The Environmental Health and Safety office of Michigan Tech helps MTU offices and personnel identify risk factors that can contribute to the development of work-related musculoskeletal injuries and determine solutions to eliminate or reduce these risk factors.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics can be described as "fitting the task to the person". Employees often perform tasks during their jobs that expose them to potential injuries. Ergonomics involves the assessment of job tasks to identify risk factors, and then implementing engineering or administrative controls to reduce or eliminate the hazards.
Risk Factors
There are three big ergonomic risk factors: force, repetition, and posture. Other potential ergonomic risk factors include vibration, contract stress, sustained exertions, and cold temperatures. Use this fact sheet from MiOSHA to learn more. More detailed information is available from the MiOSHA Consultation and Training division online.
Force
How much you lift/push/pull. It can be mitigated through reducing the weight of the object being manipulated.
Repetition
How often you perform the task. It can be mitigated through reducing the amount of time spent doing the task.
Posture
Body position. It can be mitigated through adapting the working environment to the employee's needs.
Evaluation Tools
Students and employees of Michigan Tech can use the following tools to:
- Identify tasks that may increase the risk of injury
- Prioritize one's injury prevention efforts
- Determine whether a solution has adequately removed a hazard
Computer/Desk Office
The images below depict the differences between good and bad ergonomic set-ups for desks with computers. Please use this MiOSHA checklist to evaluate your work area.
Worksite Analysis
Please use the following tools to examine work areas and task environments for potential risk factors.