Ergonomic hazard

These hazards include awkward or static postures, high forces, repetitive motion, or insufficient rest breaks activities.

[1] Ergonomic hazards occur in both occupational and non-occupational settings such as workshops, building sites, offices, homes, schools, or public spaces and facilities.

Examples include twisting, reaching, pulling, lifting, bending, or any other posture that can cause pain when sustained for a prolonged period.

It is a problem because it can lead to muscle pain, fatigue, and joint issues, and increases the risk for musculoskeletal injuries.

[3] Contact stress occurs when some part of a worker's body—such as the knees, elbows, wrists, or fingers—touches or rubs up against a sharp, inflexible, or immobile surface repetitively or for a long period of time.

[4] Contact stress can also be created through pushing, gripping, pinching, pulling, and lifting objects that can place additional force on the body's joints.

Increasing these forces requires additional muscle exertion, and places greater loads on joints and connective tissues which can cause fatigue and may contribute to musculoskeletal disorders when there is inadequate time for rest and recovery.

Those working in manufacturing settings are prone to repetitive actions, awkward postures, high forces, and prolonged exposure to vibrations from equipment and tools.

[14] Specific risk factors include physical activities (pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying), bending and reaching for loads, twisting the body, and other high-intensity and energy-exerting tasks.

[15] The following tips and practices[14] can be implemented by employees and company management alike to help improve ergonomics in the manufacturing setting.

[14] Static posture Assembly line workers who stand for the duration of a shift may experience negative effects over time.

Prolonged exposure can be problematic, as it increases stress and fatigue on the muscles and joints, which over time causes pain and discomfort.

[16] Construction workers often experience backaches and pain in the shoulders, neck, arms, and hands; these symptoms often lead to musculoskeletal disorders and can cause health complications.

[16] This industry, among others, has added pressure from tight deadlines, which creates a fast-paced work environment that often results in little attention being paid to ergonomic factors.

Awkward posture For some construction jobs, stooping or kneeling is required for tasks like finishing slabs, decks, or floor coverings.

[16] Potential solutions for common ergonomic hazards include:[16] Working overhead is often required of construction employees.

Migrant farmworkers engage in various types of manual labor within the crop production sector that can lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

[17][18] WMSDs may include back, neck, shoulder, arm, hand, wrist, elbow, knee, hip, ankle, and foot injuries among farmworkers.

[19][20] Poor ergonomics can lead to increased risk for WMSDs, long-term pain, reduced productivity and work ability among farmworkers.

[19][20] Awkward posture Some farmworker jobs require bending, stooping, squatting, and kneeling to pick fruit and vegetables when working in fields and orchards.

Offering tall chairs that allow work at the level of packing lines can help alleviate some physical stress of standing for the duration of a shift.