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Ergonomics Seminar• This presentation was reviewed and

approved by United States Ergonomics’ Certified Professional Ergonomists and the International Academy of Ergonomics (IAE).

• Bradbury’s, the United States Ergonomics, and the IAE do not guarantee the elimination of discomfort or injury as a result of seminar participation or the use of Bradbury’s products.

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Course Agenda1. Defining “Ergonomics”2. Benefits of an Ergonomic

Workstation3. Potential Musculoskeletal

Disorders4. Workstation Risk Factors

and Solutions5. General Ergonomic Tips6. Workstation Tour

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What is Ergonomics?

• The study and design of work & equipment in relation to the physiological and psychological capabilities of people

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Who Benefits?• Your Employer:

– Shows Compassion– Encourages Higher Morale– Offers Economic Benefits

• You:– Increases Comfort– Makes You More Relaxed– Improves Productivity– Reduces Health and Safety

Risks

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Injury Statistics

• 22% of lost work time due to injury– Related to on-the-job ergonomic problems

• Approximately 260,000 carpal tunnel release operations are performed each year– 47% of those cases are considered work-related

Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2004)

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Possible Symptoms:• Sore Joints• Headaches• Muscle Stiffness• General Fatigue• Neck and Shoulder Strain• Back Pain• Eye Fatigue• Arm or Wrist Pain• Loss of Hand Strength• Poor Circulation

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Acute Trauma Disorders (ATDs)– Injuries which occur instantaneously due to a

known cause

• Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs)– Injuries occurring over time due to repeated

exposure to various risk factors

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Common CTDs• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome• Tendonitis/Tenosynovitis• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome• Epicondylitis (Tennis elbow)• Trigger Finger• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis (mousers shoulder)• Compressed Disc• Spinal Disc Herniation• Deep Vein Thrombosis• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome• Compression of the median

nerve caused by irritated or swollen tendons

• Symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling in thumb, index finger, middle finger and ½ of the ring finger

• If untreated, it can lead to deterioration of the muscle at the base of the thumb.

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Posture• “Posture” is how the body

is arranged / situated• Neutral posture allows for

maximum strength while working with minimum stress on the body

• Non-neutral or stressed posture can lead to discomfort or CTDs

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Potential Workstation

Issues

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Workstation Issues:Keyboard/Mouse Position

• Improper keyboard or mouse positioning can cause tension, decreased blood flow, or discomfort in hands, wrists, and arms

• Reaching or stretching to operate a mouse or keyboard can lead to muscular discomfort over time

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Workstation Solutions:Keyboard/Mouse Position

• Keyboard should be positioned flat or at a negative tilt

• Keep forearms parallel to the floor with elbows at a 90-110° angle

• Position mouse at or below keyboard height, close to the keyboard

• Don’t use a laptop keyboard• Ensure proper work surface

height• Most importantly, the keyboard

and mouse should be within elbows reach of the body

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Workstation Issues:Work Surface Height

• Surfaces too low or too high may lead to awkward positions such as extended arms, raised shoulders, or bent wrists

• Normal tasks such as writing, typing, etc. can lead to CTDs if performed on a work surface with a height that is not ideal

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Workstation Solutions:Work Surface Height

• Adjust surface height between 26” and 32”

• Position the keyboard to allow the wrist to be in a flat or neutral posture

• Keep bottom of elbow slightly below the home row of the keyboard

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Workstation Issues:Seating

• Prolonged sitting without foot support (dangling legs) can cause leg discomfort

• Slouching can cause back discomfort

• Slouching also makes good keyboard/mouse posture impossible, which leads to neck, shoulder, arm, and wrist problems

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Workstation Solutions:Seating

• Ideal posture is slightly reclined (90º-110º)

• Keep your back naturally curved

• Your knees should be slightly lower than your hips

• Rest your feet flat on the floor or on a foot rest

• Allow adequate space from the back of your knees to the seat pan (two-three inches)

• Do not tuck your feet under the chair or rest feet on the chair legs

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Workstation Issues:Desktop Layout

• Improperly placed tools or accessories could encourage frequent over-reaching or bending

• Limited space on the work surface could cause you to place components and devices in undesirable positions

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Workstation Solutions:Desktop Layout

• Place frequently used items within a “Normal” work or reach zone

• Avoid reaching repeatedly for items on your work surface

• Ensure that you have adequate space for your office tools

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Workstation Issues:Monitor Position

• Poor monitor position encourages poor posture, which can lead to neck and shoulder discomfort

• Without precautions, glare from monitors could cause eye strain, irritated eyes, headaches, or other problems over time

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Workstation Solutions:Monitor Position

• Position the monitor so your eyes are level with the top of the monitor frame

• Avoid leaning toward your monitor

• Viewing distance should be about 18" to 36" away from the screen

• Reduce screen glare, brightness, and minimize light reflection

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Workstation Issues:Document Placement

• Repetitive twisting from reading documents while at your computer can lead to neck, upper back, and shoulder stress

• Reading documents laid flat on a work surface can cause neck and shoulder discomfort

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Workstation Solutions:Document Placement

• Ideally, the document should be positioned vertically on the same plane and height as the screen

• Place documents on the same side as the “Dominant Eye”

• Add task lighting to properly illuminate documents

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Workstation Issues:Office Environment

• Improper lighting can cause undue strain on eyes leading to headaches or other issues

• Poorly regulated air temperature, ventilation, and humidity can be a major source of discomfort

• Researchers found that the average desk has 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat

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Workstation Solutions:Office Environment

• Control your immediate “airspace”

• Adjust lighting to a comfortable level

• Get some sunlight and fresh air

• Clean work surfaces on a weekly basis

• Incorporate antimicrobial protected products into your workspace

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Tips to Remember

• Use neutral postures• Adjust your workstation• Keep things within reach• Get rid of clutter• Take frequent breaks• Stretch occasionally• Practice ergonomics

everywhere!

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Thank you, from TheOfficeBOSS!