WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?

Ergonomics and the applications of ergonomics in work injury prevention and management involve evaluating and ensuring that the work tasks, machines, tools and work environments used for work are safe, healthful and effective for human use.

The term “Ergonomics” has several definitions:

• “Ergonomics" comes from Greek root words "ergos" meaning "work" and "nomos" meaning "laws".
• Ergonomics is the study of the physical and cognitive demands of work to reduce errors and ensure a safe and productive workplace.
• Ergonomics is improving the design of jobs and work stations that have unsafe qualities or have caused injury.
• Ergonomics is controlling errors, wasted motions and identifying appropriate equipment, tools and materials in order to manage productivity and quality.
• Ergonomics is a multidisciplinary science that encompasses concepts from: engineering, human factors, physics, human physiology and anatomy, anthropometrics, biomechanics and work organization.
• "The discipline that strives to develop and assemble information on people's capacities and capabilities for use in designing jobs, products, workplaces and equipment". (NIOSH)

What is true of all of these definitions is that ergonomics uses the various factors of the science of ergonomics and how these factors relate to work demands and injury development in order to control injury risk and both prevent and manage work-related injuries. The professional involved with ergonomics and worker rehab should be familiar with the applications of ergonomics, and how ergonomics can be used in both work injury prevention and work injury management.


APPLICATIONS OF ERGONOMICS TO WORKER REHAB
The two primary applications of ergonomics to worker rehab include injury prevention and injury management. Within each subcategory are various rehab programs and services that can be performed that combine both the science and skills of ergonomics with the goal of injury prevention and injury management. Injury prevention is preventing a work-related injury, before it occurs. Injury prevention services target non-injured workers. Whereas, injury management applies the concepts of ergonomic to a worker who has already sustained a work-related injury, or is showing signs of a cumulative trauma disorder (CTD). Work injury management services target ensuring safe work activities and practices for the injured worker, in order to ensure the injury does not re-occur or become worse with continued exposure to work activities.


INJURY PREVENTION
The goal of ergonomics in injury prevention is to provide an evaluation, assessment and intervention regarding the ergonomic risk exposures and the likelihood for CTD development, in effort to prevent work-related injuries from occurring. To prevent workplace injuries, apply the concepts of how the CTDs develop with the ergonomic risk factors in order to evaluate and propose the appropriate control measures.

For example, if a job task involves high repetition; the risk factor is high repetition. The injury prevention principle is to reduce the tissue stress and allow increased blood flow to the working tissues. The control measure will be to reduce the repetition rate or work rate and/or implement more frequent rest breaks. In effect, reducing the tissue stress and allowing a better recovery phase for the working tissues, thus preventing the CTDs from developing.

Injury Prevention Programs and Services include:
*Work Injury Screening Programs.

*Employee Education Programs.

*Job Task Analysis Services.

*Onsite Ergonomic Programs.

*Providing Ergonomic Equipment.


Work Injury Screening programs:
Work injury screening programs are designed to provide a quick assessment of ergonomic and work injury risk in order to prevent work injuries from occurring. These programs are performed at the worksite and involve observing the workers perform the work tasks and physical demands of the job. The evaluator identifies potential high risk work tasks and ergonomic risk factors, and makes recommendations for further detailed ergonomic analysis, ergonomic equipment or employee training based on the observations. The work injury screening program is based on observations and does not involve actual measurement, quantification and comparison of ergonomic risk factors to industry standards.

Employee Education Programs:
The objective of an employee education program in work injury prevention is to provide education and instruction, directly to the workers, in effort to reduce tissue strain, CTDs and promote tissue recovery. Training focus can be on safe work practices, ergonomic principles, ergonomic equipment, body mechanics, lifting practices, work-rest cycles, stretching and back programs. The training program content, goals and style may need to be developed and amended for different audiences and workplaces.

Job Task Analysis Services:
The job task analysis service involves performing a methodical evaluation of the work tasks and work factors for a particular job or occupation. In injury prevention, the goal of a job task analysis is to identify ergonomic risk factors and control measures in order to prevent work injuries from occurring. The job task analysis provides an objective, detailed report of the work load, job tasks, ergonomic risk factors and recommendations for ergonomic risk control measures.

Onsite Ergonomic Programs:
Onsite ergonomics programs are performed as an ongoing injury prevention initiative at the worksite. These programs involve regular meetings, policies and procedures, documentation and formal program reassessment. The goal of onsite ergonomics programs is to reduce work-related injuries and enhance worker performance. The ergonomics program provides a structured action plan in order to accomplish this goal.

Providing Ergonomic Equipment:
This ergonomics service involves recommending or providing ergonomic equipment in order to modify workstations to more appropriate dimensions. The goal in providing ergonomic equipment is to reduce tissue strain, promote blood flow to working tissues and preventing the CTDs from occurring.

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FACTOID: According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the average amount in direct costs to be saved for each work-related injury that is prevented with the use of ergonomics services is $22,500.
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INJURY MANAGEMENT
The goal of ergonomics in injury management is to provide an evaluation, assessment and intervention regarding the ergonomic risk exposures and the likelihood for an injury to return or progress once an injured worker returns to work. Ergonomics is used in injury management once a worker has already been injured, is receiving treatment or who is returning back to work and re-exposure to the ergonomic risk factors that may have caused the original injury. By evaluating the ergonomic risk factors and the injury, the professional involved with work injury management can identify appropriate interventions that can reduce the chance for re-injury and optimize the successful return to work of the injured worker.
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FACTOID: The estimated average cost per workers' compensation claim is $43,500 (OSHA).
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Injury Management Programs and Services include:
*Return to Work Programs: work hardening/work conditioning/transitional work programs.

*Job Task Analysis Services.

*Skilled Therapy for the Injured Worker.

*Functional Capacity Evaluations.

*Providing Ergonomic Equipment.


Return to Work Programs: work hardening/work conditioning/transitional work programs:
Return to work programs are formalized, structured rehabilitation programs that focus on the goal of reconditioning the injured worker back to full/modified duty. Return to work programs can be multidisciplinary or unidisciplinary. Return to work programs can be performed in the rehabilitation clinic or at the worksite. These programs provide goal-oriented and work-specific programs that progressively prepare the injured worker for return to work. Ergonomics services and evaluations can be performed in conjunction with these programs, in order to identify and control any potential ergonomic risk factor exposures that may cause re-injury or interfere with the return to work of the injured worker.

Job Task Analysis Services:
In injury management, the goal of a job task analysis is to identify ergonomic risk factors that may interfere with an injured worker's return to work or may place the inured worker at a higher risk for re-injury. The job task analysis provides an objective, detailed report of the work load, job tasks and ergonomic risk factors. The report also provides recommendations for ergonomic risk control measures and ergonomic equipment that is suggested to reduce the exposure of the injured worker to the ergonomic risk factors and prevent re-injury from occurring.

Skilled Therapy services for the injured worker involve:
*Injury Healing.

*Restoration of function.

*Patient satisfaction.

*Return to work.

*Identification of appropriate candidates for specialized return to work programs in order to promote return to work.

Worker rehabilitation differs from standard skilled therapy by also including goals and treatment planning involving return to work. By applying concepts of ergonomics to the skilled therapy services for the injured worker, the rehabilitation professional can provide work-specific treatments and focus on the ergonomic risk factors that my have lead to the work injury. This will help the rehabilitation professional to achieve the goals of worker rehab: address the injury, prevent re-injury and return the injured worker back to work.

Functional Capacity Evaluations:
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a specialized test that evaluates an injured worker's physical, functional, behavioral and work-specific abilities for the overall purpose of determining return to work readiness. FCEs can be used in the determination of return to work, safe work activities, work level, work restrictions or Maximal Medical Improvement (MMI).

Providing Ergonomic Equipment:
The goal in providing ergonomic equipment for the injured worker is to reduce tissue strain, promote blood flow to working tissues and preventing the injury from re-occurring.

OUTCOMES OF APPLYING ERGONOMICS TO WORKER REHAB
By applying the concepts and science of ergonomics to injury prevention and the treatment of the injured worker, the rehabilitation provider or professional involved with worker rehab can:
• Prevent work injuries from occurring.
• Prevent work injuries from progressing.
• Achieve improved functional outcomes of skilled therapy services.
• Identify candidates who are appropriate for additional ergonomic programs and services.
• Enhance return to work outcomes.
• Reduce the likelihood of re-injury, when the injured worker is returned to work.

SUMMARY
Ergonomics is an effective and efficient tool for preventing and managing injuries in the workplace. Ergonomics services are another tool in the rehabilitation professional's proverbial tool box that can assist in achieving the ultimate goal of worker rehab: the successful return of the injured worker back to work, as safely, promptly and appropriately as possible.


Nicole Matoushek MPH, PT, CEES, CSHE
www.ergorehabinc.com


ErgoRehab, Inc.

More information about ErgoRehab, Inc. courses

Other articles by Nichole:

Prompt Return to Work

Injury Prevention: The Shoulder Joint

Anthropometrics and Ergonomics

The History of Ergonomics

Why Offer Return-to-Work Programs?

What is Ergonomics?

Work Injury Prevention and Management

The Cost of Work Related Injuries

Ergonomics and Work Efficiency

Functional Outcomes in Worker Rehab

Conquering Barriers in Worker Rehab

Maximizing Reimbursement in Worker Rehab

Clinical Management in Worker Rehab

Work Injury Consultants

Marketing and Selling Ergonomics and Worker Rehab Services

The Economic Burden of Workplace Injuries

Keyboard Design

Health Ergonomic Objectives

Ergonomics: Work Design Principles

Ergonomics and Muscle Fatigue

Work Modifications using Administrative Controls

Ergo Guidelines for Seating Equipment

Office Setting Ergonomics

Ergonomics: Evaluating Mouse Features

Ergonomics: Evaluating Keyboard Features

Ergo Guidelines for Input Devices

Ergo Guidelines for Office Accessories

Ergonomics/Posture Tips for Laptop Users

Laptop/ Computer Keyboard Design

Sports Medicine Approach to Industrial Rehab