Ergonomics
Work tasks can be challenging for physical health, regardless of whether a job is performed on an assembly line, at a desk, or within a warehouse (among others). Ergonomics is the study of how to improve how a worker interacts with their environment in order to reduce injury and heighten productivity. Attention to ergonomics can reduce the likelihood of costly and common injuries like sprains, strains, and pain. These injuries may sound inconsequential, but make up one-third of workers compensation costs and can dramatically affect productivity and well-being. On this page, you’ll find resources that help workers set up their workstations, increase healthful physical activity during the workday, and learn how to perform tasks in a safe, healthy way.
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Featured Resources
Ergonomics is a 4-minute video from the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest. Join Dr. Nathan Fethke, HWC Deputy Director and Certified Ergonomist, as he provides a brief overview of ergonomics with strategies that could provide a better working experience for employees and potentially lower their risks for chronic musculoskeletal health outcomes.
The Remote Work Ergonomic Toolkit from the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest offers videos guiding remote workers on workstation setup, posture, tips on setting healthy limits at work, and more. The toolkit also includes a list of ergonomic equipment and exercises that can reduce injury and increase comfort.
Computer Workstation Ergonomics Self-Assessment Checklist is a tool from Health Links® at the Center for Health, Work & Environment that allows workers who use computers to check their own setup and posture against evidence-based practice. The goal of this self-assessment is to help you set up your workstation for optimal comfort and performance.
Ergonomics in Healthcare: A Continuing Education Program for Nurses, Nursing Assistants and Healthcare Managers is a free online course from CPH-NEW. Musculoskeletal injuries are one of the most common occupational hazards for nurses. This free program consists of six self-paced learning modules. Participants will learn to identify and reduce ergonomic hazards associated with patient handling and non-patient handling tasks. They will learn the essential components of a multi-component safe patient handling and mobility program and how to make the business case in their organization
Ergonomics is a Toolbox Talk from the Center for Work, Health, & Well-being designed to help a foreman/manager engage workers in a discussion of how to prevent overexertion injuries.
Other Resources
The Human Factors and Ergonomics ERC Webinar Series is a series of 37 webinars from COEH & California Labor Lab. Topics include general overviews like Design Considerations for the Aging Workforce (and everyone!), Aspects of Backpack Vacuum Use, Job Rotation: Considerations for Addressing Musculoskeletal Disorders, and Simple Rules for Preventing Back Injury.
Rethinking Well-being in the Evolving Workplace: A Holistic Approach Involving Technology, Ergonomics, and Work is a 59-minute webinar from CPH-NEW. In this webinar, researcher and office systems expert Michelle Robertson reviews how the new hybrid work system has impacted individuals and organizations focusing on strategies that use a work-systems perspective to promote worker well-being and performance.
Office Ergonomics 2018 is a 59-minute webinar from Center for Health, Work & Environment that offers practical tools to evaluate the work environment and practices for counteracting negative side effects of sitting. People interact with the work environment for more than half their lifespan. Ergonomic solutions utilize design and workplace interventions to better fit work to workers. This webinar covers the office environment and its adverse health effects associated with sedentary behavior, sitting and standing at work, and how to design physical activity at work.
Home Office Ergonomics Post COVID-19: Carpe Diem is a 1-hour webinar from California Labor Lab and COEH discussing how as more people work from home than ever before, and as the demand for remote work increases, workplaces continue to find optimal balance for collaborating with colleagues onsite. This presentation discusses how the pandemic changed how we work and how the home-office work balance will continue to evolve, as well as common ergonomic challenges and strategies for workplaces to find optimal balance for remote and synchronous collaboration.
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Featured Resources
Active Workplace Toolkit is a program from Oregon Healthy Workforce Center designed to help reduce sitting time at work and to provide training to help managers and supervisors better support workplace safety, health, and well-being for their employees. By reducing sedentary time and prolonged sitting at work, we can help improve worker health, safety, and well-being, reduce musculoskeletal pain, and reduce lost work time due to injury or illness. The toolkit includes training for supervisors and workers, resources, and team competition plans. This toolkit was tested by 241 call center employees across 4 organizations.
The Center for Work, Health, & Well-being offers two Toolbox Talks designed for foremen/safety managers to lead conversations regarding ergonomics and injury prevention.
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Featured Resources
Sedentary Work & Workplace Design is a 4-min video from Health Links® at the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest that covers health impacts of sedentary work, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Join this panel of experts as they discuss potential remedies.
Other Resources
Sedentary Work is a 51-minute podcast from the Oregon Healthy Workforce Center. Ryan Olson and Brad Wipfli discuss how their Total Worker Health interventions have helped decrease sedentary behavior (#sittingtime) and increase physical activity in the workplace. Dr. Olson shares insight into studying team truck drivers in the Tech4Rest study and Dr. Wipfli shares his research studying call center workers in the Active Workplace study.
