Ergonomics. Office ergonomics. Key Points

Transcription

1 Ergonomics Health and Safety Management Tom Brandon, CPP, CUSA O (619) Professional Certificate in Human Resources F (619) fortressec@cox.net Office ergonomics The way it was The way it is Getting the big picture Work and away from work factors Back injury prevention for the long term Office ergonomics Best practices Key Points Foundation of Knowledge (especially in past 15 years) Self-Directed (as opposed to let me fix that for you) Office ergonomics (no longer just about occupational work)

2 Ergonomic Origins and the way it was (and is) Workstation Adjustment (focus) Tool Design (active today) Stretching (afterthought) Office Evolution The Office of the 70 s Four electrical items The Office of the 90 s Seven electrical items The Office of the New Century Multiple Computers / Peripherals Remote and work-from-home trends and benefits Rapid increase in the # of remote workers July 09: 2000 Cisco employees telework 2 days per week and report higher productivity and timeliness improved during telework (annual company savings of $277 million). Feb 08: The Journal of Applied Psychology. Study identify positive results of telecommuting including: increased control, increased work/family balance, improved supervisor-staff relationships, reduced stress, increased job satisfaction, worker retention, and improved productivity and career prospects. Employee telecommuters in the U.S. increased 39 percent, from 12.4 million in 2006 to 17.2 million in million Americans (1/4 of the workforce), work outside of the traditional office setting at least once a month.

3 How much time do we really spend at our occupational work 168 total hrs in week (most people work on average hrs per week) 77% 77% = Away from occupational work 23% 23% = Occupational work Today's View on Ergonomics Get the Big Picture Importance of Health & Fitness Actions/Personal Responsibility Away from work Facebook (for example) Fastest growing demographic is those 35++ Average user has 130 friends on site 65 million active users through mobile devices Online games (just one Farmville 50M active users/day)

4 Individual Injury Factors Gender - some studies have found a higher prevalence of some musculoskeletal disorders in women Cigarette Smoking - some studies have found smoking related to pain in the extremities, including the neck and back Strength - the risk for musculoskeletal injuries (in some studies) was three times greater in weaker subjects Anthropometry - weight, height, body mass index, and obesity have all been identified as indicators for certain musculoskeletal disorders Physical Activity - a lack (or over exertion) of physical activity may increase susceptibility to injury (sedentary lifestyles?) Taking care of your back It's really much more simple than we've made it out to be Do you remember babyhood?

5 Taking care of your back Keep it simple Lift like a baby Some things we see

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7 Before After Sample Recommendations Elevate desk about 4-6 inches (to meet proper body alignments as discussed). It may be advantageous to experiment by placing your keyboard and mouse on your desk (eventually removing your keyboard tray) Replace chair (or seat of chair) it is worn to the point of not providing good cushion support Continue to adjust your chair - so that you plant your feet while seated at your computer Complete Anthony Carey s book - Pain Free Program Continue to use a headset/speakerphone at all times -- at work, home, and with your cell phone It may be of benefit to try your chair without armrests removing the armrests can be an improvement for many people

8 Sample Recommendations Start an effective/balance-based exercise program (such as Anthony Carey s Pain-Free Program ) Rotate your mouse device so that you may use your left hand for mouse work (for at least the next 30 days). After that, rotate mouse between hands every 30 days Continue to incorporate regular at-work and off-work exercises Incorporate all of these recommendations at your home, and while you are traveling. Make adjustments to make things ergonomically work for you Use effective devices and tools (What are some of the tools we use during the day to enhance our ergonomic well-being?) Some basic ergonomic ideas and protecting against injury Good "ergonomic" posture "Hang" the arms (natural position) Physical, mental & nutritional balance Warm up before beginning physical activities Leave the remote on top of the television The body was made to move - motion promotes health Some basic ergonomic ideas and protecting against injury Routinely alternate hands for physical tasks Stand while talking on the phone at home (and on-the-job) Keep those snacks in the kitchen (so when the commercial or pause comes on you have to get up to eat) Take hourly stretch breaks while "surfing the net Prepare for sedentary jobs by keeping physically fit Well rested Exercise & stretching

9 Really simple stuff Chair Twists Squats Chair Lifts Hip Abductions Deck Push-ups Leg Lifts Book Lifts More really simple stuff Stretching Programs by Kate Montgomery Pain Free Program by Anthony Carey Yoga Other Benefits of good ergonomics...improved outlook and quality of life...less likely to have back pain...improved function of extremities...reduced blood pressure...decreased risk of chronic diseases...slows the degenerative effects of aging

10 A Final Word Warm up before beginning physical activities Proper breathing Exercise & stretching Good "ergonomic" posture "Hang" the arms (natural position) Physical, mental & nutritional balance Resources Occupational work comprises about 24% of a persons time in a given week (40 hours of work, divided by 168 total hours). This showstheimportance of continuing to examine away from work ergonomic/fitness activities. 24% At work 76% Away from work Example 1 Example 2 Demonstration photos of Krista Scott-Dixon Ergonomics Workplace Safety: A Guide for Small and Midsized Companies (Ergonomics chapter) (Wiley) For posture in neck and back Treat Your Own Neck and Treat Your Own Back (Optp) by Robin McKenzie. These books are readily available through Amazon.com, other online stores and major bookstores. They are by far the best written books on the subject of improving posture, healing injuries, and eliminating problems because bad posture. Function fitness exercises to help maintain good posture Anthony Carey s book, Pain Free Program (Wiley) consider incorporating his or similar exercises to help maintain good posture, including the strengthening of your back, shoulders, and neck. acarey@functionfirst.com Specific exercises to help prevent wrist and upper extremity problems Kate Montgomery s End Your Carpal Tunnel Pain Without Surgery (Sports Touch Publishing) to help prevent wrist and upper extremity problems. Available online (ebook) and at Resources Tools and resources Lifting