Ergonomics Center

Ergonomics is the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, its movements, and its cognitive abilities. It is also the study of efficiency in working environments. Both definitions appear when you search for the definition of "ergonomics" online. This means that both businesses and employees benefit from ergonomic solutions. For employees, work becomes easier with less potential for injury. For businesses, employees become more efficient, which improves the business' bottom line.

Before you begin with solutions - here is some information about the problem:

• Back injuries are the leading cause of disability for people under 35 and the most expensive injury for people ages 35-50.
• 23% of workers compensation claims are for lower-back injuries.
• 87% of over-exertion injuries come from improperly handling materials.
• Workers compensation premiums pay for direct costs; but indirect costs for finding someone else to do the work, paying for the employee's downtoime before workers compensation, etc. are paid by employers. Both costs easily reach $20,000 per injury.

Click here for more information from OR-OSHA's Introduction to Ergonomics in the Workplace. This publication has information showing the impact of injuries on a business' profitability.

Ergonomic tools for jobs involving repetitive motion or sitting all day

• Ergonomic Stretch Breaks for Employees from University of Virginia
• Computer Workstation Self-Evaluation
• Recommendations for Computer Users from Cornell University
• Computer User Heaven: 8 Exercises That Spell Relief
• Easy Ergonomics
• Ergonomics in Action
• Fitting the Task to the Person
• Easy Ergonomics for Desktop Computer Users

Ergonomic information and tools to prevent back injuries or to prepare employees for physical exertion

• Lifting Guideline Tool
• Dynamic exercises - to prepare your body for physical motion
• Lifting calculator, pushing & pulling calculator, and checklists
• Push, Pull, Carry calculator
• Back Injury Prevention Guide for Health Care

Ergonomic solutions for small businesses

• Small business ergonomics: 32 examples, solutions and cost/benefit analyses

Ergonomic solutions for specific industries

• Industry-specific ergonomic tools - find your industry here
• Best practices in ergonomics for health care and manufacturing
• Ergonomic Injury Prevention in Healthcare Service
• Laboratory Workstation Evaluation Checklist
• Ergonomics Ideas Bank
• OSHA ergonomic e-tools for:
  
  • Baggage handling
  • Beverage delivery
  • Computer workstations
  • Electrical contractors
  • Grocery warehousing
  • Printing industry
  • Sewing

Measuring the cost and benefits of ergonomic changes and muscular-skeletal injuries

• Safety Pays! Calculator from OSHA analyzing the direct and indirect cost of common workplace injuries
• Ergonomics cost/benefits calculator from Washington State
• Cost benefit research showing employee efficiency improvements from ergonomic solutions