Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is an ergonomic job analysis?
A. An ergonomic job analysis defines the essential functions, or tasks, of any given job. It identifies and measures the exact physical requirements of those tasks.
Q. Why is an ergonomic job analysis important?
A. It clearly identifies, in measurable terms, the exact physical requirements of the job. It is an objective account of the job.
It is the basis for any comprehensive ergonomic and human resource managment program. It provides necessary information for: Functional Job Descriptions, Employee Job Matching with Pre-Work Screens, Engineering or Adminstrative Controls, OSHA and ADA Compliance.
Q. What is a ‘Functional’ Job Description?
A. A Functional Job Description (FJD) defines the job requirements in physical and functional terms. In addition to identifying what the tasks are, it describes how the tasks are completed: how much, how heavy, how often, how far, how high.
Q. What is Job Matching?
A. Employees can be ‘matched’ to specific jobs by comparing the physical requirements of a job with the physical abilities of an employee. This can only be accomplished if the exact physical requirements of the job are known (through an ergonomic job analysis).
Q. What are Engineering and Administrative ‘Controls’?
A. Engineering controls eliminate high-risk postures, excessive forces and repetitions by re-designing work stations, work methods, or tools.
Administrative controls reduce the harmful effects of high-risk tasks through operational modifications. Examples include job rotation, job sharing, education and training. OSHA has issued guidelines to assist employers in the management of worker safety and health. OSHA identifies four (4) basic elements:
Q. What does OSHA recommend?
A. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 clearly states it is the general duty of all employers to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized serious hazards. This includes the prevention and control of ergonomic hazards.
- work-site (job) analysis
- hazard prevention & control
- medical treatment
- training and education
OSHA specifies that work-site analysis should receive first attention.
Q. How does the ADA relate to the Job Analysis?
A. The ergonomic job analysis is used to determine if a qualified individual can perform the essential, and required, physical job tasks with or without reasonable accommodation. The job analysis provides the information necessary to describe the job in functional terms, and is used to then determine if an individual can accomplish those tasks, and if accommodation is required.
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