Control of Ergonomic Hazards by Workplace Design, 1992 Engineering Conference Proceedings

Ergonomic hazards are receiving increasing public attention and regulatory emphasis. Researchers in occupational safety and health have judged ergonomic hazards as one of the top sources of injuries in both the traditional and non-traditional work environment. The scope of ergonomic hazards includes musculoskeletal injuries or disorders caused by repetition, excessive force, or awkward work position. This presentation will discuss the evaluation and control processes for ergonomic hazards with emphasis on equipment design and workplace layout.

Risk factors associated with repetitive motion, low back and other musculoskeletal injuries will be identified and discussed. Common tasks in the pulp and paper industry requiring repetitive motion, strength, stamina, and flexibility will be reviewed to demonstrate the task components associated with these risk factors.

The next part of the presentation will introduce evaluation methods and design criteria for standing production and maintenance work, including workplace layout and tool selection considerations. Assessment techniques will be discussed for the major categories of ergonomic hazards. These techniques will then be applied to some case studies with the results of the analyses compared to design criteria.

Control options will be presented for the correction of design problems identified in the case studies. Advantages and disadvantages of each option will be discussed, along with common approaches in implementation of designed solutions. As a result of this presentation, engineers should gain an appreciation of the contributory factors influencing ergonomic hazards and design steps to eliminate these types of injuries.