The introduction of the Ergonomics Regulation 2019 created a golden opportunity for occupational therapists to harness the core principles of its profession and assist employers in promoting the well-being, productivity, and safety of their workforce.
Ergonomics, also known as human factors engineering, is the scientific discipline of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities, limitations and needs of the working population. The International Ergonomics Association defines three broad domains of ergonomics, namely, physical, cognitive and organisational:
- Physical ergonomics addresses the physical interactions between humans and their work environments, tools, equipment, and tasks to minimise physical strain, discomfort, and the risk of various physical disorders, including, musculoskeletal, neurological, sensory, respiratory, and cardiovascular. It takes into account various factors such as posture, repetitive movements, forceful exertions, and the arrangement of workstations and work processes to promote comfort, safety and efficiency.
- Cognitive ergonomics focuses on cognitive and executive processes such as attention, perception, memory, decision-making, problem solving, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. These processes enable employees to pay attention, organise and plan their work, initiate tasks and stay focused on them, regulate their emotions, make sound decisions, solve problems, adapt to change, and communicate effectively to complete their work tasks accurately and efficiently.
- Organisational ergonomics considers factors such as communication processes, teamwork, work scheduling, job design, and management practices to optimise productivity, safety and employee well-being. It seeks to create work environments that promote productivity, job satisfaction, employee engagement and a healthy work-life balance.
The synergy between ergonomics and occupational therapy
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The principles of TheThe principles of ergonomics align perfectly with the philosophical framework of occupational therapy, which considers the physical, psychological, social, task and environmental factors that influence a person’s ability to engage effectively and safely in their daily activities, including remunerative employment. Occupational therapists have a broad education in medical, social behavioural, psychological, psychosocial, and occupational sciences. This, combined with a rigorous training in assessment of human functional performance and analysis of task/job/environment demands gives occupational therapists a thorough understanding of the intricate interplay between the person (worker), their occupation (work task) and their environment (workplace). This equips them to effectively identify and address any needs, risks, and dysfunctions in worker performance within various work settings.
What does the Ergonomic Regulation require of employers?
The Ergonomics Regulation was promulgated on 6 December 2019. However, due to the COVID lockdown, the Department of Employment and Labour granted temporary exemption of Regulations 6 (ergonomic risk assessment) and 8 (medical surveillance) until 1 July 2021. Since July 2021, employers have been under increasing pressure to implement the Regulation in their workplaces. Compliance requirements for employers can be broadly divided into four areas of intervention: (a) Ergonomic risk assessment and risk control (Regulations 6 and 7), (b) Information, instruction, and training (Regulation 3), and (c) Medical surveillance (Regulation 8). Occupational therapists are well-positioned to provide valuable contributions to each of these areas of intervention.
Ergonomic risk assessment and risk control
The Regulation requires that a risk assessment be performed by a so-called competent person for any work that may expose employees to ergonomic risks. The Regulation defines a competent person as “a person who (a) has in respect of the work or task to be performed the required knowledge, training and experience in ergonomics and, where applicable, qualifications specific to ergonomics: provided that where appropriate qualifications and training are registered in terms of the provisions of the National Qualifications Framework Act, 2008, those qualifications and that training must be regarded as the required qualifications and training; and (b) is familiar with the Act and the applicable regulations made under the Act.” The risk assessment should also identify any employees who may require medical surveillance. Based on the ergonomic risk assessment, employers are required to manage and reduce the identified risks according to the hierarchy of risk controls, a systematic approach used in occupational health and safety (OHS) to manage and mitigate workplace hazards and risks.
Information, instruction, and training
Regulation 3 requires employers to provide “information, instruction and training for any person who may be exposed to ergonomic risk”. This training must be planned and implemented in consultation with the health and safety representative or committee and should include both pre-placement training (before an employee starts work on a particular job) and refresher training. Training must be easily understood by all affected employees and may be conducted either internally or externally. The Regulation emphasizes the importance of comprehensive training for the health and safety representative and/or committee.
Foundational to occupational therapy practice is the provision of instruction, education and training to patients and clients. These education and training interventions are provided to individuals or groups and aim to prevent illness, injury, and dysfunction, and promote or restore wellness and optimal participation in daily occupations. In the workplace, occupational therapists are thus skilled in identifying appropriate ergonomic training needs, developing practical and effective training programmes and tools, and presenting training at various levels of complexity.
Medical surveillance
The Regulation requires that all employees at risk for ergonomic-related pathology be identified and placed under medical surveillance. Medical surveillance is defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act as “a planned programme of periodic examination/medicals (which may include clinical examinations, biological monitoring or medical tests) of employees by an Occupational Health Practitioner (OHP) or, in prescribed cases, by an Occupational Medical Practitioner (OMP)”. Medical surveillance is risk-based, and vulnerable employees should be identified during the ergonomic risk assessment. Ergonomics medical surveillance should be integrated into existing medical surveillance programs if possible. Employers who do not have existing medical monitoring programmes should establish them. Employee rehabilitation in the workplace should form part of an ergonomics medical surveillance programme.
As registered healthcare professionals, occupational therapists understand medical pathology and are able to identify existing health conditions as well as those at risk for developing health problems during the ergonomic risk assessment. This allows them to make appropriate referrals for medical surveillance, and where necessary, recommend rehabilitation, workplace adjustments or follow-up care.
Conclusion
Occupational therapists are uniquely qualified to provide ergonomics interventions in the workplace due to their comprehensive training in healthcare sciences, occupational performance, activity analysis, ergonomic principles, and their expertise in adapting activities and environments to meet individual needs. Their holistic approach ensures that interventions are tailored to address the unique risks and requirements of individual employees based on their job tasks and the demands of their work environment. With their focus on prevention, rehabilitation, and personalised interventions, occupational therapists play a pivotal role in enhancing both the physical and mental wellbeing of workers while optimizing their productivity, safety, and job satisfaction.
Article by: Lyndsey Swart
Last Updated on 26 October 2023 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs