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General Workstation & Design Strategies

This document outlines 8 principles of workstation ergonomics design: 1) maintain neutral posture, 2) work in the power/comfort zone, 3) allow for movement and stretching, 4) reduce excessive force, 5) reduce excessive motions, 6) minimize contact stress, 7) reduce excessive vibration, and 8) provide adequate lighting. It discusses how following these principles can improve worker health, productivity, and cost savings for businesses. The document also provides guidance on analyzing existing workstations and implementing solutions through an 8-step process to address ergonomic issues.

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Katherine Cabrera
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162 views

General Workstation & Design Strategies

This document outlines 8 principles of workstation ergonomics design: 1) maintain neutral posture, 2) work in the power/comfort zone, 3) allow for movement and stretching, 4) reduce excessive force, 5) reduce excessive motions, 6) minimize contact stress, 7) reduce excessive vibration, and 8) provide adequate lighting. It discusses how following these principles can improve worker health, productivity, and cost savings for businesses. The document also provides guidance on analyzing existing workstations and implementing solutions through an 8-step process to address ergonomic issues.

Uploaded by

Katherine Cabrera
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GENERAL

WORKSTATION &
DESIGN STRATEGIES

Objectives
To understand the basic
ergonomics principles
To know how these principles
are applied in the workstation
design
To identify the factors to
consider in workstation design

ERGONOMICS is a scientific
discipline, which is concerned
with improving the productivity,
health, safety and comfort of
people, as well as promoting
effective interaction among
people, technology and
environment in which both must
operate.

WHY WORKPLACE
ERGONOMICS IS
IMPORTANT?
Healthy Workforce
Enhanced Productivity
Reduced Number of Sick Days
Reported
Savings

Basic Ergonomics
Principle
Principle 1. Maintain Neutral
Posture
Principle 2. Work in the Power /
Comfort Zone
Principle 3. Allow for Movement
and Stretching
Principle 4. Reduce Excessive
Force
Principle 5. Reduce Excessive
Motions

Principle 1. Maintain Neutral


Posture
Neutral postures are postures
where the body is aligned and
balanced while either sitting or
standing, placing minimal stress
on the body and keeping joints
aligned.
Neutral postures minimize the
stress applied to muscles,
tendons, nerves and bones and

The opposite of a neutral


posture is an awkward
posture. Awkward postures
move away from the neutral
posture toward the extremes in
range of motion. This puts more
stress on the workers
musculoskeletal system, is a
contributing risk factor for
Musculoskeletal Disorders

Wrist Postures

Elbow Postures

Shoulder Postures

Back Postures

Pistol grip vs. inline grip


drivers to maintain neutral
posture

Principle 2. Work in the


Power / Comfort Zone

The power zone for lifting is


close to the body, between mithigh and mid-chest height. This
zone is where the arms and back
can lift the most with the least
amount of effort.
This can also be called the hand
shake zone or comfort zone.
The principle here is that if you
can shake hands with your
work, you are minimizing

Principle 3. Allow for


Movement and Stretching
The musculoskeletal system is
often referred to as the human
bodysmovement system, andit
is designed tomove.

Working for long periods of time


in a static
position will cause your body to
fatigue. This is
what is known as static load.
For example:
Raise your hands over your head for
the next 30 minutes
Remain standing in the same
position for the next 8 hours
Write with a pencil for 60 minutes
straight

Principle 4. Reduce Excessive


Force
Excessive force is one of the primary
ergonomic risk factors. Many work tasks
require high force loads on the human
body. Muscle effort increases in
response to high force requirements
which increases fatigue and risk of an
MSD.
Eliminating excessive force
requirements will reduce worker fatigue
and the risk of MSD formation in most
workers. Using mechanical assists,

Principle 5. Reduce Excessive


Motions
Repetitive motion is another one of
the primary ergonomic risk factors.
Many work tasks and cycles are
repetitive in nature, and are
frequently controlled by hourly or
daily production targets and work
processes. High task repetition, when
combined with other risks factors
such high force and/or awkward
postures, can contribute to the
formation of MSD. A job is considered
highly repetitive if the cycle time is

Excessive or unnecessary
motions should be reduced if at
all possible. In situations where
this is not possible, it is
important to eliminate excessive
force requirements and awkward
postures.
Other control methods to
consider are Job enlargement,

Principle 6. Minimize Contact


Stress
According toOSHA, contact
stress results from continuous
contact or rubbing between hard
or sharp objects/surfaces and
sensitive body tissue, such as
soft tissue of the fingers, palms,
thighs and feet. This contact
creates localized pressure for a
small area of the body, which can
inhibit blood, nerve function, or

Principle 7. Reduce Excessive


Vibration

Multiple studies have shown


that regular and frequent
exposure to vibration can
lead to permanent adverse
health effects, which are
most likely to occur when
contact with a vibrating tool
or work process is a regular
and significant part of a
persons job.

Hand-arm vibration can cause a


range of conditions collectively
known ashand-arm vibration
syndrome (HAVS), as well as
specific diseases such as white
finger or Raynauds syndrome,
carpel tunnel syndrome and
tendinitis. Vibration syndrome
has adverse circulatory and
neural effects in the fingers. The
signs and symptoms include
numbness, pain, and blanching

Principle 8. Provide Adequate


Lighting
Poor lighting is a common problem in
the workplace that can affect a
workers comfort level and
performance. Too much or too little
light makes work difficult just
imagine trying to do your job without
sight!
Dimly lit work areas and glare can
cause eye fatigue and headaches and
improperly lit areas put workers at
greater risk for all types of injuries.

ERGONOMICS INTERVENTION
IN EXISTING DESIGN
The need for improvement
arrives when we become aware
of he problem either because the
ergonomics expert (often the
user) knows that something is
wrong or because of the
deficiencies in the performance
(concerning quality or quantity)
or simply because people may
not like what is going on.

STEPS FOR IMPROVING


A PRODUCT OR SYSTEM

#1 Become aware of the problem

#2 Analyze task and conditions


PROBLEM
SOLVED

#3 Identify problem
YES

YES

#4 State the needs and goals


#8 Check Success
#5 Select candidate solutions
#6 a Engineering
#6b Managerial
Control Control

#7 Implement Solution

This steps for improvement is not only applicable in existing


designs but also to new designs.

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