Understanding Ergonomic Hazards: Key Risks and Prevention Strategies

What are Ergonomic Hazards?

Ergonomic hazards refer to the physical conditions in the workplace that can lead to musculoskeletal injuries and disorders over time. Repetitive tasks, poor posture, and faulty workstations are just some issues that should be carefully assessed and addressed to uphold occupational safety and improve operational productivity.

The concept of ergonomics for work safety and optimization dates back to ancient civilizations, exemplified by Hippocrates’ proper surgical tool arrangement and Ramazzini’s correlation between work environments and health. The formal adoption of the term, derived from Greek words meaning work and natural law, came centuries later. By the 20th century, functional design principles were integrated into health and safety practices and regulations.

Importance of Assessing and Addressing Ergonomic Hazards

Today, ergonomic considerations are crucial across industries. Identifying, evaluating, and managing this specific category of workplace hazards is vital for the following reasons:

• Improves workplace safety – By proactively recognizing and managing ergonomic hazards, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and back pain. This results in lower absenteeism rates and reduced healthcare costs that companies must cover. Most importantly, safeguarding the workforce promotes long-term employee well-being.

• Enhances employee morale and productivity – Fostering a positive company culture through simple ergonomic changes in the workplace brings financial success to the company. A comfortable and safe working environment boosts morale among employees, enabling them to be more focused, engaged, and productive.

• Guarantees compliance with regulations – Occupational health and safety agencies all over the world mandate organizations to minimize MSD-causing hazards in the workplace. By incorporating ergonomics in the safety management system, companies can demonstrate their commitment to protecting the workforce from short and long-term harm.

Common Ergonomic Hazards in the Workplace

The first step to managing any hazard is recognizing its existence. Here are some of the most prevalent types of ergonomic hazards in the workplace:

Repetitive Motion

Performing the same movements over extended periods causes muscle strain and fatigue, increasing the likelihood of errors and reducing overall productivity. Here are some of the most common real-life ergonomic hazard examples in different sectors:

• Typing on a keyboard, often a disregarded office hazard, causes carpal tunnel syndrome, neck strains, and other MSDs

• Assembly line work

• Item scanning at the cash register

Static or Awkward Posture

Working in unnatural positions or holding the same stance for long periods results in chronic pains and long-term health issues. These are some instances to look out for:

• Improper manual handling such as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or reaching for items

• Slouching or leaning for long periods (e.g., dentists working over their patients)

• Standing on an assembly line for the whole eight-hour shift

Excessive Force or Strain

Tasks that require a significant amount of physical effort increase the risk of acute injuries and lead to chronic problems when repeated over time.

• Carrying heavy machinery or bulky cargo

• Lifting or transferring patients in healthcare

• Gripping tools too tightly

Exposure to Vibration

Exposure to oscillating movements negatively affects blood vessels, nerves, and muscles. Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and Whole Body Vibration (WBV) may lead to grave health problems like muscle numbness, loss of strength, visual disturbances, and disability.

• Frequent use of jackhammers, grinders, chainsaws, and other vibrating equipment

• Operating shaky vehicles, like dumper trucks, forklifts, and tractors

• Long-hour drives on uneven pathways or rough roads

Excessive Noise

Prolonged exposure to high-decibel sounds can cause permanent damage to the auditory system and lead to various physiological and psychological effects. Occupational noise exposure above 85 decibels for extended periods can result in hearing loss, tinnitus, increased stress levels, and reduced concentration.

• Industrial machinery and manufacturing equipment

• Construction tools like jackhammers, chainsaws, and power drills

• Heavy vehicles and equipment operations

Poorly Designed Workstation, Equipment, or Tools

Constructing work spaces without considering human engineering forces employees to work uncomfortably. Here are some examples:

• Non-adjustable office chairs and tables

• Inadequate desk spaces that can become easily cluttered

• Hand tools with poor grip design

7 Ways to Address Ergonomic Safety Hazards

Addressing ergonomic hazards requires a comprehensive approach, considering redesigning work environments, modifying tasks, and promoting healthy practices. Here are some strategies that will benefit workers, whichever industry they belong to:

1. Improve workstation design.

Enhancing the work space’s layout and components to fit the worker’s needs and natural posture is one of the most effective hazard control measures.

• Use adjustable furniture (e.g., sit-stand stations) customized to fit the worker’s body.

• Set up equipment properly (e.g., computer monitors at eye level, tools within easy reach) to avoid strain.

• Provide the right equipment, such as office chairs with lumbar support, foot pads, and keyboard trays.

2. Enhance the workplace environment.

Creating a workplace environment that supports ergonomics principles is also vital, ensuring a professional, safe, and comfortable space for employees.

• Improve lighting to reduce eye strain.

• Maintain a comfortable temperature.

• Control noise levels to reduce stress.

3. Provide ergonomics training.

The best way to encourage employees to follow ergonomic practices is by delivering various training programs on proper posture, safe work methods, and physical wellness.

• Conduct on-site demonstrations and workshops about maintaining neutral postures, proper manual handling, and setting up ergonomic workstations.

• Develop easy-to-understand manuals with visual aids.

• Provide access to health and wellness resources, such as on-site fitness facilities and gym memberships.

4. Use ergonomic tools and equipment.

Investing in comfort equipment and tools enhances overall job satisfaction, increasing efficiency and better work quality.

• Choose tools that are well-suited to the user’s physiology and task.

• Add non-slip coatings and cushioned pads to the grips and handles of tools.

• Utilize mechanical aids (e.g., lifts and hoists) to reduce manual lifting.

5. Modify tasks.

If possible, adjust the worker’s tasks based on physiology and capabilities to reduce physical strain and risk of injury.

• Automate repetitive or physically demanding workloads.

• Redesign procedures by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable segments.

6. Implement breaks and job rotation.

If modifying the worker’s responsibility isn’t practical, providing short rest periods allows employees to recover from the physical demands of their work.

• Assign different employees to work on repetitive tasks.

• Shorten the time spent on laborious activities.

• Slow down the work pace to reduce stress on the body.

7. Conduct regular ergonomic assessments.

Consistent safety evaluation is a proactive approach that helps health and safety teams ascertain the effectiveness of their solutions and identify emerging risks.

• Schedule regular walkthroughs and inspections around the job site.

• Gather feedback from the frontliners to know their needs and recommendations.

• Use digital checklists to evaluate workstations objectively.