ERGO FAQs

WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?

Ergonomics is the science of designing work environments and processes for the people who use them. How we organize our work space, sit, move, and perform tasks can affect how comfortable we are doing our jobs and can reduce the risk of injury. Through ergonomics, we can help ourselves to work safely and in comfort at all ages and in many different work environments.

WHAT RISK FACTORS CAN BE REDUCED BY ERGONOMICS AWARENESS

Ergonomics focuses on identifying and reducing six important risk factors:

1. Awkward postures
2. Repetitive motion or sustained postures
3. Excessive force
4. Contact stress
5. Vibration
6. Temperature extremes

WHY DO WE HAVE AN ERGONOMICS AWARENESS PROGRAM?

We recognize that minimizing pain and injuries helps improve health and productivity. U-M is dedicated to enhancing the health and safety of the faculty and staff community, including helping to manage pain related to medical issues that affect comfort at work.

Prior to development of the Ergonomics Awareness Program, ergonomic resources and services were provided by five distinct programs in the Health System, and on the Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses. Michigan Healthy Community (MHC) is helping to efficiently mobilize that expertise, develop new awareness programs, coordinate efforts among management and staff, and offer subsidized consultations for employees under a physician’s care for issues that may have workplace ergonomic implications.

WHAT DOES THE ERGONOMICS AWARENESS PROGRAM DO?

The program helps increase faculty and staff awareness of, access to, and the effectiveness of ergonomic resources within the U-M community. The program will build upon the University’s commitment to continual improvement in workplace safety and health by focusing on the application of ergonomic principles to everyday work practices.
Ergonomic principles focus on three strategies:

• Education/training
• Design of the work environment
• Design of work processes

The Ergonomics Awareness Program builds on current ergonomic resources and includes all three strategies to maximize the health of our workforce, decrease rates of injury, minimize workplace discomfort, and maximize the health and productivity of our workforce.

WHAT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DOES THE ERGONOMICS AWARENESS PROGRAM OFFER?

The program began with a community awareness campaign for injury prevention throughout the University, which included printed matter, tips for good ergonomic health, and two web-based tutorials covering ergonomics in the workplace. Additionally, professional occupational therapy staff continue to conduct personal consultations for those under a physician’s care.

This combination of preventive education and ergonomic consultations is intended to minimize the effects of ergonomic risk factors on our health and productivity and help us emphasize personal responsibility for safe behavior and environmental factors within our control.

IS THERE A COST TO THE DEPARTMENTS?

There is no cost to departments or individuals for the self-help tools on the websites, the awareness materials , or the consultation time of our ergonomic experts through MHC. If equipment is needed as part of an intervention, we will work to identify solutions with the department’s leadership.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?

Explore this website to learn how to identify risk factors that are within your control, and improve your work habits, techniques, processes and equipment set up. By understanding more about risk factors and minimizing them through self-management techniques and effective safety behavior, you can reduce the risk of injuries and enhance comfort, productivity and job satisfaction.

WHO ARE THE PROVIDERS OF ERGONOMICS SERVICES, AND WHO DO WE CALL WITH QUESTIONS?

The Ergonomics Awareness team combines the efforts of ergonomic consultants from the following programs:

• Campus Programs for Injury Prevention and Departmental Interventions
  • Ann Arbor: Occupational Safety and Environmental Health
  • Dearborn: Environment, Health and Safety
  • Flint: Environment, Health and Safety
    
• UMHHC Injury Prevention and Departmental Interventions (available to U-M hospitals and health centers only)
  • Safety Management Services
    
• For faculty and staff who are under a physician’s care for musculoskeletal discomfort
  • MWorks Occupational Therapy Services - In order to coordinate services with the physician and department, candidates for the medical services should ask their physician to fax a request for an ergonomic consultation to MWorks Occupational Therapy at (734) 975-3011.
    
    
  For a printable copy of the Ergo FAQs, click here.