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What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the science and study of the relationship between people, their equipment, their activities and their environment. Ergonomics seeks to integrate human anatomy, physiology and engineering with the design of the workplace. The word ergonomics comes from the Greek word ‘ergon’ meaning work and ‘nomos’ meaning laws, literally meaning ‘the laws of work’. A piece of equipment is ‘ergonomic’ when it fits the individual using it, is comfortable, and is used correctly to allow people to complete work-related tasks efficiently with the greatest degree of physical ease possible.
The goal of an ergonomics program is to optimize workplace environments to match the capabilities and limitations of the human body, identify tasks that can lead to injury, in addition to providing proactive education and training to improve workplace safety and employee health.
According to Watson Wyatt Worldwide, injury prevention and health promotion programs save companies between $4.30 and $5.90 for every $1 invested.
Occupational Injuries
Ergonomics-related injuries account for 40% of all workplace injuries involving significant lost time. While statistics show the number of workplace injuries falling in recent years, the cost of such injuries continues to rise.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) uses the term Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD) to describe soft tissue disorders that are associated with risk factors such as awkward postures, force, contact pressure and repeated movements of the body. Symptoms may include pain, soreness, swelling, aching, stiffness, skin discoloration, numbness or tingling, burning, radiating pain, decreased strength and decreased movement.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMSD) is an OSHA term for soft tissue injuries that occur in the workplace including carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain, neck pain, rotator cuff injury, tendinitis, and thoracic outlet syndrome. To be considered a WRMSD, a disorder must persist for more than seven days, result in lost time, limited work and medical treatment beyond first aid.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders constitute one-third of all occupational injuries. An average injury is estimated to cost $4,000-$10,000 in direct costs and up to 10 times more in related costs such as absenteeism, retraining, lost productivity, litigation, administrative time, and employee accommodation.
Facts About Healthcare Costs and the Need for Ergonomics and Injury Prevention
The U.S. spends more dollars on healthcare than any other country in the world. By 2007, healthcare spending is projected to reach $2.1 trillion, the equivalent of 13.5% of the gross domestic product. ( Kiplinger Editors, The Kiplinger Washington Letter, 1998). Government and businesses are faced with skyrocketing insurance premiums and decreased productivity due to injury, absenteeism, illness and stress.
Ninety-five percent of the total healthcare budget is spent on diagnosis, treatment and management of illness and injury. The remaining 5% is spent on disease prevention and health promotion combined.
Seventy percent of the nation’s health care costs are related to lifestyle choices such as lack of exercise, unmanaged stress, poor nutrition, smoking, obesity and alcohol/drug abuse. (Partnership for Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics) While most people say they prefer a healthy lifestyle, many are unaware what their health risks actually are. Even when they become aware, changing habits can be challenging. Lifestyle choices have far reaching impacts on the quality of life, which in turn impacts corporate productivity and profitability.
Reallocating even a modest portion of healthcare dollars for injury prevention and health promotion has been shown to reduce health care use, moderate cost increases, reduce absence and improve work performance. To achieve this, we need to create new ways to integrate disease prevention and health promotion into medicine, business and culture.
We shall not cease from exploration
and at the end of all our exploring
will be to arrive where we started
and know the place for the first time
— T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets
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