The conditions in which a worker carries out his work directly influence his performance and can affect his health.
by: Dr. Paulomi Dalal (Shah)*
Ergonomics, also known as the human factor, is the scientific discipline that seeks to understand and improve human interactions with products, equipment, environments and systems. However, to put it more simply, ergonomics makes things comfortable and efficient. Here, the definition of the term 'comfort' varies from person to person. Efficiency is, in very simple terms, making something easier to do.
If the office is the place for business, then office furniture and the design of workstations is a serious task. The demand for office furniture has increased in step with the growth of the industry. There is no lack of quality or variety in the market. Local and branded items are available. And for the pockets that can afford it, there's also the imported range.
Usually in wood, laminate or metal, office desks are the main workspaces. Selecting the right ones can boost productivity.
A workstation is the place a worker occupies while performing work. The workstation can be busy all the time or it can be one of several places where work is done. A well-designed workstation is important to avoid diseases associated with poor working conditions, and to ensure that work is productive.
Each workstation must be designed with the worker and the task he or she performs in mind, so that the work can be carried out comfortably, easily and efficiently.
If the workstation is well designed, the worker may be able to maintain a correct and comfortable body posture. This is because an uncomfortable working posture can lead to various locomotor problems, such as:
* Back injuries.
* Development or aggravation of repetitive strain injuries (LER).
* Circulation problems in the legs.
* The main causes of these problems are:
* Poorly designed chairs.
* Stand for long periods.
* Having to lengthen the arms too much to reach something.
Insufficient lumination that forces the worker to bring his eyes too close to his work.
Signs and symptoms:
* Numbness or burning in the hand.
* Lower grip force in the hand.
* Swelling or stiffness in the joints.
* Pain in wrists, forearms, elbows, neck or back followed by a feeling of discomfort.
* Reduced range of motion in the shoulder, neck or back.
* Pain or tingling.
* Cramps.
* Weakness.
* Tension, stress, headaches and related ailments.
Grandjean and Burandt (1961) studied the relationship between desk height and locomotive injuries and recommended that periodic breaks, relaxation in chairs be given on the right bill with a suitable back to avoid neck and shoulder pain.
Prevention actions:
1. The worker must be able to maintain an upright posture and face the front during work.
2. Where vision is a requirement of the task, the necessary work points should be properly visible with the head and trunk upright or with the head tilted only slightly forward.
3. All work activities must allow the worker to adopt several different, but equally safe and healthy postures without reducing his ability to perform his job.
4. The work must be distributed in such a way that it can be performed, at the worker's choice, in a sitting or standing position.
5. The weight of the body, in standing position should be distributed equally on both feet, and the design of the pedals should take this into account.
6. The work should not be done consistently at or above the level of the heart; even in occasional tasks in which force is exerted above this level, it is mandatory to provide supports for the upper arms.
7. Rest breaks should be allowed for all loads experienced at work, including environmental and information loads, and the time interval between successive rest periods.
8. Work activities should be performed with the joints at the approximate midpoint of their range of motion.
9. Where muscle strength must be exerted, it must be exerted by the longest muscle groups there are and in a collinear direction with the limbs involved.
10. Where repetitive force must be exerted, it must be possible to perform it with the arm or leg, without having to adjust the equipment.
There are effective treatments and most ailments can be cured. State-of-the-art technology is a blessing for mankind in recent times. Desai et al. (2004) conducted studies on the simplification of methods and the measurement of work for some of the assembly activities with human manipulation, and concluded that ergonomics favored mood, safety, quality, productivity and therefore prosperity, and should be adopted as a way of life by human workers.
References
Bynner W., (1881 – 1968), C.F., Pascarelli, E., and Quilter, D., (1994), "Repetitive Starain Injury:, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, p. 187.
Desai, T. N. Nagarsheth, H.J., (2004), "Consideration of Ergonomics Aspects to Industrial Engineering and Development of an Industrial Workplace Layout Design", C.F., memorias (2004), Congreso Nacional sobre Humanización del Trabajo y el Entorno Laboral, Edited by De, A. TIFAC-CORE, NITIE, Bombai, p.49.
Grandjean and Burandt. (1961), C.F., Oborne, D.J., (1991), "Ergonomics at work",2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons, p. 201.
Mc. Grill, S.M., Norman, R.W., (1992). "Low back biomechanics in Industry": the prevention of injury through safer lifting. In: Crabiner M. (ed.): Current issues in Biomechanics Champaign, I L, Kinetics publishers, 69-120.
C.F. De, A. (2004), 'Musculoskeletal disorder in organized and unorganized sector of jewellery manufacturing in India', memoirs (2004), National Congress on Humanization of Work and the Working Environment (HWWE), edited by De, A. NITIE, pp. 121-129.
* Consultant in ergonomics. Eltek Systems, Mumbai, India. [email protected]. Its function is to hold consultation meetings with companies and universities on ergonomic evaluation software. His additional managerial responsibilities include tasks such as staff training as well as using the initiative to resolve related professional health risks.
