Ergonomic disorders affect the soft tissues, specifically the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, blood vessels and spinal discs. These issues can result from job tasks such as working on an assembly line, using heavy equipment or typing on a computer.

Whole-body vibration occurs when mechanical energy oscillations are transferred to the body as a whole, commonly through a seat or platform.

Safety+Health shares – in pictures – how the National Safety Council conducts ergonomics assessments of workers’ desks and chairs to help prevent MSDs.

Whether sitting in an office all day or moving material in a warehouse, practicing good ergonomics can help workers stay healthy.

Do you sit at a desk for hours at a time for work? Do you ever feel sore, experience back or neck pain, or have pain in your fingers? If so, you may not be practicing proper ergonomics.

In 2012, more than 68,000 cases involving days away from work occurred due to shoulder injuries, according to the National Safety Council chartbook, “Injury Facts.” Shoulder injuries can seriously affect a worker’s life. The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation states that pain is the most common symptom of a shoulder injury, with other symptoms including stiffness, a “locking” sensation, and numbness or tingling down the arm.

It’s important to exercise good ergonomics throughout the day. If you use hand tools as part of your job, keep the following in mind.

Musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, muscle strains and lower back injuries affect the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons, according to OSHA. But practicing good ergonomics can help prevent workers from acquiring MSDs.

Consider your work chair. Is it comfortable and supportive? Do you feel well-balanced sitting in it? Is it stable? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you might need a new chair – one that is ergonomically correct.

Are you lifting objects correctly? If not, you could be at risk for an ergonomics-related injury, such as a sprain or strain, back injury, or repetitive-motion injury.

Does your job require you to stand for long periods? Or maybe you spend hours lifting and pushing heavy materials. Perhaps you’re in an office environment and sit at a desk for hours while typing on a computer most of the day. These situations are all considered risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.

Jobs that require frequent standing can lead to a number of health-related problems, including sore feet, leg swelling, muscle fatigue, low back pain, and stiffness in the neck and shoulders.

Are you thinking of introducing exoskeletons into your workplace? They can aid workers in lifting heavy objects and carrying large loads, which reduces the risk of musculoskeletal-related injuries.

Menlo Park, CA — More than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 2 out of 5 employees have grown tired of video calls, results of a recent survey show.

Hartford, CT — Thirty-three percent of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic are concerned about their mental health, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by health benefits provider Aetna International.

Bannockburn, IL — Nearly 1 out of 4 workers don’t receive training on COVID-19 safety guidelines, according to a recent survey commissioned by compliance company Stericycle.

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA has launched a state emphasis program focused on protecting workers in office settings, where community spread of COVID-19 is a risk.

Washington — About two-thirds of employees say they’ve observed co-workers vaping, while a nearly equal amount believe the secondhand vapors from e-cigarettes and other vaping devices are at least moderately harmful to their own health, according to the results of a recent survey.

Mill Valley, CA — Seventy percent of workers want their employer to require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before fully reopening the office, according to the results of a recent survey commissioned by job research and review company Glassdoor.

Menlo Park, CA — Thirty-four percent of office employees working remotely during of the COVID-19 pandemic say they might look for another job if directed to return to the office full-time, results of a recent survey show.

Halifax, Nova Scotia — Nearly half of employees working remotely are experiencing higher levels of exhaustion caused by a combination of more virtual meetings and pressure to be on camera for them, results of a recent survey show.

Alexandria, VA — About 6 out of 10 U.S. adults believe masks should be a requirement for workers at onsite locations, even if those workers are fully vaccinated, according to the results of a recent Harris Poll survey commissioned by the American Staffing Association.

Fort Collins, CO — Ambiguous expectations and undefined work boundaries may put more conscientious remote workers at elevated risk for burnout, dissatisfaction and illness, a recent study suggests.

Menlo Park, CA — More than 40% of employees say they’re more burned out on the job than they were a year ago, and 1 out of 3 plan to take at least three weeks of vacation this year, recent survey results show.

Chicago — Although a growing number of employers are purchasing air purifiers as part of reopening their workplaces amid the COVID-19 pandemic, one type of the technology might not be as effective as advertised, results of a recent study show.

Tampa, FL — Just one night of inadequate sleep can negatively affect your mental and physical well-being, a researcher from the University of South Florida says.

Washington — Workers who have diabetes may face a heightened risk of developing depression, according to a recent NIOSH study.

Atlanta — Almost three-quarters of U.S. employees are concerned about workplace safety standards and cleanliness as a protection against COVID-19, according to the results of a recent survey.

Barcelona, Spain — Exposure to printer toner, cleaning products and mold circulated in air conditioning systems – along with poor ventilation – can trigger asthma in office workers, results of a recent study out of England suggest.

Boston — Improved air quality in offices can boost worker focus, response times and overall cognitive ability, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health claim.

Adelaide, Australia — Open toilet lids, defective plumbing drains and uncovered trash cans may increase the risk of bacterial and viral disease transmission in public restrooms, according to a recent research review.

Copenhagen, Denmark — Performing “simple and brief strengthening exercises designed to strengthen the primary muscles used during work” – known as micro-exercise – while on the job may help prevent long-term sickness absences, according to a recent study out of Denmark.

Ljubljana, Slovenia — Work intensity is the most commonly identified risk factor for daily stress on the job, European researchers have concluded after conducting a research review.

Provo, UT — Nearly half of U.S. employees say they work while on vacation, according to the results of a recent survey.

Leicester, England — Researchers in England have developed a program they say can, when paired with a height-adjustable desk, reduce office workers’ sitting time by more than an hour a day.

If you have allergies or asthma, clean your smartphone more often to minimize reaction triggers that may be lurking on the surface, researchers recommend in a recent study.

London — Employees – especially younger ones – are concerned about the air quality in their workplace, according to a recently published report from Infogrid.

Tucson, AZ — A noisy office can increase stress levels. But now researchers are saying that near or complete silence at work isn’t so great either.

London – A new, free document from the International Lead Association aims to educate workers and managers in developing countries on how to minimize or eliminate the risks of toxic lead emissions.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on whether renovation, repair and painting activities in public and commercial buildings create lead-based health hazards.

Olympia, WA – The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has issued a hazard alert for workers who use thermal cutting tools to de-tension cables embedded in concrete structures such as bridges and freeway overpasses, warning them of the dangers of lead exposure.

Washington — OSHA has published a fact sheet and Quick Card intended to help employers protect workers from exposure to lead at indoor firing ranges.

Sacramento, CA — Workers with high blood lead levels will now have their cases referred to the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health – or Cal/OSHA – for review and possible action, under legislation signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Oct. 10.

Demolition work presents multiple hazards. Planning can go a long way in helping prevent worker injury and illness.

Washington — OSHA is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.

Washington — In response to multiple stakeholder requests, OSHA has extended until Oct. 28 the comment period on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.

Cincinnati — Workers replacing old water service lines may be exposed to lead piping or lead-contaminated soil – and could bring the metal home, a new NIOSH guidance document cautions.

“Arc Flash Electrical Safety,” a nine-module online course series, is a convenient and affordable self-paced course designed to help individuals who may otherwise find it difficult to attend classes through a more traditional method.

A new and improved R.A.C.E (Rescue, Alert, Confine, and Extinguish) Station is now available. It offers a variety of product options, such as an interactive emergency smartphone, pull station, electric cut-off, strobe light and annunciator, and a digital fire extinguisher stand. Each prop uses Bluetooth 5 technology to communicate between each other for up to 150 meters. The station can be used with a variety of LION training tools.

Online education provider Columbia Southern University has unveiled 27 new academic programs for interested safety professionals and students. Earn a degree or additional specializations in your field.