The term ‘ergonomics’ refers to the science and practice of understanding, assessing, and optimising the ways in which human workers interact with elements of a work system, including the machinery, tools, technology, and design of a workplace or workstation.
Poorly designed work systems can result in a range of injuries and conditions that adversely affect both the health and productivity of the workforce. The practice of ergonomics aims to protect workers from developing these injuries and conditions by identifying and controlling ergonomic risks in the workplace. In addition to protecting the health of workers, ergonomics improves workplace productivity.
It’s important to grasp the meaning of key terms and definitions when discussing ergonomics. The Ergonomics Regulations of the OHS Act provide the following important ergonomics definitions:
Ergonomics: “the scientific discipline concerned with the fundamental understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimise human well-being and overall system performance”.
Work system: “a system in which human participants or machines or human participants and machines perform work using information, technology and other resources to produce products or services for internal or external customers”.
Ergonomic risk: “a characteristic or action in the workplace, workplace conditions, or a combination thereof that may impair overall system performance and human well-being”.
Ergonomic risk assessment: “a programme, process or investigation to identify, analyse, evaluate and prioritise any risk from exposure to ergonomic risks associated with the workplace”.
Ergonomics can be divided into three main categories:
The goal of physical ergonomics is to prevent the development of musculoskeletal disorders by designing human-centred workstations and workspaces that maximise comfort and productivity.
In the context of office or desk work, key considerations include:
In the context of manual handling, key considerations include:
If poorly managed, the mental demands of heavy workloads can negatively impact workers, leading to mental fatigue and an increased likelihood of error.
Key considerations of cognitive ergonomics include:
The overarching goal of organisational ergonomics is to improve collaboration, efficiency, and worker well-being through the proper organisation of the entire work system.
Key considerations of organisational ergonomics include:
MSDs refers to musculoskeletal disorders, which are disorders or injuries of the muscles, tendons, joints, nerves, spinal discs, or cartilage. In the context of workplace ergonomics, MSDs are commonly caused by:
Examples of MSDs include:
MDSs tend to develop slowly over time and are a significant cause of poor worker productivity due to pain and reduced mobility. Often a result of poorly designed workstations or work systems, the risk of developing MDSs can be avoided through the use of ergonomic risk assessments, the provision of ergonomics training programmes for all employees (which is an Ergonomics Regulations compliance requirement), and the implementation of human-centred work system design.
WRULDs refers to work-related upper limb disorders. WRULDs are a group of musculoskeletal disorders of the hands, wrists, forearms, shoulders, and neck. These commonly include carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, bursitis, tendonitis, neck strain, rotator cuff syndrome, etc.
In the workplace, WRULDs are often caused by:
The Ergonomics Regulations are promulgated under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993. This regulation is applicable to all industries, including administrative offices, banking, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, construction, etc.
The overarching aim of the regulation is to protect workers from injuries and ill health associated with ergonomic risks and to improve overall productivity through the design and implementation of functional, human-centred work systems.
Importantly, the Ergonomics Regulations stipulate two essential duties of employers:
Under the Ergonomics Regulations of the OHS Act 85 of 1993, all employers in South Africa are required to provide ergonomics training for all employees and carry out ergonomics risk assessments at least once every 12 months. The DoEL is actively checking if companies and organisations are complying with the Ergonomics Regulations, and non-compliance can result in serious consequences, including non-compliance notices, fines, and imprisonment of up to 12 months.
Absolute Health Services can assist you with implementing an ergonomics training programme and carrying out ergonomic risks assessments. Contact us to discuss how we can assist you in creating a healthy, safe, and prepared working environment that meets the requirements laid out by the OHS Act.
Our comprehensive Health and Safety Guide is designed to simplify the process of implementing effective workplace safety practices. It provides clear and practical guidance to help employers, including HR and HSE managers, achieve compliance with regulations and create a safe working environment for their employees.
