--- title: Five Ergonomic Risk Factors to Consider at Your Facility description: Strain injuries account for nearly 25% of all on-the-job injuries. Employers can optimize processes while minimizing risk of injuries by designing work based around these 5 ergonomic risk factors. image: https://blog.amequity.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/istock-875025148_lr0de756ff912449ed916c2f236c487749-Jun-17-2022-07-21-04-75-PM.jpg --- - [Report a Claim](https://www.amequity.com/report-a-claim) - [Member Login](https://www.amequity.com/log-in) [![Amequity](https://blog.amequity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Amequity_Feb2022/images/AEU-full-logo-color.png?width=252&height=81&name=AEU-full-logo-color.png "Amequity")](https://www.amequity.com/) - [Coverage](https://www.amequity.com/coverage) - Resources - [Safety Resources](https://www.amequity.com/resources/safety-resources) - [Claims Resources](https://www.amequity.com/resources/claims-resources) - [Medical Management Resources](https://www.amequity.com/resources/medical-management-resources) - [Leadership Training](https://www.amequity.com/resources/leadership-training) - [Advisory Services](https://www.amequity.com/resources/advisory-services) - [Events](https://www.amequity.com/events) - [Blog & Podcast](https://blog.amequity.com/) - [Join Our Mailing List](https://www.amequity.com/join-our-mailing-list) - Who We Are - [About AEU](https://www.amequity.com/who-we-are/about-aeu) - [Newsroom](https://www.amequity.com/who-we-are/newsroom) - [Leadership](https://www.amequity.com/who-we-are/leadership) - [Careers](https://www.amequity.com/who-we-are/careers) - [Contact](https://www.amequity.com/contact) Longshore Insider All other pages Aug 22, 2023 # Five Ergonomic Risk Factors to Consider at Your Facility ![Five Ergonomic Risk Factors to Consider at Your Facility](https://blog.amequity.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/istock-875025148_lr0de756ff912449ed916c2f236c487749-Jun-17-2022-07-21-04-75-PM.jpg) By designing work based on “internal productivity” (i.e., not overburdening or fatiguing the employee, allowing them to produce more output with less effort), waterfront employers can optimize the efficiency and quality of their processes while minimizing the risk of costly workplace injuries to the back, shoulders, arms, and knees. When reviewing a job with “ergonomic eyes”, we should ask ourselves, “Would I perform the task this way?”  By looking for ergonomic risk factors (known as conducting a risk assessment), we can identify ways to improve jobs and reduce risk of injury. There are five main ergonomic risk factors to consider when evaluating a job. 1. **Awkward or static work postures** such as bending, reaching or twisting with the neck, back, arms or legs. Awkward positions put the muscles and tendons at mechanical disadvantages, making them weaker.  Static or stationary positions rob the muscles of needed oxygen resulting in fatigue. Static positions require more recovery than dynamic motions. 2. **Forceful exertions** such as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or gripping may overload muscles and increase fatigue. 3. **Vibration** to the hands and arms from grinders, sanders, needle guns, chipping hammers, impact wrenches or chainsaws can slowly rob the body of much-needed blood flow and result in injury to the blood vessels, nerves or muscles. 4. **Repetitive motions** of the wrists, arms, back, neck or knees occur from repeating the same motion repeatedly at a fast pace with little variation in the task. Frequent repetitive motions slowly fatigue the muscles and decrease productivity. 5. **Contact stress** occurs when there is continuous contact or rubbing between hard or sharp objects and surfaces and sensitive body parts such as the fingers, palms, elbows, thighs, knees or feet. The contact creates localized pressure that reduces blood flow, nerve function and movement of tendons and muscles. **[Download Infographic](https://blog.amequity.com/hubfs/Blog%20-%20Linked%20Files/ergonomic-risk-factors.pdf)** [![Download Infographic Ergonomic Risk Factors (1)](https://blog.amequity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Download%20Infographic%20Ergonomic%20Risk%20Factors%20(1).png?width=231&height=299&name=Download%20Infographic%20Ergonomic%20Risk%20Factors%20(1).png)](https://blog.amequity.com/hubfs/Blog%20-%20Linked%20Files/ergonomic-risk-factors.pdf) [![Need Longshore Coverage? 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(AEU) delivers specialized coverage and risk management solutions to waterfront employers across the United States. As an industry leader in U.S. Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation (USL&H), AEU also provides state act workers’ compensation, Maritime Employers’ Liability (MEL), marine general liability, and automobile liability for waterfront employers. AEU provides services such as claims handling, loss control, and underwriting, as well as longshore consulting and leadership training to help businesses protect their people and manage risk with confidence. ## Related Topics [Ergonomics](https://blog.amequity.com/longshore-insider/article/tag/ergonomics), [Strains](https://blog.amequity.com/longshore-insider/article/tag/strains) ## More Resources Sep 13, 2023 #### [Three Proven Techniques to Prevent Shoulder and Back Injuries](https://blog.amequity.com/longshore-insider/article/three-proven-techniques-to-prevent-shoulder-and-back-injuries) Jul 26, 2023 #### [Beyond the Desk: Understanding Ergonomics in Maritime Workplaces](https://blog.amequity.com/longshore-insider/article/beyond-the-desk-understanding-ergonomics-in-maritime-work-environments) Feb 28, 2022 #### [Do You Have Your Workers’ Back? Back Injury Risk and Prevention](https://blog.amequity.com/longshore-insider/article/do-you-have-your-workers-back-back-injury-risk-and-prevention) Jun 1, 2021 #### [Safety Focus: Preventing Strain Injuries From Pushing and Pulling](https://blog.amequity.com/longshore-insider/article/safety-focus-preventing-strain-injuries-from-pushing-and-pulling) Apr 1, 2021 #### [Safety Focus: Preventing Strain Injuries from Repetitive Motions](https://blog.amequity.com/longshore-insider/article/safety-focus-preventing-strain-injuries-from-repetitive-motions) ## Legal Disclaimer Views expressed here do not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is for general guidance of matter only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Discussion of insurance policy language is descriptive only. Every policy has different policy language. Coverage afforded under any insurance policy issued is subject to individual policy terms and conditions. Please refer to your policy for the actual language. 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