Ergonomics in the Workplace: Enhancing Health and Safety

Injuries to the lower back, neck and shoulder from lifting and moving material are among the most frequent and serious injuries in the workplace.

Using proper ergonomics is one way to reduce these injuries. Ergonomics is the study of how daily tasks are performed and correcting anything that can cause pain from awkward postures, repetitive motion and poor lifting techniques. Whether you have a desk job looking at a computer screen all day, or work in a warehouse moving product, you can be at risk of feeling pain due to those postures and motions.

The first step to preventing injury is to ease into the work. Either start your daily task slowly until your muscles are loose and ready to go, or do a pre-shift warmup that can include gentle stretching of the muscles and body parts you will be using. For example, if you are working at a desk you should stretch your hands, wrists and neck through their entire range of motion to get them loose and get blood flowing to the area. If you are moving product you should stretch your back by sitting in a chair and leaning forward as far as possible. You should also stretch your hamstrings, and rotate your shoulders and neck through the entire range of motion.

A few tips to keep in mind when working at a workstation

• The monitor should be placed directly in front of the employee, not off to the side. Additionally, the top of the monitor should be at roughly forehead height to keep the screen at eye level or slightly lower.
• Shoulders should be relaxed with upper arms hanging normally at your side.
• Elbows should be bent between 90 and 120 degrees
• Torso should be vertical or slightly reclined with lumbar support.
• Thighs should be roughly parallel to the floor.
• Knees should be at the same height at the hips with feet below or slightly forward of the knees. Feet should also be flat on the floor or resting on a footstool.

When lifting and moving material, there a few things to concentrate on

• Place your feet shoulder width apart for good balance.
• Bend your knees to pick up low items, do not bend at the waist.
• Hold the object as close to your body as you can.
• Pivot your feet when you need to place something to the side; do not twist your back.
• Use mechanical devices whenever possible and when you use carts, dollies, hand trucks, etc.….push them, do not pull.
• Store items off the floor so it takes less effort to retrieve them.
• Try to avoid lifting heavy items above shoulder height.

Throughout the day you should take a break and/or vary your routine to give your muscles and joints a rest. If you’ve been sitting for a while, stand up or vice versa. If you’ve been working on something detailed with your hands, walk away for a minute to stretch them out. A little variation in those routine tasks can help prevent muscle aches and pains from harming you in the future.

For assistance on any employee safety topic please contact Ray Sullivan at (516) 306-0481 or via email at raymonds@friedlandergroup.com

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Resources: Ergonomics in the Workplace