Office Ergonomics John Lesh

Office Ergonomics INSY 3020 John Lesh PT Auburn University Spring 2007

Where are we going today? „ „ „

Design guidelines Reference posture Basic office furniture and adjustments {

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Chairs, desks

Monitors and Document holders Keyboards Mice Other stuff Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Who should be interested Who should be interested

Why

Office Workers at all levels End users need to understand and participate in injury prevention Supervisors of Office Workers

Need to train users, deal with staff issues related to ergonomics, are probably users themselves

Professionals who work in an office environment

May be on leadership teams or in management. Must understand and provide “top down” support of ergonomic process and necessary resources.

Designers

Need to understand the office system and user needs to design out problems 3 proactively

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Who should be interested Who should be interested

Why

Health care personnel

May treat or case manage worker injuries, need to understand prevention and correction

Medical insurers, worker’s compensation insurers, case managers, disability case managers

Need to understand potential disabilities related to cumulative trauma and possible corrective and preventative actions, costs of injuries

Employers, human resources

Worker retentions, satisfaction, productivity, costs of injuries, value of prevention

Purchasing Department

Will make purchasing decisions for equipment and supplies 4

The office as a system „

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The office is a complex system of many parts and processes working together for some common goal Takes a team approach from all members in the system Consider ergonomics committee comprised of representatives from all levels of the organization

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Design for Users „

Individual workers and various worker populations differ {

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Must design to accommodate specific users in the office Shared workstations versus individual stations Full time computer or workstation use versus occasional use Support staff that must interact with the office: „ custodial, maintenance, temporary workers, IT

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Physical Differences in Workers

By katmere

There can be a wide variance in the size and shape of people We can not accommodate 100% of workers in all cases { 5% female to 95% male design criteria { Allows us to design for majority of workers

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Key Concepts in Design and Selection of Equipment „ „ „

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Equipment should be easily adjustable for a variety of users and uses Promote movement with adjustable equipment and job design Let users have a choice { Increases satisfaction Users must be trained in adjustment DID WE MENTION CONSIDER USERS’ NEEDS!

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Special Concerns „ „

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ADA-must make reasonable accommodations Aging Workers { Common misconceptions about injury rates, productivity, ability to learn new tasks { Valid age related changes „ Visual changes, decreased hearing, physical changes, mental and psychological changes „ Trifocals, Bifocals and impact on neck stress and head ache „ Lighting issues Obesity 9

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Injury Risk Factors „

Definition:

Something identified by the medical community, or by scientific method, as having a relationship to injury. In the case of office ergonomics, a relationship to WRMSD {

Office risk factors are similar to other injury risk factors „ „

Repetition, forceful exertion, awkward postures, contact stresses, psychological stress Also environmental factors such as glare

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Workstation Components „ „ „ „ „ „

Chairs Work surface Monitor Keyboard Mouse Peripherals (phone, answering machine, adding machine, etc…) Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Understand the Nature of the Work

What do you see here? Can you identify any potential hazards?

by Charming Toby 12

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Understand the Nature of the Work

How about this one? Can you find any potential hazards? by Bombardier

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Understand the Nature of the Work

Is this an appropriate work posture? by kteague

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Reference Sitting Posture „

This is a pictorial representation of a common reference posture. { { {

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Erect spine Arms relaxed to the sides, forearms parallel to the ground, wrists straight Thighs horizontal, supported to within 2 inches from the back of the knee by the chair Lower leg vertical, feet flat on the floor There is no twisting of the cervical spine or trunk and the head is in a neutral and upright posture 15

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Reference Sitting Posture

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One version, from OSHA This is the standard reference position we all see frequently. 16

Reference Sitting Posture

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These are two other proposed neutral reference postures provided by OSHA 17

Reference Standing Posture

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Sit/stand work is also an option. Pictured is an OSHA example of a reference standing posture For prolonged standing, a foot step to decrease lumbar curve and padding on floor would help 18

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Other Important Seat Issues „

Seat must match tasks: {

Forward oriented work „

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Reclined work or more sit back work „

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Computer work, calculation/accounting, writing Meetings, reading, executive tasks

Multi tasking „

Receptionist versus data entry 19

Anatomy of a typical adjustable task chair Backrest with lumbar support and contoured lateral supports •Adjusts up/down, forward and back

Height adjustable arm rest with rounded surfaces and set back for work surface access Contoured seat pan with waterfall front edge Swivel mechanism

Adjustment controls for seat height, seat depth, backrest tilt •Conveniently placed •Marked so user can identify

Five legged base with appropriate casters for work surface

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Chair Issues „

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Make sure employees are trained to properly adjust their chair Provide lumbar cushions for seats that are to deep Provide padding for armrests that are hard or have square (sharp) edges Perform routine preventative maintenance and cleaning on chairs Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Chair Issues (Con’t) „

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Have employees report parts of chairs that are missing or malfunction Remove armrests if they contribute to unwanted postures {

Armrests may prevent the chair from being pulled in close enough to the work area„

Employee will lean forward in the chair to overcome this deficiency, resulting in the undesirable posture

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Contoured Saddle

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Inflatable Lumbar

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High Back (Thoracic) Support

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An executive chair It does have: •Seat height adjustment •Swivel •Five legged base •Casters •Lumbar contour •Lateral backrest and seat pan supports •One to one ratio tilt adjustment •Higher back rest than task oriented seating

Generally, has less adjustments than task chair. This one has fixed : •Seat Depth •Seat to backrest angle •Arm rest height

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Molded Chair

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Arm Rest Height

Promotes neutral posture. Arms supported in relaxed position to side

Promotes elevated shoulder postures and neck tension

Promotes abducted arm postures and neck and arm tension 28

Some issues with work surfaces „ „ „ „ „ „

Computer use or other use Reach envelopes Contact stress Leg room Recommended heights Various available desk configurations {

Straight, “L” shaped, corner, computer station 29

Work Surface „

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Open leg tables are usually better than desks with drawers Sharp edges (90 degrees) should be avoided Work surfaces capable of adjustments are preferred

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Work Surface (Con’t) „

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Position items that are used the most closer to the worker Symmetry is not usually an issue in the office setting Remember ADA guidelines if necessary Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Work Surface (Con’t)

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Work Surface (Con’t)

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Reach Arcs (Horizontal)

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Reach Arcs (Vertical)

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Not enough space in primary zone Notice: •Clutter •Keyboard too high -discussed later •Mouse placed at end of secondary reach -should be in primary reach if used often

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Not having enough space in the primary reach zone may cause poor postures during work tasks 36

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Contact stress on work surface

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Sharp edges can compress forearm soft tissues causing fatigue, impeding circulation or nerves to the hands

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Leg room under work surface OSHA recommends the following minimum leg clearance dimensions for the 5% female to 95% male: •20 inches (52 cm) wide. •17 inches (44 cm) deep at knee level. •24 inches (60 cm) deep at foot level. •4 inches (10 cm) high at the foot.

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Storage under work surface should not impede leg movement or placement

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Monitors „

Main concerns: { { {

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Height Distance Angle of screen

Other factors: { { { {

Glare Document location Colors Size of font Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Guides to monitor placement

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Monitor placed just below eye level at 20 inches or more

•Screen tilted upward slightly •promotes neutral neck posture 40

Locating the Monitor

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Monitor Height

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Monitor Distance „

Place the monitor 18” from the eyes, but not greater than 30” {

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May not apply to large flat screens

You should be able to easily read the text without squinting or leaning forward

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Monitor Angle „

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Tilt the monitor up about 10 to 20 degrees, ensure the screen remains essentially perpendicular to the User’s gaze Adjust appropriately for a person wearing bifocals, etc... Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Other monitor placement concerns „

Bifocals or reading glasses { If not properly adjusted, promote extended neck postures { Workers may need special computer/work glasses with different lens location and focal point than conventional reading glasses { Even more critical with aging workforce 45

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Large Monitors „

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Large Monitors (>17”) may have to be pushed back further than smaller ones. If not the user will have to lean their head forward to see the bottom of the screen Should also consider the use of larger font to eliminate some of this effect Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Guides to monitor placement to combat glare „

Place monitor to limit glare from windows, overhead lights and other office surfaces and light sources { { { { { {

Monitor perpendicular to windows Window shades Anti glare screens or louvers Keep monitor screens free of dust Flat neutral/non-glare paints and office surfaces Fine tuning screen tilt may help Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Document Location „

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Setting documents the same distance as the screen prevents unnecessary refocusing of the eyes If the source document is placed flat on the surface, you may also have to move your head in order to see it Two basic options: { {

Stand-up holder Clip-on holder Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Document Holder „

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Stand-up type allows for movement to accommodate for different size fonts Can add to desk clutter

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Document Holder „

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Clip-on type places the source document at the at the same distance as the screen Document location is closest to the screen to minimize neck twisting Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Conventional Keyboards „

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User’s sometimes demonstrate awkward or non-neutral postures while working on conventional keyboards. Rotate forearms so that palms face keyboard Often bend hands outward & upward. Elbows also may be held out from the body.

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Keyboards

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Keyboards

Keyboards

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Alternative Keyboards „

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Use different designs in an attempt to change the user(s) posture. Built in wrist & palm rests are designed to provide additional support and alignment. Newer keyboards are also designed for minimum force. Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Keyboards

Keyboards

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Keyboards

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Keyboards

Keyboards

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Mouse without Pad „

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Many styles and varieties are available (cordless). Should conform well to the palm of the user. Locate close to keyboard to minimize reach. Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Mouse with Pad „

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The addition of the pad forces the wrist into a more neutral alignment (minimizes flexion / extension). Newer models are made of gel type materials. Ergonomic & Work Measurement Solutions

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Ergonomic Improvement

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Keyboard and input device support surfaces „

3 options: {

A keyboard tray or roll out keyboard support

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Place on work surface (adjustable or nonadjustable) Place on roll out keyboard support (not adjustable) Place on adjustable keyboard support 64

Peripherals „

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Anything else commonly used in the workplace. Items such as phone, stapler, answering machine, adding machine, etc… Locate by amount of time spent using this device

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Consider Primary Task

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Questions & Comments

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