Hudson Couto, PhD and Dennis Couto

"The Relevance of Bad Ergonomic Conditions in the Origin of Work Accidents at Brazilian Companies"

Abstract: A deep revision of 983 work-related accidents at 14 companies in Brazil, using a prepared flowchart to guide the conclusion about the factors involved in the human failure, showed that bad ergonomic condition was considered important in the origin of 405 accidents (41%). The main factors detected were: lack of tool or unsuitable tool (in 21% of all events), improper (inadequate) layout (18%), operation standards did not fulfil ergonomics requirements (17%), awkward body position (16%), adverse floor (15%), overload linked to the task (10%), unsuitable procedure to move or convey material (10%), unsuitable access, stairs, ladders and ramps (9%) and high intensity efforts (8%). The identification of ergonomics-related causes in the origin of typical work-related accidents highlights the companies’ strong necessity to implement ergonomic actions in their safety programs. A significant improvement in accident indicators may be obtained when the investigation process not only detects human failures, but also asks whether the worker’s condition to do the job could be different from that one existing when the accident occurred. The ergonomic factor showed in this research (41%) is highly significant and it can be stated that it should be a priority as important as the investments in the safety culture.

Bio: Hudson Couto – Occupational Physician, PhD, Professor of Physiology and Ergonomics at Medical School, Consultancy in Ergonomics and Safety in Brazil, author of 15 books.
Dennis Couto – Automation and Control Engineer, Ergonomics Specialist, co-author of the book A New Vision on Work Accidents Prevention- The Ergonomic Factor (in Portuguese)