Ergonomic Risk Assessment: Benefits, Methods & Workplace Impact

Introduction

The human body is suited to a specific range of postures, and its muscles and joints can become overstressed through repetition or overextension. Unfortunately, virtually every job involves actions that can cause these types of problems. Workplace injuries are expected to some degree because it is impossible to anticipate every situation that could cause an incident. However, the science of ergonomics serves as a mitigating factor for many common injuries that could be eliminated with a straightforward assessment. Ergonomic risk assessments are conducted as a targeted examination of the occupations within a particular workplace in order to identify potential risks and develop solutions to those issues. This paper discusses the common reasons for ergonomic assessments, their benefits, why they are not performed, and what a thorough assessment should include.

The literature on this subject clearly identifies a wide range of injuries that can be attributed to poor ergonomic equipment and processes. It is important to understand that ergonomic assessments do not only examine the equipment used to perform an activity; they also examine the activity itself in order to identify better ways to carry it out. Ergonomics is therefore both an evaluation of how work is performed and of the tools required to complete a given function.

Background

For the business world, a primary concern is how much a particular event costs. To this end, many studies have focused on how much time and money is lost because of workplace injuries. According to Brandenburg and Mirka (2005), industrial engineering professors at North Carolina State University:

Reasons for Ergonomic Assessments

"The motivation for ergonomics intervention research stems from statistics of the number and cost of recordable workplace injuries and from literature that has shown that ergonomic solutions can be effective countermeasures. Repetitive motion and overexertion illnesses and injuries cost industry an estimated $13 to $20 billion, and much of this cost is attributable to lost workdays."

That is not money lost over a decade or even five years, but the cost of injuries and lost workdays per year. This significant cost to businesses demands that solutions be sought. One expert takes the economic argument to an even more personal level: "The difference between a not very good chair and a really good chair is about another $300 . . . Compared to a single injury — one carpal tunnel syndrome case can cost upward of $100,000 — that investment is trivial" (Winter, 2007). The economic cost of a single incident resulting from repetitive motion or overextension can therefore be enormous. Hospital bills, time lost due to injury, the cost of temporary replacement workers, possible legal fees, and other expenses can lead to staggering totals for firms large and small.

Beyond the economic effects of workplace injuries are the human costs. Lost time means lost expertise. Many occupations in which injuries result from lifting or carrying require a level of education that cannot easily be replaced on short notice. Nurses fall into this category because they are frequently tasked with moving patients — an activity that, due to both repetition and overextension, can cause trauma to the lower back, shoulders, legs, and arms. One study notes that "Nurses have been identified in the top ten ranked occupations for work-related musculoskeletal disorders" (Powell-Cope, Hughes, Sedlak, & Nelson, 2008). Nurses are trained in how to best transport patients without harming themselves, but real-world conditions mean they are often unable to rely on the procedures taught in the classroom. Because these types of injuries frequently require extended time away from work, many interventions have been developed that offer some relief, though nothing has been found to completely eliminate the problem.

Benefits of Ergonomic Assessments

Without question, the benefit that companies view as the primary reason to implement ergonomic assessments is the cost of not doing so. Chronic injury, which can permanently disable a worker, is another serious concern. As one researcher notes, "Employers are always faced with balancing efficiency and productivity with safety and comfort. Good ergonomic assessment and remedial design can ensure both" (Adeyemi, 2010). Employees are more satisfied at work when they believe that management treats their health as a priority and demonstrates this commitment by providing equipment that reduces the risk of injury.