Unit 1.

Introduction to Ergonomics

READING MATERIALS
FOR
BS in HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

Subject : ERGONOMICS AND FACILITIES PLANNING FOR

THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

UNIT 1 : INTRODUCTION TO ERGONOMICS

Ivy Grace T. Quilantang, MSBA-HRM
Prepared By :
Ria T. Monsale

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 Unit 1. Introduction to Ergonomics

MODULE OVERVIEW

The objective of this module is to give knowledge to the students on identifying

the role ergonomics in the hospitality industry. Also, the goal of this module is to create
a greater understanding of the importance of basic ergonomics principles and how to
successfully design and implement an effective ergonomics program.

LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION TO ERGONOMICS

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Defined what is Ergonomics;
2. understood the different scope of ergonomics;
3. discussed the importance of ergonomics in Hospitality Industry;
4. discuss the principles of Ergonomics;
5. identified the common risk factors of ergonomics;
6. discussed the different facilities and workstation terminology.
7. discussed the role of hospitality facilities.

INTRODUCTION
Most people have heard of ergonomics and think it is something to do with
seating or with the design of car controls and instruments – and it is… but it is so much
more. Ergonomics applies to the design of anything that involves people – workspaces,
sports and leisure, health and safety.
Ergonomics provides the guiding principles and specification according to which
tools, machines, work procedures and workplaces are designed for safe use. The
efficiency of a machine depends on the ability of the worker to control it effectively and
accurately. The fact that workers are able to operate in poorly designed workplaces

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does not mean that this is the most efficient method of production; workers should be
able to operate machines in the least stressful way.
The goal of ergonomics is to optimize the relationships between the worker, the
task and the environment, in a cost-effective manner, by modifying people’s work to be
within their capabilities. This will result in a decreased risk of injury and illness, improved
job performance and quality of work, in addition to improving the well-being of the
organization due to decreased operating costs, stable workforce and improved morale.
A task is accomplished by the interaction of the employee and the machine in a
particular workplace, which is contained in a particular environment. The workspace is
described in terms of its size and the layout of the equipment/machinery. These two
factors will have an effect on the posture of the worker and the reach distances, and
with a resultant effect on comfort and efficiency.
Many ways we work such as lifting, reaching, or repeating the same movements
may strain our bodies and lead to injuries. Ergonomics prevents these types of injuries
by fitting the job to the person using proper equipment and workplace.
Ergonomics aims to improve workspaces and environments to minimize
risk of injury or harm. So as technologies change, so too does the need to ensure
that the tools we access for work, rest and play are designed for our body’s
requirements.

ERGONOMICS: What is it?

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 Definitions
- Derived from the Greek words ‘Ergon’ meaning work and ‘nomos’ meaning
laws.
- Thus, ergonomics can be simply defined as the how workplace and
equipment can be best used and designed for comfort, safety, efficiency and
productivity.
- “Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the
understanding of the interactions among human and other elements of a
system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods
to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system
performance.”-International Ergonomics Association Executive Council,
August 2000
- Simply, ergonomics is the branch of science that deals with the people and
their working environment.
- Ergonomics is for worker safety and health and maintaining the healthy
working environment.
- It can also be understood as the study of worker in their working environment.
- Ergonomics is concerned with designing or arranging workplaces, products
and systems so that they fit the people who use them and the maximum
output can be obtained from them
- Ergonomics extends beyond the proper posture of the workers.

Why is ergonomics important?

Ergonomics is important because when you’re doing a job
and your body is stressed by an awkward posture, extreme
temperature, or repeated movement your musculoskeletal
system is affected. Your body may begin to have symptoms
such as fatigue, discomfort, and pain, which can be the first
signs of a musculoskeletal disorder

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What is a musculoskeletal disorder?

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are conditions that affect

your body’s muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
MSDs can develop over time or can occur immediately due to
overload.

The following are factors for developing an MSD:

 Force
 Heavy Lifting
 Push or Pull
 Carrying
 Gripping
 Awkward or
prolonged
postures
 Repetitive
activities
 Overhead work
 Contact stress
 Vibration
 Extreme
temperatures

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When is the work likely to result in an

injury?
• When it’s performed frequently
• When it’s performed for a long period of time
• When the work is intense
• When there is a combination of several risk

RISK FACTORS OF ERGONOMICS

 Physical Risk factors
Awkward postures. Body postures determine which joints and
muscles are used in an activity and the amount of force or
stresses that are generated or tolerated. For example, more
stress is placed on the spinal discs when lifting, lowering, or
handling objects with the back bent or twisted, compared with
when the back is straight. Manipulative or other tasks requiring
repeated or sustained bending or twisting of the wrists, knees,
hips, or shoulders also impose increased stresses on these
joints. Activities requiring frequent or prolonged work over
shoulder height can be particularly stressful.

Repetitive motions. If motions are repeated frequently (e.g.,

every few seconds) and for prolonged periods such as an 8-
hour shift, fatigue and muscle-tendon strain can accumulate.
Tendons and muscles can often recover from the effects of
stretching or forceful exertions if sufficient time is allotted
between exertions. Effects of repetitive motions from performing
the same work activities are increased when awkward postures
and forceful exertions are involved. Repetitive actions as a risk
factor can also depend on the body area and specific act being
performed.

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Contact Stresses. Repeated or continuous contact with hard or

sharp objects such as non-rounded desk edges or unpadded,
narrow tool handles may create pressure over one area of the
body (e.g., the forearm or sides of the fingers) that can inhibit
nerve function and blood flow.

Forceful exertions (including lifting, pushing, and pulling).

Tasks that require forceful exertions place higher loads on the
muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Increasing force
means increasing body demands such as greater muscle
exertion along with other physiological changes necessary to
sustain an increased effort.

Duration. Duration refers to the amount of time a person is

continually exposed to a risk factor. Job tasks that require use
of the same muscles or motions for long durations increase the
likelihood of both localized and general fatigue. In general, the
longer the period of continuous work (e.g., tasks requiring
sustained muscle contraction), the longer the recovery or rest
time required.

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Frequency. Frequency refers to how many times a person repeats a given exertion
within a given period of time. Of course, the more often the exertion is repeated, the
greater the speed of movement of the body part being exerted. Also, recovery time
decreases the more frequently an exertion is completed. And, as with duration, this
increases the likelihood of both localized and general fatigue.

Vibration. Exposure to local vibration occurs when a specific

part of the body comes in contact with a vibrating object, such
as a power handtool. Exposure to whole-body vibration can
occur while standing or sitting in vibrating environments or
objects, such as when operating heavy-duty vehicles or large
machinery.

Other conditions. Workplace conditions that can influence the presence and
magnitude of the risk factors for MSDs can include:
 cold temperatures,
 insufficient pauses and rest breaks for recovery,
 machine paced work, and
 unfamiliar or unaccustomed work

 Psychosocial Risk Factors

In addition to the above conditions, other aspects of work may not only contribute
to physical stress but psychological stress as well. As long as we believe we have
adequate control over all aspects of our job, we may experience normal (positive)
stress. However, if we believe we have little control over job demands, we may suffer
from abnormal (negative) distress with accompanying ill health and possible irrational
behaviors. Under distress, the probability of an injury or illness increases.

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What are the advantages of ergonomics?

1. Increased savings
 Fewer injuries
 More productive and sustainable employees •
 Fewer workers’ compensation claims
- The average direct cost of a workers compensation claim for an MSD is
$14,120 (Oregon OSHA 2007)
- The indirect costs involved bring the total average claim cost to well over
$32,000
2. Fewer employees experiencing pain
 Implementing ergonomic improvements can reduce the risk factors that lead to
discomfort.
3. Increased productivity
 Best ergonomic solution enhances the productivity
 Ergonomic reduces the unwanted tension, awkward position of the body.
 Ergonomic is focused in making the work your easier and comfortable; this
thereby reduces any kind of stress, risk and enhances the satisfaction and
productivity.
4. Increased morale
 Attention to ergonomics can make employees feel valued because they know
their employer is making their workplace safer.
5. Reduced absenteeism
 Ergonomics leads to healthy and pain-free workers who are more likely to be
engaged and productive.
6. Reduces the cost
 Ergonomics can be considered as the one-time investment
 As ergonomics is focused about maintaining the better health of the worker, it
can further reduce the cost of compensation that would be made by the injured or
unhealthy staffs.

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 It also reduces the indirect and the opportunity cost that could have incurred due
to injury.
7. Improves the quality of work
 Improved ergonomics favors the favorable environment where the workers can
work efficiently.
 As the ergonomics improves level of satisfaction in the quality of the work
increases.

PRINCIPLES OF ERGONOMICS
1. Work in neutral postures
 Proper posture maintenance is necessary
 Working too long with “C” curve can cause strain
 Keeping the proper alignment of neck, hands and wrist are also necessary
2. Reduce Excessive workforce
 Excessive pressure or force at the joints can cause injury
 Better to minimize the work that requires more physical labor
3. Keep everything in reach
 Keeping everything in reach would help in avoiding unneeded stretching
and strain
4. Work at proper height
 Sometimes height can be maintained by adding extensions or avoiding
extensions on the chair or tables
5. Reduce excessive motions
 Repetitive motion needs to be avoided. This can cause numbness in the
long run
 Motions can be reduced by the use of power tools
6. Minimize fatigue and static load
 Fatigue is common in strenuous work

 Having to hold things for longer period is example of static load

 Fatigue can be reduced by the intervals and the breaks between the works

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7. Maximize pressure points

 Almost everyone of has to sit on chairs that had cushioning, one of the
pressure point is behind knees, which happens if air is too high or when
you dangle your legs. Pressure point is also created in between your thigh
and the bottom of a table when you sit.

 Anti- fatigue mats or insole can be used

8. Provide Clearance
 Work area should have enough clearance
 Let the worker not to worry about the bumps that they have to encounter
on daily basis.
9. Move, exercise and stretch
 It is better to take intervals between the works and stretch and move along
 Stretching technique may differ and depend on the work one does.
10. Maintain a comfortable environment
 It is concerned about the lighting, space, cool air and many more.

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TECHNICAL TERMS IN ERGONOMICS AND THEIR

FUNCTIONS

Administrative Procedures and methods set-up by the employer that

Control significantly reduces exposure to risk factors by altering the
way in which work is performed; examples include:
employee rotation, job task, enlargement, and adjustment
of work space.
ANSI American National Standards Institute. A private, non-profit
membership organization that coordinates voluntary
standard activities.
Anthropometry Is the branch of the human sciences that deals with body
measurements.
Awkward Posture Is the position of the body while performing work activities.
Awkward posture with an increased risk for injury.
Cumulative Trauma Term used for injuries that occur over a period because of
Disorders (CTDs) repeated trauma or exposure to a specific body part, such
as the back, hand, wrist and forearm.
Duration Is the length of exposure to risk factor. It can be measured
as the minutes or hours per day the worker is exposed to a
risk.
Engineering Control Physical changes to jobs that control exposure to risk.
Ergonomics According to Ergoweb: the science of work. Ergonomics
removes barriers to quality, productivity, and safe human
performance by fitting products, tasks and environments to
people.
Ergonomics Program A systematic process for anticipating, identifying, analyzing
and controlling ergonomics risk factors.
Force The amount of muscular effort required to perform a task.
Hazard Workplace condition or physical work activities that cause
or are reasonably likely to cause or contribute to a work

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related musculoskeletal issues.

Human Factors A term synonymous with ergonomics, is a branch of
science that began in the US and focus on cognitive
performance of humans.
Lighting The level of illumination in the workplace.
Manual Material Lifting, carrying, and moving materials without mechanical
Handling aide.
Motion: Is the speed of body part motion and the role of change of
Velocity/Acceleration speed of body part motion, respectively.
Musculoskeletal Injuries and disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons,
Disorder (MSD) ligaments, joints, cartilage, and spinal disc.
NIOSH National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health –
NIOSH is the institute that provides scientific data upon
which OSHA makes recommendation.
Occupational Is a science concerned with mechanical behavior of
Biomechanics musculoskeletal tissues when physical work is performed.
Occupational Illness Any abnormal condition or disorder other than one resulting
from an occupational injury caused by exposure to factors
associated employment.
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The
mission of the OSHA is to save lives, prevent injuries and
protect the health of the workers.
Recovery Time Is the length of rest between exertions. Short work pauses
can reduce discomfort.
Whole Body Vibration Exposure of the whole body to vibration (usually through
feet/buttocks when riding in a vehicle).
Work Related Injuries and disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons,
Musculoskeletal ligaments, joints, cartilage, and spinal disc due to physical
Disorders (WMDS, work activities or workplace conditions in the job.
WRMSD)

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Specific Postures Associated with Injuries

Wrist Flexion/extension (bending up and down)

Ulnar/radial deviation (side bending)
Shoulder Abduction/flexion (upper arm positioned out to the side or
above shoulder level)
Neck (Cervical Spine) Flexion/extension or bending the neck forward and to the
back. Side bending as when holding a telephone receiver
on the shoulder.
Low back Bending at the wrist, twisting.

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REFERENCES

https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHAPubs/ergo/ergoadvantages.pdf

https://www.publichealthnotes.com/ergonomics-and-its-10-principles/

https://partner.booking.com/en-gb/click-magazine/hotel-ergonomics-essentials-staff-
welfare

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