Office ergonomics by kapil

INTRODUCTION TO OFFICE ERGONOMICS

Presented To: Presented By:Dr. A. Bharadwaj Kapil JainMech. Engg. Dept. Gaurav KumarMNIT Jaipur Ayush Mathur

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Review your Work Area

•We spend most of our day in our work area.

•We don’t want our work area to contribute to ergonomic problems

•Ergonomic Rule #1

Work Comfortably!If most of our work is done in an office continue If most of our work is done outside of an office continue

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Office Ergonomics- The right equipment, the right place

Use a good CHAIR

Front edge of seat pan curves down

Five feet for base-most stable

Height adjustable On rollers

Seat pan adjustable horizontally and tilts

Backrest is provides good lower back support

Arms adjustable

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The position of our head and neck is very important

Place computer monitors directly in front of us.

The right height is person dependent- usually the top

of the screen at eye level (or slightly below for those who

wear bifocals)

The screen should be at least an arms length away (If we can’t see at that distance, get special computer glasses)


MONITOR HEIGHT

Raise the monitor if we have to look down at it

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KEYBOARD STYLES

A variety of styles are available. Choose one that is comfortable for us.

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KEYBOARD HOLDER

Keyboard holders should Tilt Provide wrist rests (rest palms not wrist)

Provide space for a mouse

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Keyboard Trays

Keyboard tray with adjustability (swivels left and right, tilts forward and back, allows for mouse, extends to different heights and positions)

Position so wrists are in neutral posture

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Neutral Postures Include

Wrist posture Wrists straight, not bent or twisted

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MOUSE HOLDERS

Mouse trays or mouse holders can bring a mouse to a better position

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MOUSE STYLES

Choose a style comfortable for our hand and fingers

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Workplace Ergonomics

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WORK PLACEMENT

Position equipment so that our body is in a comfortable and natural position most of the time while we are working.

Don’t place things so we have to reach, twist or bend continually

Place work at monitor height or place in path of monitor

Listen to our body. If we cannot focus or often feel tired or uncomfortable, We are probably not working in a good position.

See what we can do to make our work more comfortable for us.

Disclaimer: Wait a minute! Though this position may look comfortable, it

is NOT a comfortable position to work in.

Imagine how our back would feel after typing a few pages in this position!

Do not equate comfortable leisure positions with comfortable work positions!

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Everyone needs a relaxed, neutral position

DO WHAT’S COMFORTABLE FOR OUR BODY!

Wrists straight

Forearms and thighs parallel to the floor

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MOUSE POSITION

NO!

Mouse should be close to the keyboard and the same height or slightly higher

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Phone PLACEMENTShould be different for right and left hander

We should not have to twist and reach across our body every time we answer the phone.

Many people need to spend a lot of time on the phone, and must often do other tasks at the same time

This creates a lot of stress for neck and shoulder muscles

Consider a head set if we spend a lot of time on the phone,

especially if we do other tasks at the same time

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Document PLACEMENT

Place documents so that we don’t need to bend our head to read while

on keyboard

Consider getting a document holder

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Ergonomic STRESSORS

Environmental conditions

Environmental conditions can influence ergonomic stress.

Lighting NoiseTemperature

….even at a computer station!

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LIGHTING & MONITOR GLARE Lighting should be

indirect and adequate

Not too much light, or it may cause a glare, headaches and eye fatigue

If there is a glare on our eyes as we work, use anti-glare screens on computers, or adjustable blinds at windows

Ideal is 35-50 foot candles

Ergonomic STRESSORS

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GLARE SCREENS

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Have to Consider the Whole Working Space

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COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME

can be prevented Accommodate our eyes Use computer eyewear when appropriate Placement of reference material

and monitor distance should be

comfortable for our eyes

Exercise our eyes Periodically focus on object 20 feet away Blink eyes rapidly if they feel dry

Prevent constant glare Keep monitor clean Use:

indirect lighting non-reflective walls and furniture anti-glare screens

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Noise can be a STRESSOR

If our office is near a noise source, close our door, or wear ear plugs

Besides causing ear damage, constant noise can create extra muscle tension in the body causing fatigue and making it easier for ergonomic injuries to occur.

Ergonomic STRESSORS

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Temperature

People are more prone to ergonomic injuries in cold environments. Muscles and other tissues are more tense, because of decreased circulation.

Dress appropriately

Do some warm up exercises, such as stretching our hands, to loosen our finger muscles before keyboarding.

Ergonomic STRESSORS

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FORCE can be a stressor

A task can require a moderate amount of force to be applied to very small muscles

Examples: Dragging and dropping with the mouse Gripping the sides of the mouse or phone tightly Pounding on the keyboard Grasping thick file folders Stapling or stamping Opening 3-ring binder Lifting heavy manuals with one hand

Ergonomic STRESSORS

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MECHANICAL CONTACT STRESS

A hard or sharp surface or object pressing into the soft tissues, the tendons, nerves

and blood vessels.Examples:

Resting wrists on the desk edge while typing or using mouse

Leaning elbows on hard chair or armrests or work surfaces

Sitting in chair that places pressure on the backs of the thighs

Ergonomic STRESSORS

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Noise can be a STRESSOR

If we work near a constant noise source, such as generators or fans, close your door, or wear ear plugs.

Besides causing ear damage, constant noise can create extra muscle tension in the body causing fatigue and making it easier for ergonomic injuries to occur.

Ergonomic STRESSORS

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Noise can be a STRESSOR If we use equipment which makes loud noise, wear

ear plugs. EH&S can help us find some which are comfortable and appropriate

Use of most power equipment, machinery, lawn mowers, and blowers should require ear plugs.

x

Ergonomic STRESSORS

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Individual work routine and habit

Fortunately, most STRESSORS can be minimized

or eliminated by individual habits and work routine.

The solution to most ergonomic problems is to work comfortably

and avoid a few common ergonomic pitfalls.

Solutions

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Avoid REPETITION

Performing the same or similar motions repeatedly for extended periods without time for rest and recovery

can lead to discomfort or trauma.

Examples: Keyboarding, mousing, and 10-keying Flipping through files & paperwork Extended reading or writing Punching or stapling Pruning or clipping Painting Hammering

Solutions

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AVOID LONG DURATION OF SAME TASK

The length of time spent at a task without breaks, shifts in position, or stretches is more important than the actual task.

The longer the uninterrupted duration of a task, the more potential for discomfort or injuryOur bodies are designed to do work. But the result on the body of doing a repetitive task for 2 hours verses 6

hours straight is very different.

Solutions

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STRETCHES & BREAKSSolutions

Static positions are our enemy!

Whenever we think of it, change position

Small frequent stretches go a long way in preventing MSD’s.

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Avoid BAD POSTURES

Bad postures are a primary cause of ergonomic injuries

Everyone has seen these….

Propping a phone on shoulder

Slouching over a computer

Solutions

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Avoid AWKARD POSITIONS

Awkward positions bend the joints in a way that they are more likely to become injured.

Examples: Reaching up and over Slouching or leaning forward in the chair Leaning forward or bending over work Holding heavy items in position Lifting, pushing pulling Turning head side to side to view the monitor Cradling the phone between the ear and shoulder Typing with bent wrists

AWKWARD

POSITIONS createSTRESS

Solutions

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Evaluate this office

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High risk for wrist

Monitor Too close Height is good

Keyboard On table top (too

high) Wrist are extended

Other Cat?

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Evaluate this office

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HELP!!!

Monitor Not bad

Keyboard and mouse Way low Arm is extended out Worker slouched

Risk for wrist, arm, neck and back

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References

OFFICE ERGONOMICS HAND BOOK, Fifth Edition, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc.

Office Ergonomics-Karl H.E. Kroemer Research Paper-Health and Performance

Consequences of Office Ergonomic Interventions Among Computer Workers-Michelle M. Robertson

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Suggestion & Comments…

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Education

Office ergonomics by kapil