TL;DR
- Workers are exposed to constant strain in heavy industries owing to repetitive and forceful actions. This increases the risk of fatigue, MSDs, RSIs, etc. However, ergonomic assessments can help.
- Common ergonomic risks include repetitive actions, uncomfortable postures, excess force, heavy lifting, and poorly designed tools and furniture.
- Ergonomic assessments address the same by evaluating workstations, tools, and tasks in a structured manner. The goal is to ensure they are safe and comfortable for employees.
- Ergonomic evaluations are conducted through task observation, employee surveys, posture measurement, high-risk task identification, corrective changes, and monitoring.
- Some common ergonomic recommendations for workplaces include adjustable chairs, job rotation, anti-fatigue mats, adequate lighting, etc.
- Key benefits of ergonomic assessments include fewer injuries, better productivity, improved employee morale, reduced workers’ compensation costs, etc.
Unlock the Power of Ergonomic Assessments for Workplace Injury Prevention
In heavy industries, workers spend significant time reaching, lifting, pushing, and engaging in other repetitive motions that place constant strain on their bodies. Therefore, it is essential to design work environments, tasks, and tools according to ergonomic principles and to conduct ergonomic assessments periodically.
These assessments can help prevent workplace injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), fatigue, and other health complications. By prioritizing ergonomics, employees will be more comfortable and productive, ultimately resulting in improved business outcomes in the long run.
Let’s explore the importance of proactive ergonomic assessments and how they help identify risks early, adjust work processes accordingly, and prevent common injuries.
Common Ergonomic Risks at the Workplace
Ergonomic risks often develop slowly, making it challenging to detect them, even with robust safety programs. Watch out for these common hazards:
- Awkward Postures: Sitting for hours, bending at the waist, twisting, working with a flexed neck, or reaching overhead can exert stress on soft tissues and the spine.
- Repetitive Actions: When carried out continuously without sufficient variation or breaks, tasks such as assembly line work, scanning, and packaging can strain the joints, muscles, and tendons.
- Improperly Designed Tools or Furniture: Desks with uncomfortable heights, chairs that don’t offer lumbar support, or tools that are difficult to grip often compel workers to assume unnatural postures. This triggers and increases muscle strain over time.
- Heavy Lifting or Excess Force: Pulling, pushing, lifting, carrying, and other manual handling tasks are often responsible for shoulder strain and back injuries.
What Is an Ergonomic Assessment?
An ergonomic assessment is a structured method for evaluating whether workstations, tasks, and equipment are designed to facilitate natural postures and promote safe movements. The objective is to make the workplace fit for the worker, and not the other way around. This means enhancing efficiency, safety, and comfort, while reducing strain.
How Is an Ergonomic Assessment Conducted?
Here’s how an ergonomic assessment helps detect potential risks at the workplace:
- Observation of Environment and Tasks: A safety expert or ergonomist observes workers as they go about their tasks. The specialist looks for signs of strain, such as slouching, repetitive reaching, awkward wrist angles, improper lifting techniques, or excessive use of force.
- Employee Surveys or Interviews: Workers are the ones who know firsthand if an environment, tool, or task is uncomfortable or strenuous in some way. One-on-one conversations or surveys help reveal patterns of discomfort or pain points.
- Posture and Equipment Setup Measurement: Experts offering ergonomic consulting services measure the heights of desks and chairs, the size of tool grips, lighting conditions, and various body angles while employees are working. They then compare these measurements against ergonomic standards related to alignment, posture, and reach.
- Identification of Risky Tasks: Ergonomic assessment tools such as the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) are employed to identify risky tasks. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lifting equation is also widely used. Ergonomists categorize the risk level of tasks (high, medium, or low) based on factors such as force, duration, repetition, and posture.
- Corrective Change Recommendation: Ergonomic experts may recommend solutions such as adding footrests, adjusting desk height, improving lifting mechanisms, implementing job rotation, or redesigning tools.
- Solution Implementation: Generally, workers, supervisors, and HR personnel come together to carry out ergonomic improvements. It might involve the modification of work habits or the acquisition of new equipment.
- Follow-Up: After implementing changes, ensure they are effective and that employees have smoothly adjusted to the new work environment. Involve employees at every stage of ergonomic assessments to enhance their engagement and encourage proactivity regarding safety.
Also Read: 6 Workplace Injury Prevention Strategies for Your Business
Effective Ergonomic Recommendations for Your Workplace
Depending on your specific industry, the following ergonomic interventions can improve safety, worker well-being, and productivity:
- Adjustable chairs that support the arms and lumbar region
- Sit-and-stand desks that encourage movement
- Risers that allow employees to adjust the height of monitors or screens to eye level
- Mats designed to minimize fatigue for standing workstations
- Tools featuring ergonomic grips for minimal hand strain
- Lifting aids such as hoists, conveyors, and dollies
- Job rotation to minimize the stress associated with repetitive actions
- Ergonomic mice and keyboard trays
- Adequate lighting to reduce strain on eyes and neck
- Workflow layouts that are easy to understand, so there is minimal unnecessary movement
The Top Benefits of Ergonomic Assessments
Ergonomic evaluations aren’t just necessary to prevent injuries. They also boost your workforce’s well-being and the worksite’s overall performance. Some notable benefits include:
- Fewer Injuries and Lost Workdays: Ergonomic assessments reduce the possibility of musculoskeletal disorders by addressing the root causes behind them. Hence, there are fewer injuries, and workers don’t require too many days off.
- Enhanced Productivity: When employees feel comfortable, they pay better attention to tasks, work more efficiently, and make fewer mistakes. Consequently, the output goes up.
- Lower Workers’ Compensation Costs: When you prevent workplace injuries, you pay less for emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations. There are fewer workers’ compensation claims as well, and your insurance premiums stay affordable over time.
- Improved Employee Morale: A safe work environment demonstrates that you care about your employees’ protection and health. When employees feel valued, their job satisfaction, engagement, and overall morale improve. This approach also makes it easier to retain talent.
- Better Work Quality: When workers don’t experience unnecessary strain or fatigue, they can focus better and do their jobs precisely. Hence, production errors or quality issues are minimal.
- Effective Safety Compliance: Carrying out ergonomic improvements means you are taking steps to improve workplace safety proactively. And this proves your commitment towards regulatory compliance, thereby preventing citations or fines.
Also Read: Workplace Ergonomics: Tips, Benefits & Safety Guidelines for a Healthier Office
Conclusion
Ergonomic assessments are the key to building a workforce that is healthier, more engaged, and more productive. By identifying common risks early on and implementing preventive measures through ergonomic adjustments, you can prevent injuries, reduce workers’ compensation costs, and enhance business continuity.
In the long run, this enables you to boost talent retention, comply better with safety standards, avoid regulatory scrutiny, and ensure greater profitability.
Prevent Workplace Injuries Efficiently with WorkPartners USA
At WorkPartners, we share workplace injury prevention strategies that align with your industry, business type, and worksite specifics. For instance, leveraging our post-offer employment testing (POET) service helps you determine if new hires are well-suited for their job roles, which minimizes injury risks.
We also provide our partners with our unique engagement measurement software, modONE™, to assess whether employees are adequately focused on their work. If needed, you can take proactive measures to address low engagement.
Keen to learn more? Get in touch. For injury intervention, please contact us at (800) 359-5020. For any other inquiries, reach us at info@workpartnersusa.com or (651) 323-8654.
FAQs
Q1. How often should a workplace conduct ergonomic assessments?
Ans. Ideally, you should conduct these assessments at regular intervals, such as when job tasks undergo significant changes or new employees are onboarded.
Q2. What are the 5Es of injury prevention?
Ans. Engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation are the 5Es of preventing workplace injuries.
Q3. What are the 4 elements of ergonomics?
Ans. The 4 key elements encompass postural, functional, environmental, and brain-based ergonomics.
Q4. What are the main ergonomic risk factors?
Ans. Repetitive movements, awkward postures, heavy lifting, and poorly designed furniture and tools are the key risk factors.
Q5. Who completes an ergonomic assessment?
Ans. Usually, an ergonomist or safety expert conducts, completes, and monitors ergonomic assessments.
