HPC-9 Ergonomics

and Facilities
Planning in
Hospitality Industry
JUDY ANNE M. BAUTISTA
Course Instructor
Learning Objectives
• Define what is ergonomics;
• Understand the different scope of
ergonomics; and
• Discuss the importance of ergonomics in
Hospitality Industry.

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 INTRODUCTION
TO ERGONOMICS
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Introduction
• The hospitality industry is
a prime candidate to
implement ergonomic
solutions. Workers in
restaurants and lodging
facilities perform many
types of jobs. Many of these
jobs are very physical.
Dishwashers, servers,
bartenders and luggage
handlers are all at risk of
on-the-job injuries.
• Among them were sprains
and strains as they stated,
"Misplaced or hard-to-
reach items can cause
worker injury due to
overreaching or trips.
Restaurant workers can
also suffer from strains due
to improper lifting.
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 What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics
• Ergonomics is a term used to describe the science that studies the human
being in relationship to other important elements such as their work
environment. The International Ergonomics Association describes the discipline
as one that is “concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans
and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory,
principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being
and overall system performance”. In theory ergonomics can encompass many
things, but the reality is that it often focuses on the improvement of comfort and
efficiency.
One of the key issues with poor ergonomics is Musculoskeletal Disorders which consists of
muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons. Workers from many different
industries can be affected differently as every company has their own set of work related
risks. Common causes of Musculoskeletal Disorders include awkward posture, high forces,
contact stress, vibrations and exposure to cold.
Lifting incorrectly can result in a variety of injuries. Back strain is a very common one. It
results from over-stretching certain muscles, but it can be avoided by practicing safe lifting
techniques. A hernia is another injury associated with lifting. A hernia does not generally
result from a single lifting effort. It is usually the result of continued extreme exertion,
especially done contrary to the structure of body.
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Principles of
Ergonomics