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Ergonomics

Work tasks can be challenging for physical health, regardless of whether a job is performed on an assembly line, at a desk, or within a warehouse (among others). Ergonomics is the study of how to improve how a worker interacts with their environment in order to reduce injury and heighten productivity. Attention to ergonomics can reduce the likelihood of costly and common injuries like sprains, strains, and pain. These injuries may sound inconsequential, but make up one-third of workers compensation costs and can dramatically affect productivity and well-being. On this page, you’ll find resources that help workers set up their workstations, increase healthful physical activity during the workday, and learn how to perform tasks in a safe, healthy way.

Ergonomics
  • Featured Resources

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    Active Workplace Toolkit is a program from Oregon Healthy Workforce Center designed to help reduce sitting time at work and to provide training to help managers and supervisors better support workplace safety, health, and well-being for their employees. By reducing sedentary time and prolonged sitting at work, we can help improve worker health, safety, and well-being, reduce musculoskeletal pain, and reduce lost work time due to injury or illness. The toolkit includes training for supervisors and workers, resources, and team competition plans. This toolkit was tested by 241 call center employees across 4 organizations.

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    The Center for Work, Health, & Well-being offers two Toolbox Talks designed for foremen/safety managers to lead conversations regarding ergonomics and injury prevention.

  • Featured Resources

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    Sedentary Work & Workplace Design is a 4-min video from Health Links® at the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest that covers health impacts of sedentary work, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Join this panel of experts as they discuss potential remedies.

    Other Resources

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    Sedentary Work is a 51-minute podcast from the Oregon Healthy Workforce Center. Ryan Olson and Brad Wipfli discuss how their Total Worker Health interventions have helped decrease sedentary behavior (#sittingtime) and increase physical activity in the workplace. Dr. Olson shares insight into studying team truck drivers in the Tech4Rest study and Dr. Wipfli shares his research studying call center workers in the Active Workplace study.