Ergonomic Hazards: 6 Types, Real Examples and How to Fix Them

Lifting and moving heavy objects costs U.S. employers $13.3 billion a year.

That’s from Liberty Mutual’s 2021 Workplace Safety Index, as reported by OSHA.com, a private training firm. And heavy lifting is just one of the ergonomic hazards you’ll find at work.

The good news? Most are easy to spot once you know what to look for.

So here’s each type, with real examples and fixes.

What Are Ergonomic Hazards?

Ergonomic hazards are job setups that strain your body through awkward postures, repeated motion, heavy force or vibration. Over time, they cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which are injuries to your muscles, tendons, joints, nerves and spinal discs.

Unlike a slip or a burn, the damage to your tissues builds slowly. One awkward lift rarely hurts you, but the same lift all shift, every shift, can.

That slow build is why ergonomic hazards get ignored until someone files a claim.

In fact, WorkSafeBC accepted about 88,000 time-loss claims for these injuries from 2020 to 2024, worth over $2.35 billion, says safety firm Safety Evolution.

The 6 Main Types of Ergonomic Hazards

The 6 main types of ergonomic hazards are awkward or static postures, repetitive motion, forceful exertion, vibration, contact stress and poor workstation design. Most jobs mix 2 or 3 of them, and the risk climbs when they combine.

Here’s what each one looks like:

• Awkward or static postures: bending, twisting, kneeling, reaching overhead or holding one position so long it slows blood flow.
• Repetitive motion: typing on keyboards, scanning or assembly work with few breaks.
• Forceful exertion: heavy lifting, pushing, pulling and other material handling, like hauling cement bags.
• Vibration: hand tools like grinders and jackhammers, or the whole body in forklifts and heavy machines.
• Contact stress: a hard edge pressing into your wrists, knees or palms.
• Poor workstation design: fixed chairs, monitors at the wrong height and poor lighting.

Cold makes all of this worse. OSHA’s list of risk factors, as summarized by OSHA.com, says cold temperatures raise MSD risk when combined with any other risk factor.

Ergonomic Hazard Examples by Job

Ergonomic hazard examples change with the job. Desk workers mostly face long sitting and repeated mouse work, while construction and warehouse crews face heavy lifting, vibration and kneeling.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Construction is hit hardest: almost 46% of construction workers report MSD symptoms, according to figures OSHA.com cites.

What Ergonomic Hazards Do to Your Body

Ergonomic hazards cause musculoskeletal disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, muscle strains, and back, neck and shoulder pain. Each one has its own causes and warning signs.

The costs add up for every workplace. The same Liberty Mutual index puts poor postures at $4.71 billion a year in direct U.S. costs, and repetitive tasks at $1.66 billion.

So watch for stiffness, numbness, tingling, swelling, a weaker grip or soreness in your back, hip or wrists that keeps coming back. Report it early, while a small change like an ergonomic mouse for carpal tunnel can still help.

How to Identify Ergonomic Hazards at Work

To identify ergonomic hazards, watch real tasks, ask workers what makes them sore and check injury records for repeat strains. Here’s the process:

1. Watch the work. Make direct observations of bending, reaching, twisting and long holds.
2. Ask the crew. “Which task leaves you sore by the end of the day?” beats any checklist.
3. Check the records. 3 strains on one task in your workers’ compensation claims isn’t bad luck.
4. Score the risk. An ergonomic assessment or risk evaluation ranks which task to fix first.

Fix the top task first.

How to Control Ergonomic Hazards

Ergonomic hazards are controlled in a set order. First remove the hazard, then use engineering controls that change the job, then administrative controls that change the schedule, and personal protective equipment (PPE) last.

Here’s how each level looks:

• Engineering controls: adjustable workstations, lifting devices and tools that reduce strain.
• Administrative controls: job rotation, set breaks, slower pacing and ergonomics training.
• PPE: knee pads, anti-vibration gloves and padded straps.

The catch? Training and PPE alone leave the hazard in place.

Need a change at your own desk? Ask for an ergonomic accommodation in writing, like this:

My [task] is causing [symptom]. Can we try [specific fix]?

Does OSHA Have an Ergonomics Standard?

OSHA has no specific federal ergonomics standard. But it can still cite employers for serious, known ergonomic hazards under the OSH Act’s General Duty Clause.

There’s no federal ergonomics training rule either, OSHA.com notes.

You’re also protected when you speak up.

If you’re fired or punished for a safety complaint, the OSH Act’s retaliation rule gives you 30 days to file with the Secretary of Labor.

Don’t wait: that 30-day clock starts when the retaliation happens.

Start With One Task This Week

Most ergonomic hazards come from how a job is set up, not from the person doing it.

So pick the one task that leaves you or your crew sorest, and change its setup before Friday.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top 3 ergonomic risk factors?

The top 3 ergonomic risk factors are force, awkward posture and repetition. Most work-related musculoskeletal disorders trace back to one or more of them, and the risk climbs when they combine.

What is an example of ergonomic safety?

A simple example of ergonomic safety is moving heavy loads with a hoist or cart instead of lifting them by hand. Raising a monitor to eye level and rotating workers off repetitive tasks are two more.

What are common causes of musculoskeletal disorders?

The common causes of work-related musculoskeletal disorders are heavy lifting, repetitive motion, awkward or static postures, vibration and contact stress.