Ergonomics
SYNTHESIS
Ergonomics can be defined simply as the study of work. More specifically, ergonomics is the science of designing the job to fit the worker, rather than physically forcing the worker’s body to fit the job. Adapting tasks, work stations, tools, and equipment to fit the worker can help reduce physical stress on the workers body and eliminate potentially serious, disabling work related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD).
MSDs, or musculoskeletal disorders, are injuries and disorders of the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and cartilage) and nervous system. They can affect nearly all tissues, including the nerves and tendon sheaths, and most frequently involve the arms and back. Occupational safety and health professionals have called these disorders a variety of names, including cumulative trauma disorders, repeated trauma, repetitive stress injuries, and occupational overexertion syndrome. These painful and often disabling injuries generally develop gradually over weeks, months, and years. MSDs usually result from exposure to multiple risk factors that can cause or exacerbate the disorders, not from a single event or trauma such as a fall, collision, or entanglement. MSDs can cause a number of conditions, including pain, numbness, tingling, stiff joints, difficulty moving, muscle loss, and sometimes paralysis. Frequently, workers must lose time from work to recover; some never regain full health. These disorders include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, sciatica, herniated discs, and low back pain. MSDs do not include injuries resulting from slips, trips, falls, or similar accidents.
The apparel industry is generally seen as a safe place to work. Compared to other industries, there are relatively few serious accidents in apparel industries. The hazards they face are different. The major health risks in this industry do not arise from immediate, potentially fatal hazards. Instead, the risks that apparel
Ergonomics can be defined simply as the study of work. More specifically, ergonomics is the science of designing the job to fit the worker, rather than physically forcing the worker’s body to fit the job. Adapting tasks, work stations, tools, and equipment to fit the worker can help reduce physical stress on the workers body and eliminate potentially serious, disabling work related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD).
MSDs, or musculoskeletal disorders, are injuries and disorders of the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and cartilage) and nervous system. They can affect nearly all tissues, including the nerves and tendon sheaths, and most frequently involve the arms and back. Occupational safety and health professionals have called these disorders a variety of names, including cumulative trauma disorders, repeated trauma, repetitive stress injuries, and occupational overexertion syndrome. These painful and often disabling injuries generally develop gradually over weeks, months, and years. MSDs usually result from exposure to multiple risk factors that can cause or exacerbate the disorders, not from a single event or trauma such as a fall, collision, or entanglement. MSDs can cause a number of conditions, including pain, numbness, tingling, stiff joints, difficulty moving, muscle loss, and sometimes paralysis. Frequently, workers must lose time from work to recover; some never regain full health. These disorders include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, sciatica, herniated discs, and low back pain. MSDs do not include injuries resulting from slips, trips, falls, or similar accidents.
The apparel industry is generally seen as a safe place to work. Compared to other industries, there are relatively few serious accidents in apparel industries. The hazards they face are different. The major health risks in this industry do not arise from immediate, potentially fatal hazards. Instead, the risks that apparel
References: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3125.pdf http://www.iapa.ca/pdf/ergonomics_handbook.pdf