Workplace Ergonomics: A Practical Guide

Workplace ergonomics: a practical guide will be invaluable to professionals working in a wide range of environments. With an emphasis on the importance of designing to suit real people in the real world, the book covers the basics of workplace design and layout, and machine and tool use. The authors - consultant ergonomists Dr Celine McKeown and Michael Twiss - also tackle task design and work organisation, and provide an insight into how job structure plays a major part in determining whether individuals are comfortable - and healthy - at work. The book suggests pragmatic solutions to typical display screen work problems and offers sound practical guidance on the management of manual handling and its associated risks. The complex and sometimes controversial topic of upper limb disorders is explained in straightforward terms of likely causes and consequences. This illustrated book from IOSH Services uses easy-to-follow examples from a broad spectrum of workplace situations. Useful summary sections provide key points at a glance.

Table of Contents:
The design process: Those who design workplaces have a significant influence on operator well-being and performance. Errors, poor quality, near misses, general dissatisfaction and ill health can often be traced to poor workstation and equipment design. Anthropometrics: Anthropometrics deals with the physical size and shape of people. Applying anthropometric data to the design of products and workplaces can go a long way towards ensuring they will be suited to the end users. Display screen equipment work: There is a common misconception that everyday use of computers will result in a change in the quality of an individual's eyesight, or will lead to headaches, backache or possibly an upper limb disorder. Many problems could be avoided if computer users were provided with appropriate workstation equipment, and if they used this equipment properly. Hand tool design and use: Injuries occur as a result of a tool being designed solely from a 'function' perspective which ignores the effect its form can have on the user. Meeting the requirements for use is important but this does not have to be achieved at the expense of the user. Job design and work organisation: Providing workers with well-designed workstations, workplaces and equipment is not enough to ensure that they can work comfortably and safely. Job and work organisation factors also need to be carefully designed as they will determine how people relate to each other and with the production system. Manual handling: Over one third of accidents reported to enforcing authorities each year are due to manual handling of loads. The problems associated with manual handling operations are unlikely to be eliminated completely, but the risks can be reduced to minimise the possibility of injury. Upper limb disorders: The main causes of ULDs are repetition, poor posture, force and static work. In many cases, a disorder results from a combination of factors. Assessment of risks and effective action to reduce them are vital, in addition to robust reporting, diagnosis and treatment systems. Working with external ergonomists: Many organisations may not want to undertake ergonomics interventions without outside help, but it's worth working on the commissioning process to get the most out of a consultant.

Review :
'A no-nonsense introduction to the principles of workplace ergonomics... clear examples and straightforward explanations.' - Professor Peter Waterhouse, Safety and Health Practitioner. 'A very useful book... simple, straightforward.' - Health and Safety Review. 'A user-friendly approach... practical rather than theoretical or academic.' - RoSPA Safety Express.