Ergonomics is the science of designing workplaces and systems that optimise human well-being and performance. As industries advance, ergonomic principles are increasingly essential to promote employee health and productivity. Poorly designed environments can lead to discomfort, injuries, and decreased efficiency, making ergonomics a vital part of modern workspaces.

Common Ergonomic Risks

Ergonomic risks stem from workplace actions or conditions that may harm employees. These risks are physical, cognitive, or organisational and can negatively impact both workers and overall system performance. 

Key risk factors include:

• Repetitive Motion: Strain from repeated tasks can lead to fatigue and injury.
• Force Exertion: Lifting or handling heavy objects can cause biomechanical strain, leading to musculoskeletal disorders.
• Contact Stress: Prolonged interaction with hard surfaces can limit blood flow and muscle movement.
• Awkward Postures: Poor body positioning causes strain on the back, neck, and wrists.
• Fatigue and Stress: Mental and physical stress can diminish performance and lead to health issues.
• Vibration: Tools that cause vibration, like jackhammers, can damage the spine and vision.

These risks can contribute to Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULD), which affect areas like the hands, wrists, and shoulders, leading to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injuries (RSI).

Ergonomic Risk Assessments

Regular ergonomic risk assessments are crucial to maintaining a safe work environment. These assessments, conducted by trained professionals, identify, analyse, and prioritise ergonomic risks. Key steps include:

• Hazard identification
• Assessment of who may be affected
• Evaluation of the risks’ impact
• Prioritisation of actions to mitigate these risks

Assessments must be conducted every two years to ensure ongoing safety and compliance.

Medical Surveillance in Ergonomics

Medical surveillance complements ergonomic risk assessments by monitoring employee health over time, helping to identify early signs of ergonomic-related conditions.

Key aspects include:

• Initial Health Examinations: Conducted before or within 30 days of employment to establish a health baseline.
• Periodic Health Examinations: Based on ergonomic risk assessments, conducted every two years.
• Exit Health Examinations: Carried out when an employee leaves to assess any long-term impact of ergonomic risks.

These exams help track and mitigate health issues caused by workplace ergonomics.

Record-Keeping and Compliance

Employers must maintain thorough records related to ergonomics and medical surveillance to ensure compliance with safety regulations. These include:

• Training Records: Kept as long as the employee is employed.
• Ergonomics Risk Assessments: Retained for 40 years.
• Risk Control Records: Maintained for at least 3 years.
• Medical Surveillance Records: Kept for 40 years to monitor long-term health effects.
• Control Maintenance Records: Stored for 3 years.

Employers and stakeholders must also adhere to regulatory requirements, such as providing proper ergonomic training, conducting risk assessments, implementing risk controls, and maintaining accurate records.

A comprehensive approach to ergonomics, combining risk assessments, medical surveillance, and proper record-keeping, is essential to ensure workplace safety. This proactive strategy helps reduce work-related injuries, enhance employee productivity, and maintain compliance with regulations, creating healthier and more efficient work environments.