Ergonomics 101

The science and art of fitting the work environment to the individual employee, ergonomics can be applied to most work settings, including industrial, agricultural, and office environments. The goals of any ergonomics program typically include improving employee comfort, job satisfaction and productivity, and reducing injury.

The ergonomic approach is not unlike that of other health and safety programs. It entails four major steps: 1) identifying risk factors which affect employee comfort, job satisfaction, productivity, and chance of injury; 2) identifying and implementing strategies to control or eliminate these risk factors; 3) following up to ensure that control strategies are working and that one risk factor was not traded for another; and 4) seeking continual improvement.

Computer ergonomics, the focus of "Ergonomically Speaking," involves three main risk factors: awkward and sustained postures, repetition, and contact stresses. In future columns, we will discuss in more detail some of these risk factors and explore ways to control them, beginning next month with having to reach for a mouse which is not properly located, a very common example of an awkward posture.

While attention to proper ergonomics is important in achieving a safe, healthy, happy, and productive work force, ergonomics should not be considered a cure-all. Psychosocial factors, such as good communication between employee, supervisor, and colleagues, have been identified in the literature as having a significant influence.

UC Davis takes seriously its responsibility for providing a safe and healthy work environment, including addressing ergonomic and psychosocial needs and working with individual employees to ensure they are able to work safely. In turn, employees are responsible for attending to their own health needs and for adopting safe and healthy habits so they can reach their full potential both on and off the job.

Send questions and comments about ergonomics to ergonomics@ucdavis.edu.