POC is Ralph Schneider, Safety and Health Office, ext. Although ergonomics is a science new to most of us, it actually dates back to 1949. It was first used by the automotive industry in the early 1970s to design car interiors that were more functional and easier to use. Ergonomics, also referred to as human engineering, is concerned with helping people interact more comfortably and efficiently with their environment. Unfortunately, the human body cannot adapt to everything.
People have differences and have limitations.
We behave and react in certain ways that do not always fit into our traditional concepts of how work should be done. The idea behind ergonomics is to understand the anatomy, physiology and psychology of people - and design for that. By fitting the job to the person, we can improve both employee well-being and workplace efficiency. A common ergonomic problem is stress to the back, shoulders, and neck. The back cannot tolerate excessive lifting, bending or twisting.