


Static work

Dynamic

work

Risk factors Non-neutral postures Work with hands above shoulders Static work Repetitive monotonous tasks Prolonged sitting Prolonged working operations


Risk factors cont

Precision work High force Poor lighting, glare Stress Too high/Too low working demands Low control Lack of social support


How to work? Neutral positions Elbows closed to the body Vary working operations/postures Avoid prolonged sitting Take short pauses frequently

VariationEwa Gustafsson Arbets- och miljömedicin, Göteborg

Neck/shoulder

Neutral upright neck position

Elbows closed to the body

Support the arms

Lower the shoulders

Vary sitting/standing


?


Shoulders Elbows closed to the body The hands in front of you


Elbow/Forearm/Wrist

Neutral wrist

Do not grip unnecessary hard

Support the arm

Do not rotate the forearm outwards




Do notrotate the forearm outwards


The thumb

Neutral positions Minimize the force

Do not work too fast


How do you grip and push?



Optimal working height?



Sit or stand?

Computer use• Place of screen, keyboard, mouse

• Support the forearms

• Variation - sitting/standing - pauses - movements

• Lighting, reflexes, glare • Free space for the legs


How to sit?

Use of a microscope

Neutral back and neck – A slope on the seat of the chair


Support the arms

Lower the shoulders

The microscope close to the edge of the table

Frequently rest the eyes– Fix the eyes at a long distance

Adjust the chair– Standing up?

Frequently take short pauses


Work in a fume hood Adjust the chair – Standing up?

Free space for the legs

Support the arms

Equipment/material close to you

Low bottles, lab tubes, beakers

Lighting (enough? reflexes/glare?)

Take short pauses frequently

Pipetting Neutral wrist

Short pipettes and tips

Low force to plunge and eject tip

Equipment/material close to you

Low bottles, lab tubes, beakers

Adjust the chair– Standing up?

Close to the edge of the working bench


Support the arm?

Frequently take short pauses

Listen to the signals from your body


It is great to move!

Ergonomics Ergo – Work Nomos – Low Interaction man– work/environment Physical, psychological och organizational conditions Ewa Gustafsson Occupational.

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