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5/25/2011

Office Ergo Seminar EE020200.ppt 1

Copyright 3M, 2000 Office Ergo Seminar EE020200.ppt

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3 Office Ergonomics


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Office Ergonomics

Objectives:

– increase awareness of the application of ergonomic principles to the office environment

– Identify risk factors that contribute to poor computer ergonomics

– perform a general evaluation of your own office layout and equipment


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Ergonomics: The Study of Work

• It specifically addresses the relationship between people, their tasks, equipment and work environment.

• The goals of ergonomics:– enhance human performance– prevent injuries and illnesses– improve safety, comfort, and job satisfaction

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Work-Related MSDs

• Historical names• Carpenter’s Elbow• Milkmaid’s Hand• Butcher’s Wrist

• Common names today− Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs)− Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs)− Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)• Overuse Syndromes


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Types of Disorders/Symptoms

Affected Areas• Upper Extremities• Lower Extremities

Types of Disorders• Tendon disorders• Nervous system

disorders• Neurovascular

disorders• Back injury

Symptoms

– soreness– pain

– swelling

– color change • redness

• pale

– weakness

– tingling

– numbness

– loss of movement


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Personal Risk Factors

• Medical Factors– Hereditary and congenital conditions– Accidents– Illness

• Diabetes• Rheumatoid arthritis• Thyroid disorders• Kidney disorders• Gout• Hypertension

– Smoking– Hobbies and Sports

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Computer Work MSD Risk Factors

• Static Positions• Repetition• Awkward Postures• Forceful Exertions• Contact Stress• Psychosocial


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Static Positions

• Prolonged sitting or standing• Arms unsupported• Hands tense• Fingers curled or extended• Neck bent or twisted• Vision fixed or staring


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Repetition

• Head movement between copy and monitor• Eye refocusing between copy and monitor• Hand movements when mousing• Finger movements when keying

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A Few Words About

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome


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A Few Words About



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A Few Words About


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Awkward Postures

• Unsupported feet• Twisted torso• Elbows away from body• Bent wrists• Curled fingers• Tilted/turned head


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Forceful Exertions

• Pinching• Grasping• Keying• Writing• Mousing


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Contact Stress

• Contact pressure on soft tissue that compresses the nerves and blood vessels

• Provide rounded or padded worksurface edges

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Psychosocial

• Time Pressures• Work Culture• Task Organization• Electronic Monitoring• Performance Measures


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Head/Neck: Maximum: 30° of forward bending. (A) Maximum: 20° twist from side to side. (B)

Elbows: Work in 70 - 135° range, with keyboard tilted to match. (C) Elbows should be relaxed near your torso.

Hand/Wrist: Forearm, wrist, and hand should be fairly straightand not significantly bent in any direction. During keying, fingers should be slightly curved but not curled.

Torso/Thigh:90 - 120° range. (D)

Thigh/Knee:60 - 90° range. (E)

Body Position

Guidelines


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Seating

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Sitting

• Feet supported• Space behind knees• Back supported• Arms relaxed or

supported• Adequate leg room


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Sitting Postures

• Four Reference Postures– Upright– Reclined– Thighs declined– Standing

• Movement among these postures is recommended.


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Chair

Features • Adjustable:

– Height– Backrest– Armrests

• Leg support(seat pan depth)

• 5 prong base

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Chair: Quick Fixes

• Footrests• Lumbar supports


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Keyboard & Input DeviceLocate so your:

– forearm, wrist, and hand are in the same plane

– elbows are near your torso– shoulders are relaxed

Adjustable Keyboard Tray


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Keyboards• Wrist rests can reduce

contact stress– Match the height, width and

shape of the keyboard or other input device

– Not too hard and not too soft

– No hard or sharp edges

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Keyboard / Mouse Location

• Place mouse or other input device adjacent to the keyboard to reduce reaching and shoulder stress

• Basic posture guidelines still apply


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Monitor Location

• Place the monitor directly in front of you while at the keyboard


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Monitor Location

• Recommended viewing distance

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Monitor Location• Too high• Awkward neck

posture

Position your monitor’s screen at or slightly below eye level


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Source Documents


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Telephone Usage

•Headsets•Receiver cradles

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Visual Issues

• Lighting– 500 lux for computer

work station – Glare– Task lighting– General lighting or

combination


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Visual Issues

• Glare • Contrast– Direct– Indirect (reflections)


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Visual Issues

• Reducing Glare– Reduce overhead lighting– Move or redirect task

lighting– Monitor placement

• set perpendicular to windows

• tilt or swivel monitor to eliminate reflections on the screen

– Shade windows– Add an anti-glare filter

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Vision Correction

• Computer work is a visually intensive task• 30% of the general population have incorrect

vision correction– Annual eye exams recommended– Many options for visual correction– Aging eyes

• Bifocals - lower monitor if viewing through bifocal section of glasses

• 3M Safety Eye Wear Program


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Black on White

• Black text on white background is the highest contrast. It can be tiring for the eyes.

• On a computer screen, white background displays flicker more than other backgrounds.

• White or pastel backgrounds tend to display less glare than darker backgrounds.


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White on Black

• White text on black background is good contrast. However, a black background displays glare and other reflections very well.

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Gray Background

Gray can be a very soothing background color.Depending upon the color of gray both white and dark colors can be easily seen.


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What are the

Ergonomic Issues?


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3M Office Ergonomics Audit

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The Ergonomic Workstation


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Work/Rest Schedules

• Break up computer activity• Stretches and breaks each

hour (minimum)• Alternate activities

throughout the day


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Summary: Five Key Guidelines

1. Adjust your chair so your feet and back are well supported

2. Position keyboard and mouse so your forearms, wrists, and hands are straight and elbows relaxed at your side

3. Position monitor at or slightly below your eye level and place documents adjacent to monitor

4. Have proper vision correction (including computer vision) and make sure your monitor has good contrast between characters and background

5. Get up and move around at least hourly

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Manual Materials Handling

What is manual materials handling (MMH)? • Lifting• Lowering• Holding• Carrying• Pushing / pulling


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What are the MMH risk factors?

• Horizontal distance from the load• Vertical distance from the hands• Distance the load is lifted or carried• Twisting of the torso• Frequency of materials handling• Weight and stability of the object• Force required to push or pull• Environmental conditions


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Some Recommended Practices

• Avoid manual handling of heavy / bulky objects

• Store heavy and more frequently used items at waist level

• Use a step-ladder to avoid reaching above shoulder height

• Train workers on proper manual handling of heavy objects Picture: WSHC

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If you need to lift.. plan your lift

• How much does it weigh• Keep the load close to your body• Lift objects with heights between knee and

shoulders• Turn with your feet not twist your torso• Use two hands to get a good grip• Minimize lift distance• Make sure object does not block view• Use a cart instead


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Medical

• Seek medical attention if your symptoms are: – lasting 1-2 weeks in duration– increasing in severity– preventing you from performing typical

personal or work tasks


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Resources

• SS 514 : 2005 Code of Practice for Office Ergonomics

• CP 92 : 2002 Code of Practice for Manual Handling

• 3M Office Ergonomics Website:– www.3m.com/ergonomics

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