Ergonomics and Accidents
By
Ashraf Hussain
MBChB. PhD. Com. Med.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics means designing jobs, equipments, and work tasks to fit human physical
characteristics and energy limitations.
The concept of ergonomics is to “Make the work fit the person, not the person fit the work”
Benefits of Ergonomics
Include:
safer jobs with fewer injuries
increased efficiency and productivity
improved quality and fewer errors
improved morale
The International Ergonomics Association defines ergonomics or human factors as follows:
Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of
interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies
theories, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and
overall system performance.
IEA (International Ergonomics Association)
lists three broad specializations:
1. Physical ergonomics is concerned with human anatomy, and some of the
anthropometric, physiological and bio mechanical characteristics as they relate to
physical activity.
An example of its concern are the working postures, manual handling operation, repetitive
movements, work-related muskuloskeletal disorders.
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Anthropometry
Anthropometry is the science of measurement of the human body.
ensure that workers have sufficient space to perform their tasks.
They can reach necessary equipment and tools
Barriers keep them out of reach of hazards.
working postures can be optimised for the range of people using them
Ergonomic work design
This refers to the use of ergonomics to design jobs and work systems so that most of the
potential workforce can perform well.
The ultimate goal is to make it easy for quality work to be done easily without unnecessary risk
of injury or illness because of biomechanical, physiological or psychological overload.
It will therefore tend to improve the productivity of humans within a system and to reduce the
risks of harmful errors occurring.
Environmental ergonomics
In addition to the physical design of the working environment, the environment itself
(temperature, lighting, noise, etc.) can have a significant effect on the health, safety and
performance of workers. For example, elevated temperatures can impair concentration,
increasing human error and the risk of accidents, as well as creating a risk of heat-related illness.
Musculoskeletal disorders
can affect the body's muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, bones and nerves.
Most work-related MSDs develop over time and are caused either by the work itself or by the
employees' working environment.
They can also result from accidents, e.g. fractures and dislocations.
Typically, MSDs affect the back, neck, shoulders and upper limbs; less often they affect the
lower limbs.
Health problems range from discomfort, minor aches and pains, to more serious medical
conditions requiring time off work and even medical treatment.
In more chronic cases, treatment and recovery are often unsatisfactory - the result could be
permanent disability and loss of employment.
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Many problems can be prevented or greatly reduced by complying with existing safety and
health law and following guidance on good practice.
Safe work practice training:
1. Warm up and stretch before activities that are repetitive, static or prolonged.
2. Take frequent breaks from any sustained posture every 20-30 minutes
3. Avoid repetitive or prolonged grip activities.
4. Use the largest joints & muscles to do the job
5. Use 2 hands to li rather than one, even with light objects and tasks.
6. Avoid lifting while the forearm in full pronation (palm down) or supination (palm up)
7. Slide or push & pull objects instead of lifting.
8. Carry objects close to body at waist level
9. Always respect pain, change position or stop painful activity.
10. Recognize early signs of inflammatory process and treat early.
2. Cognitive ergonomics: concerned with mental processes such as perception, memory,
reasoning and motor response .
It include mental workload, decision making, skilled performance, human computer interaction,
work stress and training.
3.Organizational ergonomics It takes into account factors ranging from the design of
workstations to the scheduling of rest breaks and job rotation schedules to human resources
issues such as promotion opportunities.
occupational accident
Accident is an unexpected event or unplanned occurrence which may result in
Personal injury
Death
Property damage
Combination of serious effects
The victim may or may not be directly involved in the cause of the accident.
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occupational accident
v
occupational injury: any personal injury, disease or death resulting from an occupational
accident
v
occupational injury is therefore distinct from an occupational disease, which is a disease
contracted as a result of an exposure over a period of time to risk factors arising from
work activity
Types of Accidents
1. Fall
2. Slip
3. Slide
4. Collision
5. Eruption or explosion
6. Burns
7. Being caught in or between mechanical or other objects.
Causes and contributing factors
1. Unsafe Condi on
No safety device although needed.
Ineffective safety device.
Equipments, tools, machines defective.
Improper illuminations, ventilation and so on.
Hazards not corrected.
Inadequate instructions or roles not enforced
Causes and contributing factors
2. Unsafe acts
Poor physical condition of the worker as deafness, poor vision, extreme fatigue.
Protective equipment or guard provided but not used.
Improper tool or equipment used despite availability of proper ones.
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Hazardous method of handling (failure to watch for sharp or slippery objects and pinch points;
lifting; loose grip, etc)
Hazardous movement (running, stepping on or climbing over’ throwing, etc)
Prevention of Work Place Accidents
Prevention of accidents
Occupational risks assessment and taking action to protect workers’ safety and health is an
obligation of each employer.
There are numerous measures considered as relevant for accident prevention
1. design and use of more safe equipment and technologies or replacing
dangerous equipment and products by non-dangerous or less dangerous ones
2. improvement of working environment
3. use and maintenance of personal protective equipment
4. management and staff training
5. improvement of communication
THANKS
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