Ergonomic Approach to Lifting

and Handling ,Workspace and

Environment
By : Zehra Azaz
Guided by : Dr. Anushree Narekuli(PT)
 Ergonomics
• ‘Ergon’-work ‘Nomos’- Law
• Ergonomics is an approach to working systems
where the main perspective is that of the
humans in those systems
• In other words, “fit the job to the person”
rather than the “person to the job.”
 Why Ergonomics Important!?
• Health and safety of the worker.
• Understanding the ergonomic problems so
that the injuries due to wrong working
practices can be prevented.
• Assessment of the ergonomics and necessary
recommendations to manage appropriate
remedies to rectify the ergonomic problems
that have been established.
• Adapting workstations, tools, equipment and
job techniques to be compatible with human
anatomy and physiology to reduce the risk of
Musculoskeletal Disorder injuries due to
Ergonomic Stressors.
 Musculoskeletal Disorder
• Injuries caused by repeated physical trauma or
exposure to a specific body part, such as the
back, hand, wrist, or forearm
• Also called repetitive strain injuries, repetitive
motion disorders, overuse syndrome and
Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs)
• Caused by Ergonomic Stressors
Repetitive Motion Workspace stressor
•Assembly Line
•Lifting • Workwworks
•Climbing pace stressor
•Painting • orkspace
•Typing wwoplace
•Tool Operations Stressors
Vibration • Workplace Stressors
•Grinders
•Sanders
•Drills
•Chisels
•Chainsaws
•Jackhammers
•Riveters
Workplace Stressors

• Excessive Force
– Lifting
– Pushing
– Pulling
– Moving Heavy Objects
Awkward Position Workplace Stressors

•Reaching under
low Shelves

•Holding object
far away from your
body

•Painting ceilings
 Conditions Aggravate with:
• Age

• Stress

• Physical Conditioning
 Biomechanics of lifting
• lifting has to be taken into consideration because of
its association with low back disorders mainly and
other Musculoskeletal disorders.
• Moments and forces on the lumbar spine come from
body-segments, movement of the trunk, and external
loading.
• These need to equilibrated by internal forces which
come from muscle contraction, resistance of soft
tissue, and pressures within the trunk cavities.
• Assessment for moments and forces on the lumbar
spine during lifting are static and dynamic models.
• One study reported 5218N of compressive force
on the L4/LS in the case of using the static model.
• When using the dynamic model, 6391 N of
compression force was required.
• Asymmetrical technique causes trunk loading
with unexpected loads is shown to be associated
with increased risk of injury
• Intra- Abdominal Pressure:
• Role of lAP -relieving stress on low backs and restricting
its to role to helping stiffening the trunk and preventing
tissue strain.
• As result of the inflated abdominal cavity because of
muscle contraction, the moment arm of the erector
spinea muscle group is lengthened and is shifted
anteriorly into the abdomen from the intervertebral
space.
• This allows the erector spinea muscles to stabilize the
trunk with less force and hence reduce spinal
compression. In addition to that, lAP makes a rigid
compartment that resists lumbar flexion and as a result
relieves stress off .
 Lifting Techniques
>Lifting Do’s and Don’ts DO…
• Know or test the object weight.
• Use ergonomic lift assists when possible.
• Plan the lift and clear your path.
• Get help for heavy or awkward loads.
• Keep the object in the power zone.
• Use a wide stance for balance.
• Use your legs to lift.
• Pivot your feet to avoid twisting
• . DON’T…
• Don’t hold your breath.
• Don’t bend or twist at the waist.
• Don’t use a partial grip (1-2 fingers)
• Don’t obstruct your vision when carrying.
• Don’t jerk or lift quickly
• Don’t pinch you fingers or toes
• Don’t pull a load if you can push it
 Types and Techniques of lift
• Basic Lift (Diagonal Lift):
• This lift is the most common method of good
lifting technique. Use the basic lift for objects
small enough to straddle where you have
enough room to use a wide stance
• Get close to the object.
• Stand with a wide stance: put one foot forward and to
the side of the object.
• Keep your back straight, push your buttocks out, and
use your legs and hips to lower yourself down to the
object.
• Move the load as close to you as possible.
• If the box has handles, grasp the handles firmly
• .Put the hand (that is on the same side of your body as
the forward foot) on the side of the object furthest
from you. Put the other hand on the side of the object
closest to you.
• Grasp the object firmly with both hands.
Prepare for the lift: look forward.
• Lift upwards following your head and
shoulders. Hold the load close to your body.
• Lift by extending your legs with your back
straight, your buttocks out, and breathe out as
you lift.
• Power Lift: Use the power lift for objects too large
for you to straddle. This lift is very similar to the
basic lift. In the power lift, the object shifts your
center of gravity forward, and you must push your
buttocks out to compensate. (Professional weight
lifters lift using this position.)
• Method
• Put one foot in front of the other using a wide
stance.
• Keep your back straight, push your buttocks out
and use your legs and hips to lower yourself down
to the object.
• Move the load as close to you as possible.
• Grasp the object firmly with both hands.
• Prepare for the lift: look forward.
• Lift upwards following your head and shoulders.
Hold the load close to your body. Lift by
extending your legs with your back straight, your
buttocks out (exaggerate this position), and
breathe out as you lift.
• Tripod Lift: Use the tripod lift for objects with
uneven weight distribution (example: sacks of
food)
• Method
• Put one foot next to the object.Keep your back
straight, push your buttocks out and slowly lower
yourself down onto one knee. (For support as you
lower yourself down, put one hand on a stool or
on your thigh for support)
• Position the object close to the knee on the ground.
• Grasp the object firmly with both hands.
• Slide the object from the knee on the ground to mid-
thigh. Keep your head forward, your back straight, and
your buttocks out, and lift the object onto the opposite
thigh.
• Put both of your forearms under the object (with your
palms facing upward) and hug the object to your stomach
and chest.
• Prepare for the lift: look forward
• Lift upwards following your head and shoulders. Hold
the load close to your body. Lift by extending your legs
with your back straight, your buttocks out, and breathe
out as you lift
Partial Squat Lift: Use the partial squat lift for
small light objects with handles close to knee
height.
Method
• Stand with the object close to your side.
• Place your feet shoulder width apart, with one
foot slightly ahead of the other.
• Place one hand on a fixed surface (such as a table
or stool) or on your thigh.
• Keep your back straight, push your buttocks out
and slowly lower yourself down to reach objects’
handles
• Prepare for the lift: grasp the object and look
forward.
• For support as you lift, push down on the
fixed surface (or on your thigh).
• Lift upwards following your head and
shoulders. Lift by extending your legs with
your back straight, your buttocks out, and
breathe out as you lift.
The Golfers’ Lift: Use the golfers’ lift for small
light objects in deep bins and to pick small
objects off the floor.
Method
• Place hand near the edge of a fixed surface (such
as the edge of a table or bin). This hand will
support your upper body during the lift.
• Keep your back straight and raise one leg
straight out behind you as you lean down to pick
up the object. The weight of your leg will
• counterbalance the weight of your upper body.
• Grasp the object firmly.
• Prepare for the lift: look forward. Keep your
leg raised as you initiate the lift.
• To lift, push down on the fixed surface as you
lower your leg. Keep your back straight and
breathe out as you lift.
Straight Leg Lift - Use the straight leg lift when
obstacles prevent you from bending your
knees. Be careful! Lifts over obstacles that
prevent you from bending your knees put you
at increased risk for muscle strain. If possible,
avoid this lift. Only use this lift when
absolutely necessary (i.e. lifting out of a
grocery cart, car trunk).
Method
• Stand as close to the object as possible with
knees slightly bent.
• Do not bend your waist! Push your buttocks out.
• If the obstacle (preventing you from bending your
knees) is stable, lean your legs against the
obstacle for support. Use your legs and hips to
lower yourself down to the object.
• Grasp the object firmly with both hands.
• Prepare for the lift: look forward.
• Lift upwards following your head and shoulders.
Hold the load close to your body. Lift by
extending your legs with your back straight, your
buttocks out (exaggerate this position), and
breathe out as you lift.
Overhead Lift - Use the overhead lift to place
objects on an overhead shelf. This lift begins
with the object in your hands. Be careful!
Overhead lifts put you at increased risk for
muscle strain. It can be difficult to maintain
balance during the lift.
Method
• Hold the object very close to your body.
• Keep feet shoulder width apart, one foot slightly
ahead of the other.
• Prepare for the lift: look forward.
• Raise the object to shelf height using the arm
and shoulder muscles. Keep the object close
to your body and breathe out as you lift.
• As you reach the shelf, slowly shift your
weight from your back foot to your forward
foot. Keep your back straight.
• When the load reaches the edge of the shelf,
push the object onto the shelf.
Pivot Technique - When you must lift an object
and then turn to carry it away, it is common to
twist the body. Twisting while lifting can
cause serious damage to the tissues of the
back. Use the pivot technique to avoid
twisting while lifting.
Method
• Lift the load using any of the previous
techniques.
• Hold the load very close to your body at waist
level.
• Turn the leading foot 90 degrees toward the
direction you want to turn.
• Bring the lagging foot next to the leading foot.
Do not twist your body!
• The NIOSH Lifting Equation is a tool used
to evaluate manual lifting tasks.

 This equation allows the user to insert the

exact conditions of the lift (e.g., height,
distance lifted, weight, position of weight
relative to body, etc.).

 This equation accounts for asymmetrical lifts

and objects that are difficult to grasp.
 Manual Handling
Manual handling has been defined as any activity
requiring the use of force exerted by a person to
lift, lower, push, pull, carry, move, hold or restrain
a person, animal or object.
•Most jobs require some handling, but about 10
percent require extensive manual materials
handling.
 What to Look for
• Manual material handling tasks may expose workers to
physical risk factors
• Awkward postures (e.g., bending, twisting)
• Repetitive motions (e.g., frequent reaching, lifting, carrying)
• Forceful exertions (e.g., carrying or lifting heavy loads)
• Pressure points (e.g., grasping [or contact from] loads,
leaning against parts or surfaces that are hard or have sharp
edges)
• • Static postures (e.g., maintaining fixed positions for a long
time)
 Improvement Options
1. Easier Ways to Manually Lift, Lower, Fill, or
Empty Containers
Consider the following options that will:
• Reduce reaching and bending.
• Reduce the stress on your back and
shoulders.
• Reduce the effort and force needed to
perform work tasks.
2. Easier Ways to Manually Carry Containers
Consider the following options that will:
• Improve your grip.
• Reduce stress on your back and shoulders.
• Reduce contact pressure on your shoulders and
hands.
• Reduce the effort and force needed to perform
work tasks.
3. Alternatives to Manual Handling of Individual
Containers
• Change the container Use a tool.
• Use non-powered equipment.
• Use powered equipment.
Guidelines for manual material handling
while performing a lift:
Use straps, tools or assist devices to grasp on
the item to be handled. A sturdy and steady
grasp is desirable to avoid being hurt.
Minimize carry, push, or pull distances.
Try to carry roughly equal amounts of
weight in each hand.
Turn or pivot the entire body instead of
twisting at the waist.
 Avoid jerking by using smooth, even motions.
 Use your legs to do the work, not the upper
body or back.
 Plan by making sure paths are clear, even-
surfaced, and free of obstructions.
 Organize your work to provide gradual
increases in exertion or pace.
 Make sure your shoes have the appropriate
soles for the surfaces in the workplace.
 Environmental Issues
IMPROPER LIGHTING
• Poor lighting makes the visual system work harder and
may lead to visual fatigue.
• symptoms of visual fatigue:
 Irritation and inflammation of the eyes and eyelids
 Blurred or double vision
 Headaches, fatigue, nausea
• Poor lighting can also lead to poor postures and such
postures will increase the fatiguing rate of the body.
 LIGHTING LEVELS
• Glare is a common complaint and is produced
by sharp contrasts between different areas in the
field of view
1. Ensuring that light fittings are shielded so that
the source of light is not visible from the
working position
2. Providing curtains or blinds so that the amount
and direction of light through windows can be
controlled
3. Arranging the room so that natural and
artificial lighting are controlled
4. Arranging the equipment so that screen is at
right angles with the window and between rows
of luminaires
5. Arranging the equipment on the work surface
so that the effects of natural and artificial
lighting are controlled and so that best use is
made of local lighting.
EXTREME TEMPERATURE
 High temperatures combined with a heavy
physical workload, high humidity or low air
speed may lead to dehydration, exhaustion and
collapse.
 The BSI (BSI 2000) suggests that a
temperature range of 20-26oC should be
acceptable for sedentary work.
 For jobs which involve high degrees of seated
work, the difference between the temperature
at floor level and that at head level should not
exceed 5oC
 Relative humidity of 40-50% will be perceived
as being the most comfortable.
AIR QUALITY (ventilation)
A deterioration in air quality, the situation of the
building and the window area are factors to
consider in deciding whether it is necessary to
have any form of forced ventilation or air-
conditioning.

EXCESSIVE NOISE
 Noise is a potential threat to hearing at levels
in excess of 85dB.
 Noisy equipment such as printers, should stand
on a surface which absorbs the sound. If the
noise cannot be controlled in this manner then
it may be necessary to use acoustic hood or
screens.
• The application of ergonomic principles in the
workplace can result in the following:
• Increased productivity,
• Improved health and safety of workers
• Lower workers' compensation claims
• Improved job satisfaction
• Increased work quality
• Lower worker turnover
• Lower lost time at work
• Improved morale of workers
• Decreased absenteeism rate
Thank you!!!!