Manufacturing Ergonomic Best Practices

Manufacturing jobs involve activities such as manual material handling, hand-tool usage, applying awkward postures, prolonged equipment operation, and repetitive tasks. In addition, manufacturing workers often have controlled work paces and strict quotas to fill. These added stresses can contribute to the risk of injury. The following list provides some common best practices that can be applied in the manufacturing industry.

• Utilize mechanical lifting aids whenever possible. Although these devices do not eliminate material handling, they minimize the force workers need to exert.
• Utilize transport devices whenever possible. Manual transport involves lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling. Transport devices, such as conveyors, dollies, and forklifts, reduce the risk of injury by providing force through mechanical means.
• Provide conveniently placed waste containers to avoid unnecessary bending and twisting.
• Use pallets or a batch of work items so that multiple items coming from one workstation can be moved easily to the next workstation.
• Alternate work tasks to decrease repetition.
• Design workstations to improve comfort and reduce contact stress by padding hard surfaces and utilizing anti-fatigue floor mats.
• Provide adjustable-height workstations to accommodate employees of different heights.
• Put frequently used materials in containers placed within easy reach.
• Organize workflow so that physical demands and work pace increase gradually.

To learn more about Labor & Industry Ergonomics visit our Labor & Industry Ergonomics Online Training web page.