Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of the spatial design of job requirements and worksites in relation to human physical and psychological capabilities and limitations.
Two major ergonomic considerations are the physical interaction of your employees with equipment they use on the job and the range of motion that employees have in doing their jobs.
For example, if your employees work in front of a computer all day, you'll want to make sure that their chairs are at the proper height to allow them to reach the keyboard while maintaining good posture. You'll also want to make sure that their faces are not too close to the keyboard so that their vision is not damaged by sitting too close to the monitor.
Also, if your employees have to do a great deal of typing or filing or other tasks that require that they maintain the same position or repeat the same physical motions for a long time, you'll want to make sure that they receive ample opportunity to stretch and possibly vary their tasks to avoid physical injury from the repetitive motion.
Ergonomics and OSHA. When a charge of ergonomic violation is made under the general duty clause, OSHA must show that:
- The hazard would have been recognized by you, by your industry, or through the exercise of common sense.
- You could have employed feasible corrective measures to prevent the hazardous condition.
- The violation is serious, in that the condition created by the hazard could cause death or serious injury to an employee (the likelihood of death or serious injury has no bearing).
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