Ergonomics is defined as fitting the workplace to the worker. A workplace includes not just our work areas but also our tools and equipment. Unless the workplace is fit to the worker, the worker is at an increased injury risk. Workplace injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or back strain are often associated with small, repeated traumas to the musculoskeletal system (muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, bones) and the nervous system when the job does not match the worker's capabilities. These injuries, also called Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), account for some of the largest costs in injury claims and lost work time in the DOD. The Ergonomics and Industrial Hygiene Division at DCPH-A is dedicated to decreasing those costs and reducing worker pain and suffering.
