Review of system designs employs ergonomics prior to work injuries. CTDs do not need to be the result of trial-and-error processes with new or simpler equipment.

The six stages of complex man/machine systems design can and should be applied to simpler systems as well. This process ensures that operator performance requirements are carefully considered and that operators will not be overloaded. When ergonomic considerations are ignored, cumulative trauma disorders among operators often occur after weeks, months or years of system use. Many problems can be avoided with little or no additional cost if ergonomics is considered during the design or equipment selection phase of new systems. For existing systems, an ergonomics review can determine the necessary interface enhancements or function re-allocations that will resolve problems, and reduce the likelihood of injury.