Ergonomics is the science of fitting work to people rather than forcing people to fit the work. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) explains that ergonomics focuses on creating tools, tasks and environments that improve comfort, reduce injuries and promote health. When workstations, tools and job processes are designed around human capabilities and limitations, employees experience fewer musculoskeletal injuries and greater productivity. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) like back pain and repetitive‑strain injuries cost businesses billions in lost productivity and workers’ compensation.
Why ergonomics matters
1. Reducing injury and disability
Proper ergonomic design aims to minimize awkward postures, excessive force, repetitive motions and other risk factors that lead to musculoskeletal disorders. NIOSH notes that ergonomics prevents musculoskeletal injuries by improving comfort and health. When workplaces invest in ergonomic improvements—adjustable workstations, lift-assist devices, balanced workloads—employees suffer fewer injuries, take fewer sick days and are more productive.
2. Overexertion is a leading cause of workers’ compensation costs
Overexertion and bodily reaction injuries (often caused by lifting, pushing, pulling or carrying) are a leading cause of nonfatal injuries requiring days away from work, job transfer or restriction. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over the 2021‑2022 period, overexertion and bodily reaction accounted for 1,001,440 DART cases—more than any other event or exposure. These injuries impose significant economic costs: the National Safety Council estimates that the total cost of work injuries in 2023 was $176.5 billion, and the cost per medically consulted injury was $43,000. High‑risk tasks in construction, warehousing and other physically demanding roles highlight the importance of preventative ergonomics programs and proactive risk assessment.
3. Ergonomics boosts morale and retention
Employees who experience less pain and fatigue at work are happier and stay longer. Reducing injuries through ergonomic design can improve employee satisfaction and morale while reducing turnover costs. Conversely, poorly designed work environments lead to frustration, decreased productivity and higher absenteeism.
Where AI and computer vision come in
Traditional ergonomic assessments rely on observations, checklists and manual measurements. While useful, these methods can be subjective, labour‑intensive and limited in scope. Emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision—bring new capabilities to ergonomic assessment and training.
AI‑powered movement analysis
Sensor‑free monitoring: Computer vision systems can analyze workers’ movements using standard cameras without requiring employees to wear sensors or motion‑capture suits. This makes monitoring less intrusive and easier to scale.
Real‑time feedback: AI algorithms identify risky movements—like frequent bending, twisting or overreaching—and provide immediate feedback to the worker or supervisor. This helps teams intervene before an injury occurs.
Objective data: AI systems quantify posture angles, joint loads and repetition rates, reducing the subjectivity of manual assessments. The data can be used to evaluate process changes, training effectiveness and compliance.
Benefits for safety teams
By automating repetitive assessments and highlighting the most critical risks, AI and computer vision enable safety professionals to focus on training and strategic improvements. They also create a continuous feedback loop: workers receive guidance on safer techniques, while managers gain insight into trends and can prioritize interventions. This technology complements traditional ergonomics—human factors professionals still need to interpret data and design solutions—but it dramatically increases the scale and speed at which risks can be addressed.
Taking the next steps
October is National/Global Ergonomics Month—an ideal time to evaluate how your organization approaches ergonomics. Consider conducting a risk assessment of high‑injury tasks and exploring AI tools that can detect and coach safer movements. When you design work to fit people and leverage technology for insight, you can reduce injuries, boost morale and strengthen your bottom line.
References
NIOSH. “Celebrating National Ergonomics Month.” Blogs.cdc.gov. [The blog explains that ergonomics focuses on creating tools, tasks and environments that improve comfort, reduce injuries and promote health and well-beingblogs.cdc.gov.]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employer‑Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses (Annual) News Release – 2022 A01 Results. [This release explains that over the 2021‑2022 period, overexertion and bodily reaction had the most cases involving days away from work, job transfer or restriction, with 1,001,440 casesbls.gov.]
National Safety Council. Work Injury Costs – Injury Facts. [This page reports that the total cost of work injuries in 2023 was $176.5 billion and the cost per medically consulted injury was $43,000injuryfacts.nsc.org.]
