What are the two principle functions of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH )?

Many industries have successfully implemented ergonomic solutions in their facilities as a way to address their workers' MSD injury risks. These interventions have included modifying existing equipment, making changes in work practices and purchasing new tools or other devices to assist in the production process. Making these changes has reduced physical demands, eliminated unnecessary movements, lowered injury rates and their associated workers' compensation costs, and reduced employee turnover. In many cases, work efficiency and productivity have increased as well. Simple, low-cost solutions are often available to solve problems. Use the information on this page to see what has worked for others in your industry or in other industries.

To reduce the chance of injury, work tasks should be designed to limit exposure to ergonomic risk factors. Engineering controls are the most desirable, where possible. Administrative or work practice controls may be appropriate in some cases where engineering controls cannot be implemented or when different procedures are needed after implementation of the new engineering controls. Personal protection solutions have only limited effectiveness when dealing with ergonomic hazards.

Type of Control	Workplace Examples
Engineering Controls (implement physical change to the workplace, which eliminates/reduces the hazard on the job/task)	Use a device to lift and reposition heavy objects to limit force exertion Reduce the weight of a load to limit force exertion Reposition a work table to eliminate a long/excessive reach and enable working in neutral postures Use diverging conveyors off a main line so that tasks are less repetitive Install diverters on conveyors to direct materials toward the worker to eliminate excessive leaning or reaching Redesign tools to enable neutral postures
Administrative and Work Practice Controls (establish efficient processes or procedures)	Require that heavy loads are only lifted by two people to limit force exertion Establish systems so workers are rotated away from tasks to minimize the duration of continual exertion, repetitive motions, and awkward postures. Design a job rotation system in which employees rotate between jobs that use different muscle groups Staff "floaters" to provide periodic breaks between scheduled breaks Properly use and maintain pneumatic and power tools
Personal Protective Equipment (use protection to reduce exposure to ergonomics-related risk factors)	Use padding to reduce direct contact with hard, sharp, or vibrating surfaces Wear good fitting thermal gloves to help with cold conditions while maintaining the ability to grasp items easily

Success Stories. OSHA collects brief stories from employers that have implemented ergonomics programs or used best practices with successful results. The success stories are grouped by SIC codes.
Case Studies. OSHA collects accounts from employers that have implemented measures, programs or effective practices that have helped reduce the risk of ergonomic injuries or other positive outcomes.
Ergonomic Programs that Work. OSHA Video, (1998). Provides information about successful ergonomic programs.
Private Sector Ergonomics Programs Yield Positive Results (PDF). U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) Report HEHS-97-163. (August 1997). This report to Congress prepared by the Government Accounting Office looks at the efforts and successes of 5 companies who dealt with their ergonomic issues. The companies are: American Express, AMP

General

Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topics. Includes a variety of links with information about risk factors and solutions that help protect workers.

Guidelines

These guidelines contain recommendations, best practices and lessons learned. They are designed to help employers and workers recognize and control industry-specific ergonomics-related risk factors.

Solutions for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Foundries. OSHA Publication 3465, (2012). Provides recommendations for foundries to help increase employer and worker awareness of ergonomics-related risk factors, alleviate muscle fatigue, increase productivity and reduce the number and severity of work-related MSDs.
Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders. Provides recommendations for nursing home employers to help reduce the number and severity of work-related MSDs in their facilities.
Guidelines for Shipyards: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders. OSHA Publication 3341, (2008). Provides recommendations for shipyards to help reduce the number and severity of work-related MSDs, increase employer and employee awareness of ergonomic risk factors, eliminate unsafe work practices, alleviate muscle fatigue, and increase productivity.
Ergonomic Guidelines for Manual Material Handling (PDF). DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2007-131, (April 2007). Recognize high-risk MMH work tasks and choose effective options for reducing their physical demands.
Prevention of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Poultry Processing (EPUB | MOBI). OSHA Publication 3213, (2004, Revised 2013). Also available in Spanish (EPUB | MOBI).
Guidelines for Retail Grocery Stores: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders. OSHA Publication 3192, (2004). Presents recommendations for changing equipment, workstation design, or work methods with the goal of reducing work-related MSDs.
Ergonomic & Safety Assessment Guide for Machines and Equipment. National Safety Council. (2007). Comprehensive checklist based on ANSI B11.TR1-1993. Includes considerations for machine operation, installation and maintenance.
A Guide to Selecting Non-Powered Hand Tools (PDF). DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2004-164, (2004). Presents an easy- to- use guideline for selecting or purchasing the best available ergonomically designed non-powered hand tools.
Elements of Ergonomics Programs: A Primer Based on Workplace Evaluations of Musculoskeletal Disorders (PDF). DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 97-117, (March 1997). Describes the basic elements of a workplace ergonomics program aimed at preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Includes a "toolbox," which is a collection of techniques, methods, reference materials and sources for other information that can help in program development.
Voluntary Ergonomics Guideline for the Furniture Manufacturing Industry. American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA) Publication (2003). Assists employers and employees in recognizing and controlling potential ergonomic hazards.
Ergonomic Guidelines for Common Job Functions within the Telecommunications Industry. National Telecommunications Safety Panel, (November 2007). Provides information pertaining to the science of ergonomics and its impact on the telecommunications industry. It is organized into 4 main sections by work type within the telecommunications industry; outside plant environment, central office environment, office environment and retail environment.
Control Back-pain Risks from Whole-body Vibration. Health and Safety Executive (HSE), United Kingdom, (2005). For operators of off-road mobile machinery, agricultural vehicles or industrial trucks to help manage the risk of back pain.
Hand-arm Vibration at Work. Health and Safety Executive (HSE), United Kingdom, (2005). Advice for employers on regular and frequent use of hand-held power tools, hand-guided powered equipment, and powered machines which process hand-held materials.

Industry or Task-Specific Solutions

Agriculture

Apparel and Footwear

An Ergonomic Handbook for the Clothing Industry. Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, the Institute for Work & Health, and the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, Inc, (2001). Focuses on common ergonomic problems and solutions identified in clothing manufacturing plants to prevent injuries.

Baggage Handling

Baggage Handling (Airline industry) eTool. OSHA. Describes many of the common ergonomic hazards associated with the baggage handling process as well as providing possible solutions that are ranked according to their feasibility to the operations.
Ergonomic Solutions: Baggage Handling (Spanish). Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Division of Workers' Compensation, (October 2005). Provides a PDF version of OSHA's baggage handling e-Tool in English and in Spanish.

Beverage Delivery

Carpet Laying

Computer Workstation

Computer Workstations eTool. OSHA. Illustrates simple, inexpensive principles that will help create a safe and comfortable computer workstation. Discusses basic design goals to consider when setting up a computer workstation or performing computer-related tasks.
Easy Ergonomics for Desktop Computer Users. Cal/OSHA, (October 2018). Provides suggestions for working safely and reducing risks of injury while working at a desktop computer.
Workstation Adjustments for Comfort and Safety. Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Division of Workers' Compensation, (October 2005). Provides recommendations to create a more comfortable, more efficient, healthier and safer workstation environment.

Construction

Food Distribution Centers

Foundries

Furniture Manufacturing

Voluntary Ergonomics Guideline for the Furniture Manufacturing Industry. American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA) Publication, (2003). Assists employers and employees in recognizing and controlling potential ergonomic hazards.

Grocery Stores and Warehousing

Healthcare

Nursing Home Improves Resident Lifting/Handling Program to Protect Workers From Serious Injury. OSHA Regional News Release, (August 5, 2015).
Safe Patient Handling: Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders in Nursing Homes. OSHA Publication 3708, (February 2014).
Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders. OSHA Publication 3182, (2003, Revised 2009). Provides recommendations for nursing home employers to help reduce the number and severity of work-related MSDs in their facilities.
OSHA Ergonomic eTools are stand-alone, interactive, web-based training designed to help prevent MSDs in health care.
- Hospitals eTool: Ergonomics. Focuses on some of the hazards and controls found in the hospital setting, and describes standard requirements as well as recommended safe work practices for employee safety and health.
- Hospitals eTool: Sonography. Addresses ergonomics-related risk factors for sonographers.
Beyond Getting Started: A Resource Guide for Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program in the Acute Care Setting. Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP), (Revised Summer 2011). Provides tools for the occupational health professional to implement a safe patient handling program.
Patient Handling and Movement Assessments: A White Paper. Facility Guidelines Institute, (April 2010). Goals of the white paper include providing readers with information and resources to help them prepare a patient handling and movement assessment and establish a business case for implementing a patient handling and movement program.
A Back Injury Prevention Guide in the Health Care Industry for Health Care Providers. Cal/OSHA, (Revised November 1997). Provides general guidance for employers and workers about preventing back injury as a result of lifting and moving patients and residents.
Safe Lifting and Movement of Nursing Home Residents. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2006-117, (February 2006). This guide is intended for nursing home owners, administrators, nurse managers, safety and health professionals and workers who are interested in establishing a safe resident handling program. Also available in Spanish.
Safe Patient Handling and Mobility. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Provides information about the proper techniques for patient transfers and lifting as well as ways to evaluate the workplace and develop an effective injury-prevention program.
Association of Safe Patient Handling Professionals (ASPHP). The ASPHP Learning Center wants to provide you with helpful information that will assist you in planning and instituting the daily practice of safe patient handling. Contains useful resource links, case studies, publications, tools and tips and legislative updates.

Manufacturing

Meatpacking

Mining

Ergonomics in Mining: Charting a Path to a Safer Workplace (PDF). DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2006-141, (September 2006). Provides information on ergonomic processes which can be implemented in a setting such as mining where working conditions frequently change and workers are periodically exposed to extreme weather conditions.

Poultry Processing

Printing

Printing Industry eTool. OSHA. Provides information about ergonomics in the printing industry based on the experience of others to help make the process of hazard minimization easier. A description of the printing process and the trouble areas that have currently been identified are detailed for each major style of printing: lithography, flexography and screen printing.

Sewing

Sewing and Related Procedures eTool. OSHA. Workers involved in sewing activities, such as manufacturing garments, shoes and airplane or car upholstery, may be at risk of developing MSDs. This eTool provides example ergonomics solutions specific to sewing. Also available in Spanish.

Shipyards

Telecommunications

Ergonomic Guidelines for Common Job Functions Within the Telecommunications Industry. National Telecommunications Safety Panel, Ergonomics Subcommittee, (November 2007). Provides information pertaining to the science of ergonomics and its impact on the telecommunications industry. It is organized into 4 main sections by work type within the telecommunications industry; outside plant environment, central office environment, office environment and retail environment.

Veterinary