58.1 INTRODUCTION

The word ergonomics (sometimes known in the United States as human factors) stems from the Greek words ergon (work) and nomos (laws) and is basically the science of analyzing work and then designing jobs, equipment, tools, and methods to most appropriately fit the capabilities of the worker. Its primary focus within the workplace lies on the prevention of injuries and the improvement of worker efficiency. Leaving aside the ethical issue of the employers responsibility to minimize potential injuries to their workforce, ergonomics can be a positive force in the workplace from an economic standpoint in at least two different ways: reduction in costs associated with work-related injuries (e.g., lost workdays, workman s comp costs, and associated medical costs) and increased profits through improvements in overall worker productivity. Excuses for ignoring ergonomics range from such old standbys as this is the way we ve always done it to blaming problems on workers or unions to assertions that ergonomics is not an exact science. Most (if not all) such platitudes are wishful thinking at best, and willful ignorance at worst. The fact of the matter is that ergonomic intervention in the workplace does not have to be complicated, and can potentially pay considerable dividends when skillfully employed. In one survey by Joyce Institute/Arthur D. Little, 92 percent of the respondents reported decreases in worker compensation costs of greater than 20 percent, 72 percent reported productivity gains in excess...