Ergonomics

Excerpt

Ergonomics is the study of aligning a job's needs with the worker's and work environment's ability to provide the most efficient workspace possible while reducing the risk of injury. Historically, the primary goal of ergonomics has been reducing the rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). The field assesses labor efficiency, quality, quantity, and comfort to maximize these components while minimizing worker injury, turnover, fatigue, or overexertion. Previously, the focus within the field only addressed the physical components that place a person at increased risk of developing WMSD. More recent studies have demonstrated the interrelationship between psychosocial factors and ergonomics.