Understanding Ergonomic Factors Affecting Health: A Comprehensive Review of Occupational and Environmental Influences

Understanding ergonomic factors that affect human health is critical for designing work environments that protect physical and psychological well-being. Ergonomics, or human factors engineering, optimizes the interaction between humans and workplace demands to enhance safety, comfort, and performance. This review synthesizes recent research on key ergonomic risk factors impacting health in occupational settings, including awkward postures, repetitive motions, forceful exertions, prolonged static loads, and environmental stressors (e.g., poor lighting, noise, and thermal conditions). These factors strongly link to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), a leading cause of occupational injury worldwide. Psychosocial and organizational elements, such as workload and job control, further influence exposures and outcomes. Despite widespread interventions, gaps remain in understanding combined exposures, cognitive ergonomics, and long-term effects. This review proposes an integrated framework incorporating physical, environmental, and organizational dimensions to improve worker health and sustainability.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ergonomics ، ergonomic risk factors ، occupational health ، musculoskeletal disorders ، work environment ، human factors