Ergonomics is a multi-disciplinary science and practice of designing jobs, workplaces and equipment to match the capabilities and limitation of the human body. Ergonomics is “fitting the job to the worker”. The objective is to design each job in such a way as to eliminate all musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders result when there is a mismatch between the physical capacity of workers and the demands of the job. Each year thousands of workers in the United States report work related MSD’s such as tendinitis, epicondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and back injuries. Many of these are caused or aggravated by work related stressors such as such as lifting, reaching, pulling, pushing and bending.

The Environmental Health and Safety Office’s ergonomic program consists of training and on-site work area evaluations to determine how well a person is matched with their working environment. During the training and on-site evaluation recommendation can be made regarding proper postures, appropriate equipment and placement of equipment.