What is an Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the science of fitting tasks to employees rather than forcing people to fit jobs to them. It focuses on creating safe, efficient, and comfortable workplaces, tools, and work duties. Because work injuries are not unavoidable, and a well-designed job should not injure you, ergonomics aims to reduce fatigue and injuries while also increasing comfort, productivity, job satisfaction, and safety.

Ergonomics is crucial since your musculoskeletal system is influenced when you're working and your body is strained by an inconvenient posture, severe temperature, or repeated movement. Symptoms such as weariness, discomfort, and pain may appear in your body, and they might be the earliest signs of a musculoskeletal issue.

What is an Ergonomic Risk Assessment?

An Ergonomic Risk Assessment (ERA) is a program, process or investigation. implemented to identify, analyze, evaluate and prioritize any risk from exposure that emerges from ergonomic risks associated with the workplace.

Ways to quantify the ergonomic risk

Some of the most used practices are mentioned below which are used in manual material handling industries or other industries.

  • Manual handling assessment charts (MAC)
  • Variable Manual Handling Assessment Charts (V-MAC)
  • Risk assessment of pushing and pulling (RAPP)
  • Assessment of repetitive tasks of the upper limbs (ART)
  • The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) 
  • Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)
  • Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) Calculator

Oohhoo... That’s a long list and continuously new theories are coming every year…

Don’t worry, our experts will guide you to select the right tool based on your workplace requirement,

We will train your team to identify & quantify ergonomic risk and train to take necessary corrective actions to reduce the risk at the ALARP level.

How can we reduce Ergonomic Risks?

Elimination & Substitution of hazards at the workplace are the most effective ways to reduce the hazard but most of these are possible in the designing phase of the workplace

Engineering Improvements. 

Engineering improvements include rearranging, modifying, redesigning, or replacing tools, equipment, workstations, packaging, parts, or products. These improvements can be very effective because they may reduce or eliminate contributing factors. (For example, if your job requires sitting for long periods of time, having an adjustable seat or footstool so that your knees are higher than your hips helps protect your lower back.)

Administrative Improvements. 

Administrative improvements include changing work practices or the way work is organized.

  • Job rotation schedule
  • Providing rest and work schedule
  • Modifying work practices based on risk
  • Ensuring good keeping and maintenance of workspaces, tools, and equipment
  • Encouraging exercise and small breaks
  • Personal Protective Equipment. 

Safety gear, or personal protective equipment (PPE), includes gloves, knee and elbow pads, footwear, and other items that employees wear.

In the whole group, small groups or pairs identify and write specific examples of the listed ergonomic risks and possible solutions for each risk.

Ergonomic Risk Assessment Expert