In the world of ergonomics sometimes words are used that may make no sense to the people who actually will benefit the most from knowing them. As a result we’ve listed several terms that may help you understand ergonomics and how it can impact your workplace.
Here’s our top ten list of commonly used ergonomic terms:
1. CTDs or Cumulative Trauma Disorders – here an injury is caused by repeated trauma over time to a specific body part. Several occupational disorders you may recognize might be carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, mouse finger, or even mouse arm and even lower back pain.
2. MSD or Muscular Skeletal Disorder – here an injury is of the muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, and even cartilage. Some disorders you may recognize that fit into this category might be a rotator cuff injury, carpel tunnel again, and tension neck syndrome.
3. NIOSH – this stands for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH is the institution that provides data on which OSHA bases its safety recommendations to businesses.
4. RSI – Repetitive Strain Injury
5. RMI – Repetitive Motion Injury
6. UECTD – Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders
7. WRULD – Work Related Upper Limb Disorder
8. OSHA 200 Log – This is the OSHA required log book that employers must use to notate and classify all work related injuries.
9. WMSD, WRMSD – this stands for work related musculoskeletal disorders. This term covers many of the previously mentioned work related stresses to the human body that can damage muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
10. Anthropometry – this is a branch of science that deals with body measurement. Much of ergonomics is actually based on the typical body measurements and reflected in tool controls and positioning found from anthropometry.
You can view the full list of terms and more at Erogweb if you want to know more about ergonomics.