Importance of Ergonomics In The Workplace

Summary

This video emphasizes the significance of ergonomics in preventing workplace injuries and enhancing productivity. It discusses the role of ergonomics in reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), the importance of good posture, and the implementation of ergonomic principles. The video also covers the responsibilities of employers in providing safe workplaces, employee programs for health promotion, and the steps to establish an ergonomic workplace health program. It concludes by encouraging viewers to apply ergonomics to prevent MSDs and improve workplace health.

Takeaways

• 📚 Ergonomics in the workplace is crucial for reducing aches and pains caused by bad posture.
• 🧍‍♂️ Standing desks, like Vita TV, are recommended for promoting better posture and reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
• 🔍 Studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the CDC aim to eliminate disorders and decrease injuries from poor posture.
• 🛠️ Ergonomic principles can be applied to workspaces, equipment, and lighting to enhance worker health.
• 🤸‍♂️ Good posture, using large muscle groups, and bending from the middle are recommended practices to reduce pain and injury.
• 🏥 Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can result from injuries to the spine, joints, nerves, and muscles, often exacerbated by the work environment.
• 📊 In 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that construction, healthcare, retail, and transportation industries had high rates of work-related MSDs.
• 🏥 WMSDs can lead to missed work or limited work capacity, affecting both employees and employers.
• 💼 Employers are responsible for providing a healthy and safe workplace, and applying ergonomic principles can benefit both parties.
• 👥 Employee programs for healthy behavior, health screenings, and mental health support are part of a comprehensive ergonomic workplace health program.
• 🔄 Implementing solutions and evaluating progress are essential steps in developing an effective ergonomic process.
• 💼 Hiring a professional ergonomics specialist can help analyze and improve the workplace for employee comfort and productivity.

Q & A

What is the main goal of ergonomics in the workplace?

The main goal of ergonomics in the workplace is to eliminate disorders, reduce stress, and decrease injuries caused by poor posture and overuse of muscles.

What are the two key organizations mentioned in the script that have conducted studies on ergonomics?

The two key organizations mentioned are the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

What are the economic principles that can help reduce risks in the workplace?

Economic principles that can help reduce risks include maintaining good posture, using large muscle groups when possible, and bending from the middle to extend the range of movement.

What are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)?

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occur when the spine, joints, nerves, and muscles are injured. Work-related MSDs (WMSDs) occur when the work environment or activities aggravate these conditions.

What are some examples of WMSDs mentioned in the script?

Examples of WMSDs include eye strain, lower back pain, tendonitis, elbow pain, rotator cuff injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sprains, strains, and tears.

Which occupations had the highest rates of WMSDs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014?

In 2014, occupations with the highest rates of WMSDs included construction, healthcare, retail, wholesale trade, transportation, and warehousing.

What are the benefits of applying ergonomic principles and reducing WMSDs in the workplace?

Applying ergonomic principles and reducing WMSDs can lead to a healthier and safer workplace, which is beneficial for both employees and employers, potentially reducing absenteeism and increasing productivity.

What are some employee programs that can be found in the workplace to promote health?

Employee programs include healthy behavior programs, health screenings for various conditions, mental health and depression screening and support programs, and immunizations.

What are the essential steps to start an ergonomic workplace health program?

Essential steps include providing management support, involving everyone, providing training, identifying problems, encouraging reporting of WMSD symptoms, implementing solutions, and evaluating progress.

Why is it important to report early symptoms of WMSDs?

Reporting symptoms early can accelerate the improvement method, help reduce or prevent the development of serious injuries, and decrease the progression of symptoms and subsequent lost work time.

Can implementing an ergonomic plan be expensive?

Implementing an ergonomic plan doesn't have to be expensive. There are many low-cost interventions that can be applied without extensive resources dedicated to employee health.

What is the potential return on investment for creating an ergonomic workplace?

The potential return on investment includes an enhanced workplace health and productivity, which can benefit both the employees' well-being and the employer's bottom line.

Outlines

00:00

💼 Ergonomics in the Workplace

This paragraph discusses the significance of ergonomics in office settings, aiming to prevent aches and pains caused by poor posture. Taylor Beatty OD emphasizes the role of ergonomics in reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) by promoting good posture and proper workspace design. It mentions studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which focus on creating healthy workspaces to decrease injuries and stress. The paragraph also covers the principles of ergonomics, such as using large muscle groups and changing positions to reduce pain. It highlights the importance of early reporting of MSD symptoms and the implementation of ergonomic solutions to enhance workplace health and productivity. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2014 is cited to show the prevalence of work-related MSDs in various industries.

05:00

🛠️ Creating an Ergonomic Workplace

The second paragraph focuses on the collaborative effort between professionals, employers, and staff to redesign the workplace for employee comfort and productivity. It suggests that implementing an ergonomic plan does not have to be costly and can be achieved with low-cost interventions. The paragraph stresses the importance of understanding ergonomics to prevent MSDs and improve workplace health. It encourages viewers to read a full post on the topic, which is linked in the description, and to engage with the content by liking the video and subscribing to the channel for updates on new content.

Keywords

💡Ergonomics

Ergonomics refers to the science of designing the physical workspace to maximize productivity by reducing fatigue and discomfort. In the video, ergonomics is central to the theme as it discusses how proper workspace design can prevent musculoskeletal disorders and improve overall health in the workplace. The script mentions that ergonomic principles can reduce risks and increase awareness of joint and muscle function.

💡Posture

Posture is the way a person holds their body while standing, sitting, or lying down. The video emphasizes the importance of good posture in preventing aches and pains in an office setting. It is directly related to the ergonomics theme as maintaining proper posture is one of the key principles of an ergonomically designed workspace.

💡Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

MSDs are injuries or disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, and other body parts that make up the body's movement system. The video discusses how poor ergonomics can lead to MSDs, such as eye strain, lower back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. These disorders are a major focus of the video as they are the primary health risks that ergonomics aims to mitigate.

💡Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs)

WMSDs are a subset of MSDs that are caused or exacerbated by work activities. The video script explains that WMSDs can occur in various industries and are a major contributor to missed work time. The prevention of WMSDs is a key goal of implementing ergonomic principles in the workplace.

💡Standing Desks

Standing desks are a type of workstation that allows users to alternate between sitting and standing. The video mentions standing desks as an example of an ergonomic solution that can help reduce the risk of developing MSDs by changing the position in which work is performed.

💡Taylor Beatty OD

Taylor Beatty OD appears to be the presenter of the video and is likely an expert in the field related to the video's content. The script does not provide a detailed definition of who Taylor Beatty OD is, but their role is to educate viewers on the importance of ergonomics in the workplace.

💡National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

NIOSH is a U.S. federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses. The video references NIOSH to establish credibility and to highlight that ergonomics is a recognized and important field of study for workplace safety.

💡Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC is a U.S. federal agency that protects public health and safety. The video mentions CDC to underscore the significance of ergonomics in maintaining a healthy workplace, as the CDC also conducts studies on the topic.

💡Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a U.S. government agency that collects, analyzes, and publishes essential statistical data related to the U.S. labor market. The video cites data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to highlight the prevalence of WMSDs in certain occupations.

💡Healthy Behavior Programs

Healthy behavior programs are initiatives aimed at promoting wellness in the workplace. The video lists these programs as part of an ergonomic workplace health program, which includes nutrition, tobacco use, physical activity, and mental health support. These programs are designed to complement ergonomic practices to create a healthier work environment.

💡Immunizations

Immunizations are a preventive health measure that involves vaccination against diseases. The video mentions immunizations as part of a comprehensive workplace health program, which includes flu and pneumonia shots to protect employees' health.

Highlights

Importance of ergonomics in the workplace to prevent aches and pains due to bad posture.

Vita TV is a standing desk resource.

Studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the CDC focus on ergonomics to reduce workplace disorders.

Ergonomics aims to eliminate disorders, reduce stress, and decrease injuries from poor posture and muscle overuse.

Workspaces, equipment, and lighting are designed to maintain health in the workplace.

Ergonomic principles can reduce pain experienced at desks.

Principles include maintaining good posture and using large muscle groups.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occur when spine, joints, nerves, and muscles are injured.

Work-related MSDs (WMSDs) are common in construction, healthcare, retail, and other industries.

WMSDs can lead to missed workdays and decreased productivity.

Employers are responsible for providing a healthy and safe workplace.

Employee programs for health promotion include nutrition, physical activity, and mental health support.

Steps to start an ergonomic workplace health program include management support and training.

Early reporting of WMSD symptoms is crucial for prevention.

Implementing solutions for WMSDs can be cost-effective.

Professional ergonomics specialists can analyze and suggest improvements for the workplace.

Applying ergonomics can prevent aches and pains, improving productivity.

Creating an ergonomic workplace health program can enhance health and productivity.

The full post on the importance of ergonomics is available for further reading.

Transcripts

for anyone who works in an office I'm

sure you've experienced some type of

aches and pains due to bad posture in

today's video I'm going to go over the

importance of ergonomics in the

workplace confused about standing desks

Vita TV is your number one standing desk

resource subscribe today see don't miss

out on any of our future content i am

taylor beatty OD comm the National

Institute for Occupational Safety and

Health and the Center for Disease

Control and Prevention have both done

Studies on economics in the office their

main goal is to eliminate disorders

reduce stress and decrease injuries that

are caused from poor posture and overuse

of muscles they design workspaces

equipment lighting and other tasks to

help keep us healthy in the workplace

ergonomics have figured out positions to

help lessen the pain that we may

experience at our desks they have found

that we can reduce risks with these

economic principles make sure to have

good posture use large muscle groups

when possible and Bend from the middle

to extend your range of movement

practicing these principles makes us

more aware of our joint and muscle

function and changing positions when

needed

musculoskeletal disorders or MSDS occur

when the spine joints nerves and muscles

are injured work-related MSDS or W MSDS

occur when the work environment or

activities aggravate the condition

some examples include eye strain lower

back pain tendonitis elbow pain rotator

cuff injuries carpal tunnel syndrome and

sprains strains and tears w MSDS affect

the muscles nerves and tendons and

increase the risk for neck injuries

nerve damage and back problems in 2014

the Bureau of Labor Statistics found

that occupations with the highest wmf

STIs included construction healthcare

retail and wholesale trade

transportation and warehousing WMS DS

are a major contributor to missed or

limited time spent at work regardless of

the industry your employer is

responsible for providing you with a

healthy and safe workplace applying

economic principles and reducing W MSDS

is going to be best for you and your

employer many workers in a variety of

occupations and industries can

experience W MSDS in the workplace

including working in awkward positions

lifting heavy loads reaching overhead

bending and performing repetitive tasks

while this can increase your risk for

injury WMS DS can be preventable this is

a list of a few employee programs that

you can frequently find in the workplace

healthy behavior programs including

nutrition tobacco use physical activity

and alcohol and substance misuse health

screening for blood pressure obesity

cancer diabetes and cholesterol mental

health and depression screening and

support programs immunizations for the

flu and pneumonia there are essential

steps that need to be taken to get an

ergonomic workplace health program

started

provide management support management is

responsible for setting goals and

objectives for the ergonomic plan

involve everyone allowing everyone to

participate provides valuable

information about the risks in the

workplace provide training having proper

training ensures proper education of the

benefits of ergonomics and the value of

reporting early symptoms of W MSDS

identify problems it is important to

recognize and evaluate economic issues

in the workplace before they result in W

MSDS

encourage reporting of W MSD symptoms

reporting symptoms early can accelerate

the improvement method and help reduce

or prevent the development of serious

injuries the progression of symptoms

and subsequent lost work time implement

solutions multiple solutions exist for

reducing controlling or eliminating

workplace MSDS evaluate progress as an

ergonomic process develops assessments

should involve deciding if the goals

have been met to help determine the

success of the ergonomic solutions you

and your employer should apply economics

in the workplace to help prevent any

aches and pains that may impact

productivity some employers may choose

to hire a professional

ergonomics specialist to analyze the

workplace and make suggestions

professionals employers and staff can

work together to redesign the workplace

to fit the employees needs putting in

place an ergonomic plan doesn't have to

be expensive

there are many low cost interventions

without extensive resources to dedicate

to employee health the end result is an

enhanced return on investment for your

health and your employer's bottom line

understanding the importance of

ergonomics is essential to preventing

musculoskeletal disorders helping your

employer create an ergonomic workplace

health program can really help your

workplace become healthy and more

productive if you want to read the full

post on the importance of ergonomics

it's linked in the description don't

forget to like this video if you found

it helpful and subscribe to our Channel

and turn on the notification bells so

you don't miss out on any of our new

content thanks for watching

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