Last updated
September 16, 2009 10:39:04 AM PDT
Find out how to control ergonomic risk factors associated with your job to work safely and comfortably.
Understanding risk factors and practicing basic ergonomic principles are the first defense against possible injury and lost productivity.
Job activities involving any of the ergonomic risk factors below, either alone or in combination, may contribute to or result in an increased risk of strain and injury:
Select your job type to learn the ergonomic risk factors and what you can do about them:
Risk factors
- Bending, lifting, and reaching
- Pushing and pulling
- Awkward and static postures
- Forceful exertions
What to do
- Get training through Enrollment Central:
- Read:
- 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
Activities
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
- Awkward postures
- Repetitive and prolonged activities
- Forceful exertions
- Static exertions
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- Contact stress
- Lighting
- Temperature
- Physical or emotional stress
|
What to do
- Get training through Enrollment Central:
- Instructor-led training:
- Web-based tutorials:
- Read:
- Stretch:
- Download RSIGuard, a stretching reminder program for computer users.
Activities
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:
- 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 through Enrollment Central:
- Read:
- 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
Activities
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:
- Lifting, bending, reaching
- Pushing and pulling
- Awkward postures
- Standing
- Forceful exertions
|
- Static exertions
- Contact stress
- Repetitive motions
- Lighting
|
What to do:
- Get training through Enrollment Central:
- Read:
- 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
Activities
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:
- Repetitive motion
- Awkward postures
- Forceful exertion
- Static exertion
|
- Contact stress
- Low temperatures
- Vibration
- Lighting
|
What to do:
- Get training through Enrollment Central:
- Read:
- 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
Activities
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:
- Lifting, reaching, and bending
- Pushing and pulling
- Awkward and static postures
|
- Repetitive motions
- Forceful exertions
- Contact stress
|
What to do:
- Get training through Enrollment Central:
- Read:
- 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
Activities
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:
- 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 through Enrollment Central:
- Read:
- View:
- "The Adventures of Ergoman" video, intended for custodians involved in repetitive tasks.
- 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
Activities
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.
