Having a safe working environment is often underrated. While some jobs are more stressful than others, others are more prone to accidents and injuries than others too.
Do you work in a factory? Are you wondering how to prevent injuries, fatigue and some discomfort that comes along with your job? Then, this piece is for you.
Ergonomics is the science of the design of equipment, especially so as to reduce operator fatigue, discomfort, and injury.
Without this design in place, employees may be unnecessarily exposed to office or work-related accidents due to ergonomic injuries.
In this article, we’ve summarized everything you need to know about ergonomic injuries, the various types of the disorder, and how they can be avoided.
What is an Ergonomic Injury?
An injury is ergonomic when it's caused by risk factors associated with an individual's body posture, body mechanics, and muscle exertion in relation to their workspace and work equipment.
Almost every work equipment bears ergonomic risk factors that can influence an individual's welfare and ability to do their job. These factors include recurring strain, sustained exposure to high levels of temperature and pressure, and prolonged improper posture.
Ergonomic injuries are widely regarded to be amongst the most common occupational hazards. These injuries could be acute (short-term) or chronic discomforts sustained over a long period.
So, it is fair to say that ergonomic injuries consist of a range of disorders and disabilities.
Common Ergonomic Injuries in a Workplace
As stated earlier, ergonomic injuries cover a wide range of disorders and symptoms. However, the following injuries are more common in a work environment:
1. Lower Back Pain
This is a very common ailment among adults, and it is not limited to work environments only. It is a general belief that almost every individual will experience lower back pain at some point in their life.
In a work environment, lower back pain can cause a drop in productivity, as it can go from a minor niggling ache to a more severe issue over a short time.
Notably, lower back discomforts can be caused by excessive exertion, fatigue, deficient mechanics, and inappropriate work equipment.
2. Neck and Shoulder Injuries
The neck and shoulder are also prone to ergonomic injuries. Many individuals working in different industries are vulnerable to these injuries.
Injuries to the neck could result from several risk factors, some of which include looking up or down for long periods and improper posturing of the neck.
Meanwhile, for shoulder injuries, prolonged heavy lifting is a known leading cause.
3. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, often referred to as CTS, is a common condition amongst office and industrial workers. It is a result of inflammation of wrist muscles and tendons due to overuse or poor body mechanics.
Consequently, the inflamed muscles and tendons put undue pressure on the wrist's median nerve.
CTS often starts as a tingling sensation or numbness in the hands and fingers but as it progresses, it causes pain and weakness in the muscles.
Although women are more prone to developing it, CTS can occur in men as well, especially in individuals whose jobs require regular wrist and hand motions.
4. Epicondylitis
Epicondylitis, commonly referred to as tennis elbow, is a condition where the outer part of your arm, connecting the elbow to the tricep, becomes inflamed. It commonly affects an individual’s dominant arm.
While the name ‘epicondylitis’ might have been coined from a sports injury, it affects industrial workers who need physical exertion to carry out their duties.
5. Tendinitis
This refers to the inflammation of the tendons. Tendons are thick fibrous tissues that join muscles to the bone in the body. Tendinitis causes pain in the affected tendon, thereby making work impossible. It is a common condition amongst individuals with physically-demanding jobs.
How to Prevent Ergonomic Injuries in a Workplace
As they say, prevention is better than cure. Now we will look at how to prevent these common ergonomic injuries we've just learned about.
If you're a new employee or currently dealing with any of the listed discomforts, these preventive measures will ensure a risk-free workspace for you.
Avoid the use of faulty tools. Where necessary, you may use robotic machines to carry out your tasks. Read and abide by the safety measures in your department. And lastly, maintain good body posture.
It is worth noting that the bulk of preventing ergonomic injuries in a workplace is the responsibility of the employers.
Hence, employers must be willing to invest in proactive measures to ensure the safety of their employees. For example, by providing appropriate tools of the suitable sizes, employers can enforce proper body mechanics and good posture amongst employees. Standing desks or desk risers can also be purchased for employees to ease the pain of sedentary work.
Furthermore, assessing ergonomic risks and hazards, improving workplace monitoring, and providing practical training are other effective ways of addressing and reducing ergonomic injuries.
Final Words
Ergonomic injuries, broadly referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), are a common phenomenon in workspaces.
Aside from the discomfort they cause workers, employers also suffer direct and indirect financial losses from MSDs.
Given that ergonomic injuries are detrimental to both employers and employees, it is critical that these disorders are taken more seriously and preventive measures put in place.
