25-05-2012, 10:42 AM
THE ROLE OF ERGONOMICS IN WORKPLACE
ERGONOMICS IN WORKPLACE”.doc (Size: 449.5 KB / Downloads: 42)
Introduction
It is an undeniable fact that ergonomics contributes to safety and health but its role in OSH legislation is not widely appreciated and has not received consistent attention. This report attempts to discuss the extent and effect of ergonomics influence in OSH legislation. Some current issues are highlighted. The outcome of the study is to highlight the importance of ergonomics on OSH and to propose possible areas for further research.
Improving worker productivity, and occupational health and safety (OHS) are major concerns in industry, especially in developing countries. Some of the common problems are improper workplace design, ill-structured jobs, mismatch between worker abilities and job demands, adverse environment, poor human–machine system design and inappropriate management programs. This leads to workplace hazards, poor workers’ health, mechanical equipment injuries, disabilities, and in turn reduces worker productivity and product/work quality, and increases cost. Ergonomics or human factors application has been found to improve worker productivity, occupational health, safety and satisfaction. This has both direct and indirect effects on overall performance. It would, therefore, be extremely difficult to attain a company’s objectives without giving proper consideration to ergonomics.
History
Later in the 19th century, Frank and Lillian Gilbert expanded Taylor's methods of “SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT” in the early 1900s to develop "Time and Motion Studies". They aimed to improve efficiency by eliminating unnecessary steps and actions. By applying this approach, the Gilbert’s reduced the number of motions in bricklaying from 18 to 4.5, allowing bricklayers to increase their productivity from 120 to 350 bricks per hour.
In the decades since the war, ergonomics has continued to flourish and diversify. The Space Age created new human factors issues such as weightlessness and extreme G-forces. How far could environments in space be tolerated, and what effects would they have on the mind and body? The dawn of the Information Age has resulted in the new ergonomics field of human-computer interaction (HCI). Likewise, the growing demand for and competition among consumer goods and electronics has resulted in more companies including human factors in product design.
ORIGIN OF ERGONOMICS
Ergonomics is a relatively new branch of science which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1999, but relies on research carried out in many other older, established scientific areas such as engineering, physiology and psychology.
It originated in World War 2, when scientists designed advanced new and potentially improved systems without fully considering the people who would be using them. It gradually became clear that systems and products would have to be designed to take account of many human and environmental factors if they are to be used safely and effectively. This awareness of people’s requirements resulted in the discipline of ergonomics.
Ergonomics
The term ergonomics was coined from the Greek words ergon (meaning "work") and nomos (meaning "rules).So the literal meaning is "the rules of work," Ergonomics is the science of fitting the work-place conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population. The goal of ergonomics is to make the work place more comfortable and to improve both health and productivity. To meet these goals, the capabilities and limitations of workers and their tools, equipment and furniture are considered in conjunction with how they relate to particular tasks. Most people have heard of ergonomics and think it is something to do with seating or with the design of car controls and instruments. It is...but it is much more! Ergonomics is the application of scientific information concerning humans to the design of objects, systems and environment for human use. Ergonomics comes into everything which involves people. Work systems, sports and leisure, health and safety should all embody ergonomics principles if well designed.
Conclusion
Occupational hazards for workplace consist of a wide variety of possibilities, from the more obvious hazards of radiation and biologic safety issues to low-back pain and possible CTDs. It has been the intent of this article to briefly outline these possible hazards and to offer some information in a concise manner on how to avoid them in the clinical setting. Using time, distance, and appropriate shielding as well as standard or universal precautions will go a long way in reducing the more common safety concerns. Also, proper patient transfer techniques can help to reduce or eliminate low-back pain issues. CTDs are more difficult to prevent if an individual is doing the same activity during work day in and day out, but by knowing how to identify these disorders, an individual may be able to prevent them from becoming worse over time.