This material is for training purposes only to inform the reader of occupational safety and health best practices and general compliance requirements and is not a substitute for provisions of the OSH Act of 1970 or any governmental regulatory agency.
Design Strategies
Design strategies emphasize fitting job demands to the capabilities and limitations of
workers. Deciding which functions can be done best by machines and which by people
is a primary objective. For example, for tasks requiring heavy materials handling and
transport, ready use of mechanical assist devices to reduce the need for manual
handling would be designed into the process. Large-sized units could be broken into
smaller, more manageable ones, and equipment could be selected that most helps the
workers using it.
Design strategies try to target the causes of potential musculoskeletal problems. For
this reason, engineering approaches are preferred over administrative ones because they
eliminate the risk factors as opposed to simply reducing exposure to them. For
example, having machines do monotonous, repetitive, forceful work is better than
subjecting workers to these risk factors. Administrative controls (such as worker
rotation or allowing more rest breaks) remain stop-gap measures. They are not
permanent solutions.
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