Ergonomics: Applying What We Know

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cook TM ; Punnett, Laura ; Schneider S
• Description:
  Ergonomics is concerned with the match between job requirements and worker capabilities. It is the science of fitting the job to the worker, designing workplaces, equipment costs, and work methods that minimize the risk of injury or illness. To a lesser extent, ergonomics may deal with fitting the worker to the job through job selection and, occasionally, worker training, but this approach is generally less effective. One primary application of ergonomics to construction trades is the prevention of injuries and illnesses that affect the musculoskeletal system. These injuries and illnesses are often referred to collectively as work-related musculoskeletal disorders, or WMD. These sprains, strains, and related problems can be acute or chronic, in the latter case resulting from weeks, months, or years of accumulated microtrauma. The chronic problems are known as cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive strain injuries, or repetitive motion injuries. A distinction is often made between acute musculoskeletal injuries and chronic illnesses, although the distinction may be more illusory than real. For example, upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome are usually classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as illnesses. However, back disorders are classified by many people as injuries even though they may be preceded by long-term exposure to heavy lifting, repetitive bending, or other ergonomic exposures. Regardless of the nomenclature, work-related musculoskeletal disorders are becoming increasingly recognized as widespread and costly problems in construction and other industries. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Engineering Hearing Hearing Loss Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Mining Noise Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Construction Workers Injury Prevention MSD Musculoskeletal System Disorders Training
• ISSN:
  0885-114X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; Iowa ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  385-394
• Volume:
  10
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055261
• Citation:
  Occup Med: State of the Art Rev 1995 Apr; 10(2):385-394
• Contact Point Address:
  Scott Schneider, CIH, Center to Protect Workers' Rights, 111 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1995
• Performing Organization:
  Center to Protect Workers' Rights
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19920930
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews
• End Date:
  19950929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:576ad1c4dcf6da7639db59c5221a050a9b47ac4b873dea5cd6cf7f35dc5667d078ad8e27f46223fd7b7e9ce435e6912908c0cb35a970815e2065901f7b48584d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217604/cdc_217604_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 954.51 KB ]