Working postures
Awkward body postures place joints away from their natural position (such as a bent back, a bent wrist or arms raised above the head). Awkward postures require more muscular effort to do a job, leading to fatigue and potential injury.
Fixed or static postures can also be harmful because they keep part or the whole body in the same position for a long time (such as standing on a process line or bending the back to lay concrete).
Fixed positions quickly fatigue muscles because blood flow is more restricted when the muscle is not contracting and relaxing.
High risk postures are caused by:
- poor work area design (such as low benches)
- the nature of loads (such as obese patients, bulky and large items, or non ergonomic designed hand tools)
- load handling (loads that are lifted, pushed, supported or held for some time)
- individual worker characteristics (such as height and reach ranges).
Ways to control hazards
Reduce standing time with a sit-stand chair e.g. draughtman's chair, or stool to perch on, and/or use a rail at the base of work benches.
Design manual tasks so your workers can walk about occasionally.
Control the work area design and layouts. Alter the nature of loads and how they are handled.
For example:
Back
- Place tools and other work items so you dont need to bend forward or reach.
- Use a scissor lift table or a pallet lifter.
- Design suitable work heights and provide adequate knee and foot clearance.
- Avoid bending and/or twisting your back.
- Tilt work surfaces or use spring-loaded surfaces.
- Have enough room to turn your feet when placing a load at a different angle.
- Use swivel chairs and rotating turntables.
Neck
- Avoid looking up, bending forward excessively or protruding your neck forward. Use an inclined work surface.
- Work with documents or displays directly in front of you.
- Use a jig to reorient the work piece.
Arms
- Avoid working with the arms held away from your body.
- Modify equipment or provide a platform so you work at the correct height (and dont need to lift your arms).
- Use arm supports for precision work.
- Design layouts to reduce the need for reaching.
Elbow and wrist
- Avoid rotating the forearm and deviating the wrist.
- Select tools that reduce the need to turn your forearm.
- Use jigs to position parts or to turn components. Use tools/levers that allow the wrist to remain straight.
Legs and knees
- Reduce the need to kneel. If this is not possible, use a cushioned surface.
- Avoid squatting by working at low levels only when necessary.
- Walk as much as possible during manual tasks instead of standing for long periods.
More information on working postures is provided in the Manual Tasks Advisory Standard 2000 (now known as a Code of Practice).
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