Improved awareness is the best way to make your work space more comfortable and, therefore, to be more productive and the best way to start is often to let others do the asking.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

What is Ergonomics and why is it a unit in your Department?

Ergonomics studies people at the workplace. When human movements specialists focus their attention on the working environment, it is to analyse occupational performance. Applied Ergonomics attempts to optimize performance by enhancing worker safety and well-being while increasing productivity at the same times. This contributes to a National need in all spheres of business, industry, agriculture and even in the home. Ergonomics education is, therefore, on of the most useful acquisition for anyone wishing to contribute to positive development.

ERGONOMICS

The term "ergonomics" is derived from two Greek words: "ergon", meaning work and "nomoi", meaning natural laws. Ergonomists study human capabilities in relationship to work demands.

POSTURE

In recent years, ergonomists have attempted to define postures which minimize unnecessary static work and reduce the forces acting on the body. All of us could significantly reduce our risk of injury if we could adhere to the following ergonomic principles:

• All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several different, but equally healthy and safe postures.
• Where muscular force has to be exerted it should be done by the largest appropriate muscle groups available.
• Work activities should be performed with the joints at about mid-point of their range of movement. This applies particularly to the head, trunk, and upper limbs.