Risk Assessment, 2nd Edition

16 Ergonomic Risk Assessment

Bruce Lyon¹ and Georgi Popov²

¹ Brown & Brown

² University of Central Missouri

OBJECTIVES

• Introduce Practical Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods
• Review Fundamental Ergonomic Risk Assessment Techniques
• Present a Model for Practical Ergonomic Risk Assessment
• Examine the Use of Techniques, their Strengthens and Limitations

16.1 Introduction

Ergonomic risk factors exist in almost all industrial and office work settings. Where there are manual tasks, ergonomic risks can generally be found; however, in many cases they are not recognized or assessed. Such risks can negatively impact employee safety and health, quality of products and services, production efficiency, employee morale and overall safety culture.

The cost of ergonomic risks can be significant. Work‐related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) or soft tissue injuries such as damage to nerves, tendons, muscles, and supporting structures, are a common health concern in the workplace. These disorders can cause fatigue, discomfort, pain, swelling, numbness or tingling, and permanent tissue damage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, WMSDs represent a third of all workplace disabling incidents in the United States. In addition, WMSDs make up over 40% of all workers’ compensation costs (Liberty Mutual) and costs US businesses $20 billion a year (U.S. Department of Labor.) These numbers indicate a need for better application of ergonomic principles in workplace and task design. Safety ...