Ergonomic Awareness: Risk Factors

Risk factors (see images below)

• Bending, lifting, and reaching
• Pushing and pulling
• Awkward and static postures
• Forceful exertions

What to do

• Get ergonomic training. See Ergonomic Training Resources.
• Schedule group training. Have an ergonomic specialist present group training in your workplace, focusing on the tasks and equipment your group uses. To schedule group training:
  • You need at least 6 participants
  • E-mail your request to ehsih@ucsd.edu, including:
    • Your name
    • Department
    • Phone number and e-mail address
    • Building and room number

Images:

Bending, lifting, pushing, and pulling are risk factors for child care employees.

Standing, reaching, bending, and lifting are repeated in diaper changes throughout the day.

Awkward postures, bending, and lifting aren't child's play.

Risk factors (see images below)

Awkward postures Repetitive and prolonged activities Forceful exertions Static exertions

Contact stress Lighting Temperature Physical or emotional stress

What to do

• Get ergonomic training. See Ergonomic Training Resources.
• Read:
  • Designing Your Computer Workstation for Comfort and Productivity, an online slide show providing risk factor solutions
  • Healthy Choices for Computer Users (PDF)
  • How To Safely Lift and Carry
  • How to Set Up an Ergonomic Computer Workstation
  • Maintaining a Healthy Back
  • 3M Office Ergonomics Checklist (PDF)
• Stretch:
  • Download RSIGuard, a stretching reminder program for computer users.

Images:

Poor posture at a poorly adjusted workstation. This person is going to ache before the end of the day.

Keyboarding can cause repetitive motion, forceful and static exertions, awkward postures, and contact stress.

Awkward postures, contact stress, and glare are risk factors at a poorly designed computer workstation.

Risk factors (see images below)

Repetitive motions Forceful exertions Lifting, reaching, and bending Pushing and pulling

Awkward and static postures Standing Contact stress Temperature extremes

What to do:

• Get training. See Ergonomic Training Resources.
• Read:
  • How To Safely Lift and Carry
  • Maintaining a Healthy Back
• Schedule group training:
  • Have an ergonomic specialist present group training in your workplace, focusing on the tasks and equipment your group uses. To schedule group training:
    • You need at least 6 participants.
    • E-mail your request to ehsih@ucsd.edu, including:
      • Your name
      • Department
      • Phone number and e-mail address
      • Building and room number

Images:

Forceful exertions, repetitive motions, and awkward postures are risk factors during food preparation.

Bending, lifting, forceful exertions, and standing for long periods of time are physically demanding.

Temperature extremes, standing for long periods of time, and repetitive motions can be a recipe for discomfort.

Risk factors (see images below)

Lifting, bending, reaching Pushing and pulling Awkward postures Standing Forceful exertions

Static exertions Contact stress Repetitive motions Lighting

What to do:

• Get training. See Ergonomic Training Resources.
• Read:
  • Back Injury Prevention Guide for Healthcare Providers (PDF)
  • HealthCare Wide Hazards — Ergonomics, U.S. Department of Labor
  • How To Safely Lift and Carry
  • Maintaining a Healthy Back
  • Laboratory Ergonomics, Fisher Scientific
  • UCSD Medical Center Ergonomic Guidelines (Word file) (PDF), emphasis on factors unique to the patient care environment
• Schedule group training:
  • Have an ergonomic specialist present group training in your workplace, focusing on the tasks and equipment your group uses. To schedule group training:
    • You need at least 6 participants.
    • E-mail your request to EH&S Healthcare Safety Office, including:
      • Your name
      • Department
      • Phone number and e-mail address
      • Building and room number

Images:

Patient lifting requires careful attention to body mechanics.

Bending and lifting are risk factors for this healthcare provider.

Forceful and static exertions, awkward postures, contact stress, pushing, pulling, and repetitive motions affect this physical therapist.

Risk factors (see images below)

Repetitive motion Awkward postures Forceful exertion Static exertion

Contact stress Low temperatures Vibration Lighting

What to do:

• Get training. See Ergonomic Training Resources. 
• Read:
  • CDC Laboratory Ergonomics
  • How To Safely Lift and Carry
  • Laboratory Ergonomics: A Practical Approach for Improving Comfort in Research Environments
  • Laboratory Ergonomics, Fisher Scientific
  • Laboratory Ergonomics: Modifying Your Tools, University Health Services Tang Center, UC Berkeley
  • Maintaining a Healthy Back
  • UC Los Angeles Laboratory Ergonomics
• Schedule group training:
  • Have an ergonomic specialist present group training in your workplace, focusing on the tasks and equipment your group uses. To schedule group training:
    • You need at least 6 participants.
    • E-mail your request to ehsih@ucsd.edu, including:
      • Your name
      • Department
      • Phone number and e-mail address
      • Building and room number

Images:

Micromanipulation and dissection involve repetitive motions, and forceful and static exertion.

Risk factors for microscope users include awkward postures, eye strain, and contact stress from leaning on sharp table edges.

Risk factors for this worker include pipetting, standing, and leaning for long periods of time.

Risk factors (see images below)

Lifting, reaching, and bending Pushing and pulling Awkward and static postures

Repetitive motions Forceful exertions Contact stress

What to do:

• Get training. See Ergonomic Training Resources.
• Read:
  • Ergonomic Guidelines for Manual Material Handling (PDF), Cal/OSHA
  • How To Safely Lift and Carry
  • Maintaining a Healthy Back
• Schedule group training:
  • Have an ergonomic specialist present group training in your workplace, focusing on the tasks and equipment your group uses. To schedule group training:
    • You need at least 6 participants.
    • E-mail your request to ehsih@ucsd.edu, including:
      • Your name
      • Department
      • Phone number and e-mail address
      • Building and room number

Images:

Bending, lifting, pushing, and pulling are risk factors for shipping, receiving, and delivery employees.

Awkward postures, repetitive motions, and static and forceful exertions are involved in manifesting, tracking, and data entry activites.

Sorting involves repetitive motions, prolonged standing, awkward postures, reaching, bending, and lifting.

Risk factors (see images below)

Lifting, reaching, and bending Pushing and pulling Awkward and static postures Repetitive motions Forceful exertions

Contact stress Vibration Noise Temperature extremes

What to do:

• Get training. See Ergonomic Training Resources.
• Read:
  • Ergonomic Survival Guide for Carpenters and Framers (PDF)
  • How To Safely Lift and Carry
  • Keys to Success and Safety for the Construction Foreman: An Ergonomic Approach to Cost Reduction (PDF)
  • Maintaining a Healthy Back
• View:
  • "The Adventures of Ergoman" video, intended for custodians involved in repetitive tasks.
    • Contact EH&S Occupational Health & Hygiene, (858) 534-1075, to borrow the video.
• Schedule group training:
  • Have an ergonomic specialist present group training in your workplace, focusing on the tasks and equipment your group uses. To schedule group training:
    • You need at least 6 participants.
    • E-mail your request to ehsih@ucsd.edu, including:
      • Your name
      • Department
      • Phone number and e-mail address
      • Building and room number

Images:

Pushing, pulling, bending, gripping, and vibration are risk factors for cleaning and maintanance equipment operators.

Reaching and extending, noise, and temperature extremes are common in maintenance work.

Shop work may involve awkward postures, contact stress, static and forceful exertions, and repetitive motions.

For more information, or if you're experiencing discomfort or pain associated with your work, contact an ergonomics specialist:

• Campus, including SIO:
  • EH&S Occupational Health & Hygiene
• Hillcrest Medical Center and Thornton Hospital:
  • Janice Fletcher, (619) 543-7783

Note: This page has a friendly link that's easy to remember: http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/ergoworkstation