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Open Access Articles

September 8, 2013

Reduce Excessive Force

Heavy load on arm, hands Heavy pinch force Through the ages, countless tools and machines have served to reduce exertion. The search for even more ways to […]
September 8, 2013

10 Principles of Cognitive Design

Dial difficult to read — too small plus glare Complicated workbench control panel Everyone has had the frustration of not knowing how to do something that […]
September 8, 2013

Work at Proper Heights

Too low Too High A common workplace problem is a mismatch in heights between people and the work that they are doing.  This condition can make […]
September 8, 2013

Work in Optimal Position

Every joint bent and twisted Optimal working position (standing) Optimal working position is a critical factor for achieving both work efficiency and human well-being. These positions […]
September 8, 2013

The Workplace Ergonomics Process

Putting on your ergonomics glasses Ergonomics does not need to be difficult. Certainly there are complex and highly rigorous aspects of the field that must be […]
September 7, 2013

Avoiding Common Errors

Good application of the information on this site generally requires adaptation to fit the circumstances of each workplace (see Cautions). The following list provides additional ways to […]
September 7, 2013

Cautions

However, the effectiveness of the ideas depend on the circumstances in each workplace. It is not possible in a general setting like this to anticipate all […]
September 7, 2013

How to design equipment to prevent Back Injuries

Back injury risks Back injuries are the most common and consequential type of musculoskeletal injury in general industry. Prevention can involve a number of factors, including […]
September 7, 2013

Perspectives on Ergonomics

Before: Slower, harder After: Faster, easier Ergonomics is a wide-ranging field that seeks to design tools, equipment, and tasks to optimize human capabilities. The goals are […]
September 6, 2013

Conveyors

Principles affected Force Motions Related pages Material handling Slides Conveyor gates Carts Workstations Parts handling Background Conveyors are often taken for granted and may not even […]
September 6, 2013

Pallet and Container Lifts

Bending down to pallets and into containers Principles affected Posture Force Reach Height Related pages Material handling Hoists Carts Tilters Containers Pallets Lifter-transporters Background Bending down […]
September 6, 2013

Assembly of Large Metal Cabinets

High reach Low bend Principles affected Posture Reach Height Clearance Related pages Material Handling Lifts Carts Air casters Wheels Slides Hoistes Workstations Work area storage Work […]
September 6, 2013

Stretch wrap

  Problem: Bending for manual stretch wrap Low-cost solution: Homemade broom handle Principles affected Posture Related pages Workstations Packing Taping/labling Background Manual wrapping typically involves bending […]
September 6, 2013

Tape and Label Dispensers

Stopping work to peel a label  Housekeeping Principles affected Force Motions Related pages Workstations Packing stations Background Peeling from rolls of labels can: require stopping productive […]
September 6, 2013

Packing Stations

Wasted effort: Box at same level as materials Wasted effort: Materials lower than bags Principles affected Force Height Motions Related pages Workstations Label/tape dispensers Stretch wrap […]
September 6, 2013

Conveyors as workstations

Work is often performed directly on conveyors Principles affected All Related pages All Background Conveyors can serve as the foundation for a workstation equivalent to a […]
September 6, 2013

Temperature Control

Temperature extremes Principles affected Fatigue (metabolic load) Environment Background Human performance decreases when working in hot and cold environments. In broad terms, the ideal temperature is about […]
September 6, 2013

Layout

Double handling Cross-body reach Principles affected All Related pages Workstations Storage Surface size Parts handling Background Layout issues can be considered on two levels: Between workstations […]