Ergonomic Improvement of a Machine Maintenance Procedure: A Case Study

Abstract

An employee who performs maintenance work on machinery used in the manufacture of electronics equipment reported to the company medical department and was diagnosed with elbow tendinitis. An ergonomic job analysis was conducted and solutions implemented to prevent future injuries. Significant improvements were realized as a result of new tools, engineering changes, personal protective equipment, process changes, and ergonomic training. The most significant were the reduction of musculoskeletal stresses suffered by these workers as well as substantial reductions in machine downtime per year.