Environmental Health and Safety Program

Ergonomics Committee

I. Charter

Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working populations. Effective and successful ãfitsä assure high productivity, avoidance of illness and injury risks and increased satisfaction among the workforce. Although the scope of ergonomics is broad UW-L Ergonomics Committee will focus on assessing work-related factors that may pose a risk of musculoskeletal disorders and the development of recommendations to alleviate them. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are defined as injuries and disorders of muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs. MSDs do not include injuries caused by slips, trips, falls or other similar accidents.

The UWL Committee will serve to enhance ergonomic conditions on campus. As a primary prevention strategy the committee will identify aspects of jobs on campus that increase a workers risk of MSD and the committee will participate in problem solving how to decrease the risks and implement solutions. As a secondary prevention strategy the committee will address educating workers to recognize the signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorder and report the injury and disorder early to maximize recovery and decrease the possibility of long term musculoskeletal dysfunction.

The Committee will be active in assessing the need and implementing solutions on campus. The Committee will coordinate whenever possible with Occupational and Physical Therapy programs or other interested health related programs on campus to integrate committee activities into educational opportunities. This may include students organizing injury prevention programs for workers on campus or research opportunities to determine additional areas of needed ergonomic consideration on campus. The Committee will also work with area clinicians on possible consultation and implementation of injury prevention programs that do not fit into the health related programs current curriculums.

II. Membership

The committee shall be represented by individuals who desire to improve the ergonomic issues on campus. Their commitment will provide a critical role in preventing work related Musculoskeletal Disorders on the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse campus. Committee member selection will be based on the following parameters.

1. The Committee shall select co-chairpersons. One chairperson will be from the Environmental Health Safety and Risk Management (EHS&RM) office or from Occupational/Physical Therapy programs. The other chairperson will be a represented classified employee. This co-chairperson leadership will provide equal program ownership.
2. Membership on the committee will be voluntary with members asked to commit to a nine month term of service corresponding to the campus school year starting in September and ending in May.
3. The committee will be comprised of volunteer participants who represent EHS&RM functions, academic programs with MSD prevention/treatment education and departments on campus who are identified to be at risk for musculoskeletal disorders.

III. Meetings

The committee shall determine their frequency of meetings, but should not meet less than once every two months.

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Last modified: 08/14/02
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