Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 4:HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT FACT SHEETSFact Sheet 9: Ergonomics BackgroundWhat isergonomics?Hazards,injuries andill healthErgonomics is the study of work in relation to the environment in which it isperformed (the workplace) and those who perform it (workers). It is used todetermine how the workplace can be designed or adapted to the worker inorder to prevent a variety of health problems and to increase efficiency; inother words, to make the job fit the worker, instead of forcing the worker toconform to the job.Without the application of ergonomic principles, tools, machines,equipment and workstations are often designed without due considerationbeing given to the fact that people are of all different heights, shapes andsizes, and have different levels of strength. Women workers have sufferedparticularly in this regard.For many workers, ergonomic problems may not be high on the list ofpriority health, safety and environmental problems they face. However, thelarge and increasing numbers of agricultural workers affected by poor workdesign make ergonomic issues important.Often workers are given little choice and are forced to adapt to poorlydesigned work conditions, which can lead to serious injury to the hands,wrists, joints and back. In particular, injuries can result from: repeated use over time of vibrating tools and equipmentwhole body vibration from sitting in poorly designed tractor cabs andseatstools and tasks which require twisting hand or joint movementsapplying force in an awkward positionapplying excessive pressure on parts of the hand, back, wrists or jointsworking with the arms outstretched or over the headworking with a bent backlifting or pushing heavy loads154 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers