Practicing Office Ergonomics: or..my Arms Are Too Short!? Presented By: Tom Mayfield, CPE Director Ergonomics Programs Evans Incorporated
Presentation Background Ergonomic Risk Factors Practicing Office Ergonomics The Basic Approach My arms are too short!? Summary
Background In 1984 25% of U.S. population used computers at work, In 1997 that rose to nearly 50% and it continues to grow. 63 million workers are in jobs that require computer usage. More and more office tasks are being done on the computer - we are becoming more and more sedentary Office survey Of 100 major employers and small businesses surveyed, 35% had ergo programs in place while 22.5% reported workers comp or lost time due to ergo issues/repetitive stress injuries.* (* Survey by Total Solutions, a New York Furniture Supplier and reported in CTDNews June 2001)
As of September 2001 54% or 143 million Americans, were using the Internet, and new users were adopting the technology at a rate of more than two million per month 90% or 47.4 million, children between the ages of 5 and 17 now use computers at home and at school. 75% of 14 to 17-year-olds and 65% 10 to 13 year-olds use the Internet (CNN, February 6, 2002)
Ergonomic Risk Factors a Reminder
Ergonomic Risk Factors Anthropometry (height, reach, weight) Awkward Postures (extended, acute angles) Repetitive Motion (strains) Mechanical Stressors (point loading) Static Work (constrained position) Environmental Extremes (light, heat, noise)
What Everyone Should Know Office Ergo is Much More than an Adjustable Chair There is the Physical Component to Office Ergo: Workstation Set-Up Also Consider The Non-Physical Components to Office Ergo: Environment Job Content and Work Organization Your Work Practices These components are complex and highly interactive (e.g., if a job is not well-designed, the benefits from a well-designed workstation and environment may not be realized)
Practicing Office Ergonomics
Aim of Office Ergonomics Assessments Provide recommendations that lead to a working environment that has the greatest potential for reducing or avoiding work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD).
Office Ergo Set-Up Chair Adjustable, arm rests, lumbar support, seat pan, stable base Slight recline, inward curve of spine, thighs supported, feet flat on floor Desk Adjustable, adequate size Knee and leg room Keyboard and Mouse Adjustable, next to one another, same height Forearms parallel to floor, wrists straight, fingers relaxed Monitor Directly in front of user, no glare/reflections, brightness and contrast, Top of screen slightly below eye level, viewing distance b/w 18 and 30 Work Areas Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Other Breaks, 20/20/20, exercises Telephones and headsets, document holder
The Neutral Posture Viewing distance greater than 18" Shoulders relaxed with upper and lower arm forming comfortable angle Trunk slightly reclined at 105 o angle Seat fully adjustable from sitting position, 5-star castors 105 o Top of screen at or slighty below eye level Keep wrists straight and fingers relaxed Forearm should be parallel to floor The mouse should be next to keyboard at same height Thighs parallel to the floor creating a 90 0 angle with the lower leg Clearance between front of seat pan, thigh, and the back of the knee Feet firmly supported on floor or footrest
Environmental Comfort Zone Temperature - 19 to 20º C Lighting - 500 to 1000 Lux Humidity - 58% To 22% Noise - <75dBA For effective conversation Air Flow - <0.1m/s Air Changes - 2 to 3 Per Hour HF5
Work Practices Occasional (but not habitual) reaching and stretching are good Contorted postures are bad HF5
Job Content & Work Organization Challenge Autonomy Feedback Skill Utilization Rest Pauses Working Relationships
Ergo Assessments Assess Work Environment for Risk Factors Record environmental data on a grid of the office layout Assess Workstations/Tasks for Ergonomic Risk Factors Detailed risk analysis checklist Local readings for light, noise, temperature, humidity Identify Risk-Factor Causes and Recommend Controls Easy fixes correctly position equipment, adjust chair, etc. Involved fixes New equipment/furniture, rearrangement, etc. Evaluate Effectiveness of Control Measures Ensure risk factors reduced or eliminated Training Ergo awareness How to perform your own ergo assessments HF5
Typical Solution Development Considerations: Prior to implementing solutions, check the following: Impact of changes on other body structures Have differences in workforce anthropometry been accounted for? Recommended Actions: Description of the proposed actions to address the ergonomic problem(s) outlined in the analysis Provide suggested interim fixes (if applicable) and then permanent solutions
Responsibility & Action For each proposed action recommended: The action to be completed The area/person responsible Expected date of completion Actual date of completion for all actions Any training, exercises etc. necessary
Evaluate Effectiveness of Control Measures A follow-up evaluation is performed to ensure that the implemented controls have reduced or eliminated the risk factors and that new risk factors have not been introduced. A check is also made to see that that recommendations are being implemented, as any departure from the final set-up would compromise the benefits of the assessment.
My arms are too short!?
Good Practice?
Which Hand Keyboard? The right hand keyboard, so called, actually penalizes smaller users by extending their reach to accommodate a number pad which few people use. In fact a better alternative is a left handed keyboard for right-handed mouse users.
Ergonomic Chairs Are they sitting comfortably? What range does it cover 5 th to 95 th or 10 th to 90 th Is the back angle adjustment separate from the seat pan angle? Is there lumber support at the right height? The arm rests are adjustable aren t they?
Desk Size and Clutter Desk height incompatible with chair arms height Leg room inhibited Cannot position screen in front of user? Desk width too short even for flat screen
Paperless Office? Notices and reminders no electronic versions? Desk space adequate? Document holders?
Good Example? Doesn t reflect reality No paper Everything needed is at arms reach away
Summary Ergonomic assessment checklists are great for guidance Reality is: Ergonomic chairs don t fit everyone Desks are too small Workspaces are always too small Paper is still with us The message is still: Fit the person to the task!
Tom Mayfield, MSc, CPE Evans Incorporated Fairfax, Virginia USA (703) 663-2480 phone (703) 645-0308 fax www.evansincorporated.com information@evolvenow.us