Industry Guidelines

Business associations, labor groups and governmental agencies have created ergonomics guidelines for a variety of industries. Links to these guidelines are listed below, by industry sector.

Agriculture

• Fruit Growing and Packing, L&I Demonstration Project (357 KB PDF).
• Ergonomics for Farm Workers, NIOSH Simple Solutions.
• Manual Handling Solutions for Farms, Health and Safety Executive (173 KB PDF) (United Kingdom).

Construction

General Construction

• Ergonomics for Construction Workers, NIOSH Simple Solutions.
• Ergonomics for Construction Workers, CPWR Supplement.
• Reducing Sprains and Strains in Construction through Worker Participation -- A Manual for Managers and Workers.
• Construction Industry, Ergonomics Best Practices, Ohio BWC (163 KB PDF).
• Non-powered hand tools, a guide to selecting, NIOSH Easy Ergonomics (1,076 KB PDF / 3 min.).
  

Trade Specific

• Carpentry, Laborers, Rebar and Concrete Finishing (1,440 KB PDF / 3 min.) - L&I Demonstration Project.
• Concrete Construction, LHSFNA Ergonomic Tip Sheets.
• Electrical Contractors, OSHA eTool.
• Framing, Carpet and Floor Installation - L&I Demonstration Project.
• Masonry, Stonework and Tile Setting (149 KB PDF) - L&I Demonstration Project.
• Steelworkers’ Ergonomics Guide ( Canada) (295 KB PDF).
• Wallboard Installation and Finishing (500 KB PDF) - L&I Demonstration Project.

Healthcare

Dental Care

• American Dental Association Ergonomics Guidelines.

Hospitals

• Hospitals and Residential Care (New Zealand).

Laboratories

• CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/ergonomics/labergo.htm.
• UCLA: http://ergonomics.ucla.edu/lab.html.
• UCSD: http://www-ehs.ucsd.edu/ergo/training/labergo/ErgoLabSlide1.htm.

Long Term Care

• Nursing Homes, OSHA eTool.
• Nursing Homes, OSHA Guidelines.
• Safe Lifting and Movement of Nursing Home Residents - NIOSH.
• Resident Handling: A Practical Guide (Canada).
• Extended Care, Ergonomics Best Practices (221 KB PDF) - Ohio BWC.

Residential Care

• Residential Care (1000 KB PDF / 3 min.) - L&I Demonstration Project.

Sonography

• Sonography Industry Standards (117 KB PDF).

Veterinary Medicine

• Veterinary Medicine.

Manufacturing

• Manufacturing, Ergonomics Best Practices (223 KB PDF) - Ohio BWC.
• Manufacturing: Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries (1000 KB PDF / 3 min.) (British Columbia).
• Manufacturing Industry, Manual Handling (New Zealand).

Apparel

• Clothing Industry Ergonomic Handbook (1000 KB PDF / 3 min.) (Canada).
• Apparel and Footwear Ergonomics Manual (91 KB DOC).
• Sewing, OSHA eTool.
• Textiles Industry, Manual Handling (289 KB PDF) (UK).

Food Processing

• Food Processing, Ergonomics in Action (5,000 KB PDF / 14 min.) (Canada).
• Meat, Poultry and Seafood Processing Guidelines (New Zealand).
• Poultry Processing, OSHA eTool.
• Meat Processing (4,400 KB PDF / 12 min.), OSHA Guidelines.
• Red Meat Industry, Manual Handling (696 KB PDF) (Australia).

Furniture Manufacturing

• Furniture Manufacturing, Voluntary Ergonomics Guideline (4,000 KB PDF / 11 min.).

Plastics Manufacturing

• Plastics Manufacturing, Ergonomics Best Practices (202 KB PDF) - Ohio BWC.

Pharmaceuticals

• Ergonomics in the Pharmaceutical Industry (202 KB PDF) (UK).

Printing Industry

• Printing, OSHA eTool.

Shipyards

• Ship Building Ergonomics Guide (5,220 KB PDF / 15 min.).
• Shipyards, Ergonomic Solutions - NIOSH.
• Shipyard Guidelines - OSHA.

Wood Products

• Lumber Handling in Sawmills (1,382 KB PDF / 4 min.) - L&I Demonstration Project.

Offices and Computer Workstations

• OSHA Computer Workstation Ergonomics eTool.
• Office Ergonomics: Practical Solutions for a Safer Workplace (1,800 KB PDF / 5 min.).

Public Administration

• Public Employers, Ergonomics Best Practices (211 KB PDF) - Ohio BWC.

Services

Automotive Repair

• Automotive Workshop Safety (428 KB PDF) (Australia).

Janitorial Services

• Working Safer and Easier for Janitors, Custodians and Housekeepers (3,740 KB PDF / 11 min.).
• Safe Work Practices for Custodians: A Clean Sweep (3,450 KB PDF / 10 min.) (British Columbia).

Landscaping Services

• Landscaping Industry (727 KB PDF) - L&I Demonstration Project.

Printing Industry

• Manual Handling in the Printing Industry (UK).

 

Transportation and Warehousing

Air Transportation

• Customer Service Agents (744 KB PDF) - L&I Demonstration Project.
• Baggage Handling - OSHA eTool.
• Baggage Handling (UK).
• Manual Handling in Airports (Ireland).

Trucking and Warehousing

• Road transport, eliminating manual handling injuries (808 KB PDF/ 2 min.) (Safety by Design: Australia).

Utilities

• Utilities (2,920 KB PDF / 8 min.) - L&I Demonstration Project

Telecommunications

• Telecommunications Industry, Ergonomic Guidelines.

Solid Waste and Recycling

• Solid Waste and Recycling (375 KB PDF) - L&I Demonstration Project.

Wholesale/Retail

• Retail Grocery (922 KB PDF) - OSHA Guidelines.
• Grocery Warehousing - OSHA eTool.
• Beverage Delivery - OSHA eTool.
• Soft Drink Beverage Delivery Industry - NIOSH Ergonomic Intervention.
• Liquor Retail (128 KB PDF) (Australia).
• Tire Retail (134 KB PDF) (Australia).

Do you know of an ergonomics guideline that’s not on the list? Or, are you interested in creating comprehensive ergonomics guidelines for your industry here in Washington State? Please let us know by sending an e-mail to ergonomics@LNI.wa.gov.