Er-Go-Nom-Ics

by Allan Kaufman, Director, The Compliance Resource Center

Er-go-nom-ics or human engineering is an applied science that coordinates Ergonomics or the design of devices, systems, and physicial working conditions with the capacities and requirements of the worker.  70% of the workers in the US think they know what the Ergonomics mean.  However, only about20% actually get it right.

 What do some experts say?  I have taken some classes with Bill Brough of Washington Ergonomics.  Bill looks at Ergonomics as an engineering problem and with and engineering solution.  The Ergonomics Society defines Ergonomics as, “Ergonomics is the appliaction of scientific information concerning humans to the design of objects, systems and environment for human use.”  Because of my Sports Medicine background, I look at it as a medical problem with an engineering and medical solution.  There is no right or wrong answers, just different approaches to the problems.

What we do know is that Ergonomic injuries occur more often then they are reported. OSHA has a four-prong guideline under the general duty clause.  The Department of Labors’s enforcement plan for Ergonomics focuses on industries and employers with known high injury and illness rates related to Ergonomic hazzards.  OSHA coordinates inspections with a legal strategy designed to target prosecutable Ergonomic violations.  Seroius Ergonomics hazards will be addressed using Section 5(a)(1) of the OSHA Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause.   Ergonomics inspection teams work closely with DOL attorneys and experts to successfully bring prosecutions uder the General Duty Clause.

The best was to understand your workplace’s Ergonomic issues is to get and Ergonomic audit.  Whether you have and office, warehouse, or manufacturing facility, Ergonomics are often a issue,  No matter how you define Er-Go-Nom-Ics, the problems can be solved.