The Ergonomic Casebook

One of the greatest challenges in the occupational health and safety profession is the application of theory to actual workplace practice. The difference between how the workplace should be ideally designed and the limitations that occur in pre-existing facilities are often difficult to overcome. With examples from the service industry, heavy industry, agriculture, and the office, this text bridges these gaps between theory and practice by using case studies to illustrate sound ergonomic practices.The Ergonomic Casebook is a resource that professionals and students can use as a guide for solutions to real-world ergonomic problems. Working examples from ergonomic programs in a variety of industries are included. Case studies describe methods for identifying ergonomic problems, and specific causes are reported. Recommended strategies for the elimination of identified stressors are indicated. Implemented strategies and evaluated results are discussed and explained.Applications of this book are endless. Whether you are a health and safety professional with limited expertise in ergonomics or a student taking a health and safety course, you will gain extensive insight into ergonomic problem solving as a result of the case studies presented in The Ergonomic Casebook.

James P. Kohn is an associate professor of Industrial Technology at East Carolina University. He was previously director of the Occupational Safety Management program at Indiana State University. Dr. Kohn holds a doctorate in education from West Virginia University. He has both academic and industrial experience. He has worked as a safety, health and environmental consultant in the telecommunications for industry and as a corporate supervisor of safety and health training in the electrical utility industry. In the area of occupational safety and health he is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE). Dr. Kohn has written four books on safety and industrial hygiene topics. He has also published numerous articles covering ergonomics, safety, industrial hygiene and training. In addition, Dr. Kohn has presented numerous papers at professional conferences and has conducted many training workshops both industry and the public sector. He is a member of the American Society of Safely Engineers, American Industrial Hygiene Association, and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. He currently serves as a member of the Eastern Carolina Safety and Health School Board.

Chapter 1. Introduction, J. Kohn and C. Winterberger -- What Is Ergonomics? -- Terminology -- Why Is Ergonomics Important? -- How Big a Problem is Ergonomics? -- Medical Costs -- Legal Costs -- Costs to Organizations -- Benefits -- Ergonomic areas of importance -- Psychological -- Behavioral -- Psychosocial -- What Are Some Strategies for Identifying Ergonomic Problems? -- How Does Human Physiology Affect Ergonomics? -- Micro Physiological Response -- Macro Physiological Concerns -- What Are Some Ergonomically Related Injuries? -- Cumulative Trauma Disorders -- Musculoskeletal Disorders -- Physiological Stress Disorders -- Causes of Cumulative Trauma Disorders -- Arc Some Industries More Likely To Have Ergonomic Injuries? -- Meat Packing -- Office Environment -- Construction -- Manufacturing /assembly -- What Are Some Methods To Eliminate Or Control -- Ergonomic Problems? -- Human Control Methods -- Human Environmental Control Methods -- Equipment /Facility Control Methods -- Organizational Control Methods -- What Can Be Learned From The Experience Of Others? -- Why Case Studies? -- How Is The Case Study Book Organized? -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter Questions -- Chapter 2.1 Agriculture Case Studies -- Ergonomic Job Design in the Hog Industry,W. Hilton -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Overexertion in the Hog Industry,W. Hilton -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Chapter 2.2 Chemical Industry Case Studies -- Anthropometries in the Chemical Industry,J. Kohn -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Hand Injuries in a Chemical Industry Quality Control Laboratory, J. Kohn -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Chapter 2.3 Electronics Industry Case Studies -- Push, Pull, and Lifting Material Handling Issues in the Electronics Industry, J. Kohn -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Repetitive Motion Problems In A Small Electric Motor Manufacturing Facility, M. Friend -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Case Study Questions -- Chapter 2.4 Hospital /Health Care Case Studies -- Elimination of Back Injuries in a Hospital Environment, A. Anderson, B. Maxwell, and E. Johnson -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- An Analysis of Signal Detection Issues in a Hospital Environment, G. Baker and R. Scott -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Manual Lifting Case Studies in the Health Care Industry, B. Maxwell and E. Johnson -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem No. 1 -- Recommendations for Problem No. 1 -- Statement of the Problem No. 2 -- Recommendations for Problem No.2 -- Case Study Questions -- Psychosocial Case Study of a Medical -- Transcription Unit, K. Miezio -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Case Study Questions -- Chapter 2.S Manufacturing Case Studies -- A Behavioral Engineering Approach to Ergonomic Problems, J. Kohn -- Introduction -- Method -- Results -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Ergonomic Case Study of an Automobile Radiator Parts Manufacturing Facility, D. Uinnant -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Case Study Questions -- Repetitive Motion Problems in a Synthetic Fibers -- Plant, D. Lawhom -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Conclusion -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Repetitive Motion Problems in Handpacking Systems, L. Ridings -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Results -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- An Ergonomic Case Study in a Servo-Motor Assembly Facility, J. Coltrain and B. Dail -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Ergonomic Problems in the Product Design Industry, B. Eudy -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Conclusion -- Case Study Questions -- Chapter 2.6 Mercantile Case Studies -- Ergonomic Force Requirements to Open Doors, M. Volney -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Evaluation -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Chapter 2.7 Office Environments Case Studies -- Ergonomic Complaints Regarding Video Display Terminals, L. Ridings -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Conclusion -- References -- Case Study Questions -- An Ergonomic Program for Solving VDT Workstation Problems, S. Joyner -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Conclusion -- Case Study Questions -- An Ergonomic Systems Approach for Solving VDT Workstation Problems in the Agricultural Industry, J. Kohn -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Conclusion -- Case Study Questions -- Office Ergonomics and Engineering Design, M. Hansen -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Conclusions -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Chapter 2.8 Service Industry Case Studies -- Manual Materials Handling in the Frozen Food Delivery Industry, N. Brown -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Results -- Recommendations -- Conclusion -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Manual Materials Handling: Loading of a -- Freezer in the Frozen Food Delivery Industry, N. Brown -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Results -- Conclusions -- Recommendations -- References -- Case Study Questions -- An Environmental-Ergonomic Case Study at a -- Parcel Delivery Facility, A. Tiilett -- Introduction -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Case Study Questions -- Ergonomic Tool Design Hazards in the Restaurant Industry, J. Krause -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Case Study Questions -- Workplace Equipment and Facility Redesign in the Restaurant Industry, J. Krause and R. S. Lawson -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- Case Study -- Recommendations -- Case Study Questions -- Chapter 2.9 Utility Industry Case Studies -- Signal Detection - Three Mile Island Accident: -- Right String Wrong Yo Yo, R. Pate -- Introduction -- Statement of the Problem -- References -- Case Study Questions -- Index.