Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.

1. Ergonomics and Equipment Designing
Make your work area more
comfortable and productive
Prepared By: Ms.Faizal Antanat Shamila
Institution: Eastern University, Sri Lanka

2. Common Risks for
Office Workers
Poor posture
– back pain
– head and neck discomfort
– shoulder, arm, hand and wrist discomfort
– leg and foot discomfort
– circulation problems
– headaches
Long duration and lack of task variety
– musculoskeletal injury and occupational overuse syndrome
Glare and lighting
– eye discomfort, eye strain and
headaches
Poor working environment
– exposure to noise, poor air quality and uncomfortable temperature.

3. Workstation Essentials
Office furniture
– Adjustable and supportive chair
– A fixed height desk with a height adjustable footrest, or, an adjustable desk
Sufficient area to enter and move about the work area
and allow for frequent changes in posture
Storage for personal items and work requirements
Work Environment
– satisfactory temperature
– not too noisy
– appropriate lighting
– good air quality
Monitor
– Top of screen is at or below eye level
– Monitor positioned to reduce glare and reflection

4. What is Ergonomics?
• Ergonomic word come from Greek word
• ERGO=“work”
• NOMICS= “rules” or “laws”
• Ergonomics literally means “the laws of work”
• Ergonomics focuses on fitting jobs and tasks to the
worker that must perform them.
• The basic definition is “the study of work in relaton to
the psychological and physiological capabilities and
limitations of people”.
• Ergonomics is used in a workplace to help prevent
repetitive and cumulative injuries.

5. • Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline
concerned with the understanding of interactions among
humans and other elements of a system, and the
profession that applies theory, principles, data and
methods to design to optimize human well-being and
overall system performance.
• Ergonomics is employed to fulfill the goals of occupational
health and safety and productivity. It is relevant in the
design of such things as safe furniture and easy-to-use
interfaces to machines and equipment.
• Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive
strain injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders, which
can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability

6. • Ergonomics is a discipline that involves
arranging the environment to fit the person in
it. When ergonomics is applied correctly in the
work environment, visual and musculoskeletal
discomfort and fatigue are reduced.

7. • To assess the fit between a person and the
used technology, human factors specialists or
ergonomists consider the job (activity) being
done and the demands on the user; the
equipment used (its size, shape, and how
appropriate it is for the task), and the
information used (how it is presented,
accessed, and changed).

8. Names of Ergonomic Injuries
• Work-related musculoskeletal disorder
(WMSD) or just “MSD”
• Repetitive stress/strain injury (RSI)
• Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD)
• Overuse disorder (OD)

9. Preventing andMinimising injuries.
• • Take short breaks hourly.• Every 5 minutes,
look away from the screen and focus your
eyes on something in the distance.• Make
sure your work station is adjusted to suit your
own requirements.• Work in a well-lit
environment.

10. Types of Injuries
Muscle pain
Joint pain
Swelling
Numbness
Restricted motion • Repetitive stress injury •
Repetitive motion injury • Cumulative trauma
disorder • Musculoskeletal disorder

11. Psychology vs Ergonomics
• The physical factors of ergonomic risk can often be easily identified
in the workplace. High forces and awkward postures can be
observed, as well as the potentially harmful effects they have on
workers (pain, WMSDs, lost time injuries). However there is
another side of ergonomics worth noting: the psychological effects.
• Psychological effects are a little more discreet but the can be costly.
Poor workstation design can lead to increased cycle times, lower
quality of work, as well as exposure to high forces and awkward
postures, thereby increasing the amount of psychological stress
placed on an individual at work. Stress can also arise from the poor
design of controls and displays that make it difficult for the operator
to interpret information. Added stress can directly influence a
worker’s behavior. Studies have shown that prolonged stress can
lead to a decrease in cognitive function and human performance.
• When assessing ergonomic risk, consider not only the physical, but
also the psychological impact on your workforce.

12. ERGONOMIC FOCUS
The Tool
The Task
The Work
Station and
Environment
The User /Operator

13. Thank You