Ergonomics…A New Approach to Health, Safety and Productivity in the Workplace

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Center to Protect Workers' Rights
• Description:
  Ergonomics is becoming a popular word now. Cars are sold because of ergonomic features. Secretaries are suffering from wrist injuries because of ergonomic problems with their workstations. But what does it mean for construction workers? Ergonomics generally means trying to change the workplace to fit the worker and prevent injuries. Ergonomists, however, often focus on the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries-that is, back injuries, wrist problems, knee and shoulder injuries. This is where most of the injuries lie and most of the costs for workers compensation. About one-quarter to one-third of workplace injuries are ergonomic injuries and they represent about one-half of worker compensation costs. Each back injury, for example, is estimated to cost contractors about $9,000 in compensation and medical costs. Many workers also are being forced to retire early because they are injured or their bodies are worn out. Some construction workers can't remain on the job beyond their fifties due to the strenuous nature of their work. So, if we think of ergonomics in construction as the prevention of back injuries and other sprains and strains, it is clearly an important area for contractors and workers on which to focus. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Construction Workers Injury Prevention MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Occupational Exposure
• Series:
  CPWR - Center for Construction Research and Training Publications
• ISSN:
  0004-4245
• Publisher:
  International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  4 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055366
• Citation:
  The Asbestos Worker 1994 Spring/Summer; :14-15
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1994
• Performing Organization:
  Center to Protect Workers' Rights
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19920930
• Source Full Name:
  The Asbestos Worker
• End Date:
  19950929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7eb9b675b198ad491699930645f1eb422ee1434da7e98ce14d7ad39bda877712457da99ec72e1892f038bc525e46ca79d4e282713cf92a0e1be2a54a2f21e15b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213212/cdc_213212_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.35 MB ]