Office Ergonomics UNCG Department of environmental health and safety - PowerPoint Presentation

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Office Ergonomics

UNCG Department of environmental health and safety

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What is Ergonomics?

ergo

= work

nomics

= rules, lawsErgonomics is the rules of work“the science of designing the job to fit the worker, instead of forcing the worker to fit the job”Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population. Effective and successful "fits" assure high productivity, avoidance of illness and injury risks, and increased satisfaction among the workforce. -OSHA

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What are the “Experts” saying…

“A growing body of evidence suggests that chair-living is lethal”- James Levine (Mayo Clinic Endocrinologist)

Study of 17,000 Canadians over 12 years reveals that those who sat for most of the day were 54% more likely to die of heart attacks than those who did not sit. - (Pennington Biomedical Research Center)

No matter how much they weighed OR exercised!

A study led by epidemiologist Steve Blair demonstrated a strong link between sedentary activity and death from heart disease among adult men. According to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, people gain 16 pounds on average, within 8 months of starting sedentary office work.

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What is Ergonomics

Ideally, ergonomics will:

Make the job safer by preventing injury and illness

Make the job easier by adjusting the job to the worker

Make the job more pleasant by reducing physical and mental stress

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Ergonomic Factors

Generally, ergonomic risk factors fall into one of two categories:

Environmental stressors

Physical stressors

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Environmental Stressors

Environmental stressors can affect your general comfort and health, these include:

Excessive noise

Improper lighting

Temperature Indoor air quality

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Physical Stressors

Physical stressors place pressure or stress on parts of the body:

Joints, muscles, nerves, tendons, bones

Over time this stress can cause “Cumulative Trauma Disorders” (CTDs) in some individuals

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Cumulative Trauma Disorders

Cumulative = occurring gradually over a period of weeks, months, or years

Trauma = bodily injury to nerves, tissues, tendons, or joints

Disorders = physical ailments or abnormal conditions

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Risk Factors for CTDs

The main risk factors for office-related CTDs are:

Repetition

Awkward positions or posture

Excessive pressure or forceAnother risk factor for CTDs would be:Vibration

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Risk Factor: Repetition

The majority of CTDs are caused by repetitive motions that would not result in injury if only performed once.

Thousands of keystrokes typing

Hours of filing, day after day

Stamping dozens of papersFrequent liftingRepeated motions with computer mouse

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Risk Factor: Awkward Positions

Leaning forward at your desk

Typing with wrists at an odd angle

Raising shoulders while typing

Reaching to use mouseTwisting neck to look at monitor or phoneLifting objects from below waist or above shoulders

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Risk Factor: Excessive Force

Typing with too much force or “pounding” the keys

Contact pressure

Lifting heavy boxes of paper or carrying office equipment

Using improper grip

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Garbage In…

Stressor (Actions)

Awkward Posture

Reaching/Bending

Twisting w/LoadLifting w/LoadResult (Body Part)Strain/SprainStrain/Sprain Back or Shoulder Strain/Sprain Back

Strain/Sprain Back

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Reducing the Risk Factors

Your body is designed to do work

When it works in positions or postures in which it is designed to deal with physical stress, there is no problem, but

when it is forced to perform under unnatural situations or for abnormal periods of time, problems can arise

Almost all of the ergonomic stresses at work can be decreased by using the right equipment in the right position so that the body can perform in the right posture

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Minimize Awkward Postures

Use a “Neutral Posture” whenever possible

Basic Neutral

Back Relief

Lower Body Relief

Standing Neutral

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Minimizing Awkward Postures

The elbows should be at a comfortable angle while "hanging" at the sides from the shoulders

The shoulders should remain relaxed in a lowered position while typing

Avoid leaning forward at your desk

Maintain natural “s” curve of your spineSupport lower backKeep feet supported on floor or use a foot rest

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Good Body Mechanics

Use the Largest joints and musclesUse two hands to lift, even with light objects

Avoid lifting w/forearm in full pronation (palm down)

Slide or push & pull objects instead of lifting

Avoid reachingCarry items close to body (waist level)

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Arranging Your Workspace

Arrange tools around your desk so you minimize the distance you have to reach for them.

Divide your work space into

three zones:

Primary work zone - the distance from elbow to hand. Things you touch on a daily basis.

Secondary work zone

- within arm's reach. Use this zone to position those items that you use frequently, but don't need all the time.

Reference zone

- outside arm's reach. Use this zone for your least-often used items.

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Ergonomic Chairs

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Chair Set-Up 101

Chair

Is the chair adjusted so that your hips are slightly higher than your knee

with your feet touching the floor? YES NO NA

Is there a 2 inch space between the front of the seat and the back of your knee when sitting? YES NO NADoes the back rest feel comfortable and is the lumbar spine curve supporting your lower back? YES NO NACan the armrests be adjusted to maintain the forearms parallel to the floor? YES NO NA

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Profiles

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Computer Monitor

Placed about an arms length away and directly in front of you, not at an angle

Top of monitor should be at or slightly below eye level

A document reader, if used, should be placed near monitor to reduce head movement

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Monitor 101

Monitor

Is the monitor directly in front of you when in use? YES NO NA

Is the top of the monitor below eye level? YES NO NA

Is the monitor located 28-36 inches away from your face? YES NO NAHave you had an eye exam lately?

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Keyboard

Placed directly in front of monitor

Avoid awkward wrist positions

Keyboard trays are recommended

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Mouse

Should be placed close to keyboard

Same height or slightly higher than keyboard

Move from elbow

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Keyboards & Mice – not these

Keyboard

Is the keyboard tray adjustable anywhere from flat to a negative tilt? YES NO NA

Are your wrists straight (in a neutral position) while typing? YES NO NA

Is the keyboard positioned directly in front of you? YES NO NAIs the keyboard positioned so that your upper arms are straight at your side, and your forearms are slightly below horizontal? YES NO NA

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Telephone

Placement should match dominate hand

Headsets are recommended if you must use phone often while performing other tasks

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Avoid stressors

Static positions

Repetitive motions

Awkward body movements/posture

Reaching/BendingLifting heavy loadsPressure pointsStressVibrationForce RepetitionTwisting

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Other Prevention Strategies

Micro-breaks – every 20 to 40 minutes

Exercises

Body stretch

Shoulder blade squeeze/shrugsEye palmingArm and shoulder shakeSide bends20/20/20 Rule

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Other Prevention Strategies

Pay attention to the signals your body provides you

If your neck hurts at work, examine your body position to try to figure out what might be causing the soreness

You may also request an ergonomic assessment of your space from the Department of Environmental Health and Safety

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Questions?