Ergonomics

A service with the specific objective of addressing issues that may result in causing injury and therefore preventing employees having to take sick leave.

1.2 million suffer work related musculoskeletal disorders each year (including those related to visual display units). 5000 people permanently leave the work market each year as a result of work related injury or illness. In order to prevent injury and to ensure that the employee is performing their duties efficiently and safely, the individual’s physical aspects must match the demands of the job.

What is ergonomics?

Ergonomics is a science concerned with the ‘fit’ between people and their work. To assess this ‘fit’ the following needs to be considered:
• The job being done and demands on the worker.
• The equipment used.
• The physical environment (temperature, humidity, vibration etc).

The following physical aspects of an employee should also be considered:
• Body size and shape.
• Fitness, strength and flexibility.
• Posture.
• Stresses and strains on muscles, joints and nerves.

Manual Handling
Manual handling includes any task which requires a person to lift, lower, push, pull, hold or carry any object, animal or person. Manual handling is usually a demand of work. 1.2 million suffer work related (including manual handling tasks) musculoskeletal disorders each year. 5000 people permanently leave the work market each year as a result of work related injury or illness. In order to prevent injury and to ensure that the employee is performing their duties efficiently and safely, the individual’s physical aspects must match the demands of the job.

Visual Display Unit
There are many factors regarding the incorrect set up of a person’s visual display unit work station that may lead to injuries developing that can be easily addressed some of these are seat height, sitting posture, screen position, keyboard and mouse position, poor workstation alignment/set up and positioning of the telephone.