Ergonomics
Ergonomics (or human factors) is concerned with interactions between humans and other elements of a system (e.g., the tools, equipment, products, tasks, organization, technology and environment). The profession applies theory, principles, data, methods and analysis to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. It includes the physical, psychosocial and environmental aspects of the interaction.
The goal of ergonomics is to optimize the balance between the capabilities (physical and psychosocial) of the individual and the demands required by the work environment to improve comfort, productivity & efficiency, prevent musculoskeletal injury and decrease absenteeism & employee turnover.
The UBC Ergonomics Program was established to help prevent and reduce musculoskeletal injuries, balancing between the abilities of the person and the demands of the task, equipment and environment. A key component of the Ergonomics Program is consultation with employees, safety committee members and management.
For a free ergonomic assessment contact the Health Safety & Environment office at dave.cavezza@ubc.ca.
Musculoskeletal Injury
A musculoskeletal injury (MSI), as defined by WorkSafeBC, is an injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, blood vessels or related soft tissue including a sprain, strain and inflammation, that may be caused or aggravated by work. It includes overuse injuries such as tendonitis as well as overexertion injuries such as muscle strains. It is important to report early signs and symptoms to facilitate early intervention and recovery.
Signs and Symptoms of MSI
It is important to recognize the early signs and symptoms of MSI so that you can seek treatment quickly if necessary and take steps to avoid further risks. A sign can be observed, such as:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Difficulty moving a particular body part
A symptom can be felt but cannot be observed, such as:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Pain
If you are experiencing signs and symptoms of MSI:
- Inform your supervisor
- Report to first aid
- Visit your family doctor, if necessary
Risk Factors
The factors that contribute to the risk of MSI are called risk factors. A risk factor is something that medical or scientific research indicates may cause or contribute to an injury. Two or more risk factors can be present at one time, increasing the risk of injury. It is important for workers to recognize situations when they are at risk. For example, if a worker must bend awkwardly to lift a heavy object in a cramped area, the worker will be exposed to a greater risk of MSI than one who uses a mechanical lifting device or one who has enough room to follow safe lifting procedures.
The primary risk factors for MSI are the physical demands of a task, including force required, repetition, awkward posture, duration and static load and local contact stress.
For each of these risk factors, it is important to consider duration (how long) and magnitude (how much).
Other risk factors that can affect these physical demands include:
- Layout and condition of the workplace/workstation such as a workstation that is too high or too low that creates awkward working postures
- Characteristics of objects handled; for example, an object that is slippery or has no handles may cause awkward postures and require greater force to lift
- Environmental conditions of the workplace such as cold temperatures or drafts reduce blood flow to the working hands and arms, promoting muscle fatigue
- Organization of work tasks; for example, a worker performing the same task throughout the day is at a greater risk of injury than a worker performing different tasks
- The mere presence of MSI risk factors may not in itself result in an injury. The development of an MSI is dependent on the physical demands of the task combined with the extent of exposure (duration), frequency, intensity of the activity and personal attributes of the worker.
Office Ergonomics
Why your department needs an office ergonomics representative (Office Ergo Rep):
- The Office Ergo Rep will help workers setup their computer workstations to mitigate risk factors
- Your department will have an in-house ergonomics resource person who is easily accessible to promote early intervention to reduce risk of injury. The goal of ergonomics is to optimize interactions between the individual, tasks, equipment and the environment
- Discomfort can lead to musculoskeletal injury; early intervention can prevent this
- Your Office Ergo Rep will be your department’s liaison to the Health Safety and Environment Associate
- WorkSafeBC requires that each worker to be educated about risk factors, signs and symptoms of injury and prevention strategies. At UBC, as per Safety Policy #7, it is the “responsibility of… administrative heads of unit to provide a safe, healthy and secure working environment”
If you are interested in becoming an Office Ergo Rep for your department you will need to take a training course which will provide you with the skills to assess office workstations. For course information please contact HSE Associate at 807-8821.
Last reviewed 
3/3/2011 1:54:26 PM
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