Ergonomic Guidelines for Shipyard Personnel

Shipyard injuries rarely announce themselves — they accumulate quietly through repeated strain, awkward postures, and forceful exertions until a Sailor is on limited duty or facing separation. Grounded in OSHA Publication 3341, OPNAVINST 5100.23H, and Naval Postgraduate School Safety Program guidance, this guide gives shipyard personnel the ergonomic hazard awareness and practical countermeasures to protect their bodies before the damage becomes irreversible.

• Identify the ergonomic risk factors — force, repetition, awkward posture, vibration, and contact stress — present in your specific shipyard work environment
• Apply ergonomic solutions for equipment handling, tool use, welding operations, and shipside work that reduce musculoskeletal strain
• Use proper lifting techniques that protect the spine and joints during the heavy, repetitive material handling common in shipyard operations
• Build daily stretching and mobility routines that counter the physical demands of sustained shipyard work
• Recognize early warning signs of musculoskeletal injury and act before acute discomfort becomes a career-limiting condition