How to Avoid Ergonomic Hazards

Ergonomics can be defined as actions that have the potential to cause musculoskeletal disorders, creating injuries that can range from repetitive strain industry (RSI) to damaged tendons from forceful motion. Ergonomic hazards are one of the leading causes of work-related injuries, a growing concern that could be avoided if business owners address the underlying issues.

As well as risking injury among employees, ergonomic hazards pose a further threat to organizations on a wider scale. Any work-related injuries can lead to legal consequences, with workers who win any court battles being likely to be applicable for workers’ compensation. As well as compensation, medical costs, and the loss of wage to a staff member who is unable to work, the financial strain will quickly accumulate for a business, being a costly outcome following an accidental injury. Any incident is likely to become common knowledge across an organization, with employees discussing the event and creating potential fear among the team, posing the threat of the workforce becoming less productive, unhappy within their role, or looking to leave the business completely.

Common Ergonomic Hazards in The Workplace

Excessive force

Whether off the back of pulling, lifting, or pushing heavy weights, forceful motions are a main type of ergonomic hazard often overlooked by businesses. Although they can occur both inside and outside a workplace, an employee should be provided with sufficient training when expected to deal with heavy items since an incident can lead to serious consequences. One wrong move has the potential to impact blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and joints, with severity ranging from irritation to hospitalization.

Loud noise

On industrial sites, extreme noises are common as workers are surrounded by heavy goods vehicles, heavy-duty machinery, construction equipment, and large-scale operations. In addition to ongoing noises, sudden noises can often arise without prior warning and these have the potential to cause permanent hearing loss to those who were close by. 

Extreme temperatures

Workers who spend their shifts outdoors are most at risk of temperature-related hazards, but it can also have an impact on indoor workers in certain scenarios. For example, workers in extremely cold climates or those who are expected to work in refrigerated conditions are at risk of frostbite or hypothermia if the correct precautions are not taken, and those working in hot climates or around equipment that produces fire are at risk of heat stroke and burn damage.

Insufficient lighting

Lighting is a key contributor to an ergonomic workplace, with poor quality light meaning an employee’s vision is not as good as it should be within a work area. Dim lighting can lead to injury from poor vision whereas overly bright lighting can cause headaches and eye strain. Similarly, the glare from natural sunlight can also affect vision quality, with sufficient blinds and artificial lighting being required throughout the workplace.

Repetitive strain

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is one of the most common ergonomic injuries, being most common in workers who have been carrying out the same role for a large period. By repeating the same actions repeatedly, whether typing, sweeping, packing, or lifting, workers are at risk of motion injuries.

Bad posture

Being most common in office workers or those who are sat down for the duration of their shifts, poor posture can be caused by either the way an employee sits or the poor design of the chair and equipment that they must use daily. Whether it is equipment that is not designed for their body size or a setup which means their movements are not natural, prolonged exposure to these hazards can result in long-term injury. Remaining in one position for too long can also be an issue, with sedentary jobs posing the risk of increased fatigue, damage to the muscle and joints, restricted blood flow, and neck or back pain.

Heavy lifting

Back problems and muscle strain are the most common result of heavy and frequent lifting, posing even more of a threat if done incorrectly. Being a well-known cause of workplace injury, often insufficient training leads to poor-quality lifting techniques that can cause harm. Depending on the nature of a lift, the shape, weight, and distribution should all be considered.

Implementing Solutions to Ergonomic Hazards

To avoid ergonomic hazards in the workplace, these simple steps can be taken to ensure risk is kept to a minimum:

• Provide the necessary safety clothing and equipment needed for employees to carry out their duties safely.
• Provide equipment and tools which enable comfortable posture and grip among the employees required to use them.
• Use the machinery to lift and reposition heavy objects if the weight is too high to be safely lifted manually or ensure that multiple people work together to reduce exertion.
• Set up seated workspaces by the posture of the employees, preventing the need to overstretch or slump in their seats.
• Rotate duties to minimize the duration that employees are carrying out repetitive motions, reducing the likelihood of overexertion in certain postures.
• Offer regular breaks to ensure staff are always alert and can take a walk to keep their bodies moving.
• Provide sufficient training to ensure all employees know how to carry out their duties as safely as possible.