Office Ergonomics

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Office Ergonomics Prevention
Engineering Ergonomics Safety Training
Office of Engineering Safety Texas Engineering
Experiment Station (TEES) The Dwight Look
College of Engineering
A safe, healthful, and secure environment for
scholarship and research.
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Key Concepts

• What is ergonomics?
• Common ergonomic factors in the workplace
• Common injuries in the workplace
• Preventing injuries in the workplace

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Definition of Ergonomics

• the laws of work
• OSHA defines ergonomics as the science of
  designing the job to fit the worker, instead of
  forcing the worker to fit the job.
• The relationship of people to their tools, tasks,
  and environment
• Tools are designed to fit the employee

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Purpose of Ergonomics

• Applying ergonomic principles can help create a
  safe, healthful, and secure environment for
  scholarship and research by
• preventing injury and illness
• adjusting the job to the worker
• reducing physical and mental stress
• Improving productivity
• Lowering error rate
• Preventing loss and saving money

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Ergonomic Factors Environmental

• Some examples of ergonomic environmental problems
  are
• Sick Building Syndrome
• Indoor Air Quality
• Excessive noise
• Improper lighting
• Temperature extremes
• Environmental factors can affect
• Hearing
• Vision
• General comfort and health

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Ergonomic Factors Physical Stressors

• Place pressure or stress on parts of the body
• Joints, muscles, nerves, tendons, bones
• These injuries are sometimes referred to as
• Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD), or
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

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Common InjuriesCumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD)

• 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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Examples of CTDs - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Source http//www.mayoclinic.com

• Caused by swelling in the lining and lubricating
  layer of the tendons in your fingers
• Symptoms include
• Tingling or numbness in your hands
• Pain radiating or extending from your wrist up
  your arm to your shoulder or down into your palm
  or fingers, especially after forceful or
  repetitive use
• Weakness in your hands
• Loss of feeling in your hands

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Examples of CTDs - EpicondylitisSource
http//www.sportsinjuryclinic.net

• Caused by abnormalities to the tendons in elbow
• Symptoms include
• Pain in the elbow
• Weakness in the wrist
• Occurs in athletes and anyone who does a lot of
  work involving lifting at the elbow or repetitive
  movements at the wrist (bricklayers, using
  hammer or screwdriver repeatedly)

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Examples of CTDs BursitisSource
http//www.mayoclinic.com

• Inflammation of joints
• Symtoms include
• Dull ache or pain
• Tenderness and/ or swelling
• Caused by repeated movement of joints

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CTD Risk Factors

• The main risk factors for office-related CTDs
  are
• Repetition
• Excessive pressure or force
• Vibration
• Awkward positions or posture, or improper lifting

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CTD Risk Factors 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 papers
• Frequent lifting
• Repeated motions with mouse

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CTD Risk Factors Excessive Force

• CTDs caused by excessive force include
• Typing with too much force or pounding the keys
• Stamping
• Lifting heavy boxes of paper
• Carrying office equipment
• Using improper grip

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CTD Risk Factors Awkward Positions

• Awkward positions that cause CTDs include
• Leaning forward at your desk
• Typing with wrists at an odd angle
• Raising shoulders while typing
• Reaching to use mouse
• Twisting neck to look at monitor or phone
• Lifting objects from below waist or above
  shoulders

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CTD Risk Factors Improper Lifting

• The back is designed to
• Support
• Protect the spinal cord
• Provide flexibility to rotate and bend
• The back is not meant to lift
• Injury is rarely caused by one event
• Back injuries are the most costly typeof injury
  experienced

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CTD Risk Factors Improper Lifting

• Do not
• Lift from the floor
• Twist and lift
• Lift with one hand (unbalanced)
• Lift loads across obstacles
• Lift while reaching or stretching
• Lift from an uncomfortable posture
• Fight to recover a dropped object
• Hold your breath while lifting - GET HELP!

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But the good news is...

• There are simple ways to
• help yourself!

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Prevention Strategies Reduce Injuries in the
Workplace

• Proper lifting techniques and strengthening
  exercises
• Neutral postures
• Attention to your actions
• Recognizing CTDs
• Appropriate medical care

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Prevention Strategies Proper Lifting Techniques

• Lifting the Load Mentally
• Is it big, bulky, or heavy?
• Do I need help with it?
• Can I carry it in smaller segments?
• How should I position my body in relation to the
  weight?
• Can I slide it instead of lifting? Push, dont
  pull!

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Prevention Strategies Proper Lifting Techniques

• Lifting the Load Physically
• Check footing for a good surface and wide base of
  support
• Bend knees, rather than back, to get close to the
  object
• Tighten stomach muscles
• Lift using legs
• Keep the object close to the body
• Pivot
• Maintain the backs natural curves
• Dont forget to breathe!

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Prevention StrategiesNeutral Standing Posture

• Keep your spinal column alignedin its natural
  curves
• Prop one foot up on a stool to reduce stress in
  your lower back

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Risks of Sitting

• Sitting in a sound anatomic position is
  essential, since the strain put on the spine and
  its associated ligaments over time can lead to
  pain, deformity, and chronic illness.
• Sitting for long periods of time contributes to
  lower back pain, as our bodies are not designed
  to be so sedentary.
• Medical researchers have found that spinal disk
  movement occurs when weight-bearing strain is
  placed on the spine, causing the disk to move out
  of place.

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Sitting Positions
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BAD Position The Slouch

• In which the body is hunched forward as if
  leaning over a desk or a video game console.
• Can cause a reduction in spinal disk height, due
  to wear tear on the lowest two spinal levels.

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OK Position Bolt Upright

• The traditional , 90º upright sitting position.
• Medical researchers have found pronounced disk
  movement from sitting for long periods in the 90º
  upright sitting posture.

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BEST Position Leaned Back

• Spinal disk movement is least pronounced when
  sitting leaned slightly back at 120º to 135º .
• In general, opening up the angle between the
  trunk and the thighs in a seated posture will
  improve the shape of the spine, making it more
  like the natural S-shape in a standing posture.
• Sitting at about 120º may help reduce sliding
  forward in the seat.

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Prevention Strategies Neutral Sitting Posture

• 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
• The mouse should be at the same level as the
  keyboard

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Prevention Strategies Neutral Sitting Posture

• Avoid unsupported mouse reach. Shoulders
  should remain relaxed in a lowered position while
  typing
• Avoid leaning forward at your desk
• Maintain natural s curve of your spine
• Support lower back
• Keep feet supported on the floor or use a foot
  rest
• Avoid typing with wrists at an odd angles
• keep them in the neutral position
• not bent up or down, or side to side

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Good Postures
Sitting erect. Good position for keyboard
monitor
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Could Be Better Posture
Keyboard too high. Printers too close.
Excessive clutter.
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Could Be Better Posture
Should sit directly in front of computer monitor
keyboard. Excessive clutter. Keyboard mouse
should be lower and at same level.
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Prevention Strategies Hand Injuries

• Look after your hands
• When you reach into drawers cabinets
• When you handle papers, staplers, and other
  office devices
• Keep sharp objects in safe containers, or guard
  blades and points
• Use needles syringes carefully to avoid injury
  to yourself and to others
• Safely contain needles and sharps when disposing

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Prevention Strategies Hand Injuries

• Handling broken glass
• Pick up broken glass with a broom dust pan, or
  wear leather gloves.
• Wrap the glass in thick paper, and label it so
  that the cleaning staff will know what it is.
• Slivers of glass should be picked up with a damp
  paper towel then, discard the paper towel.
• If you have a lot of broken glass, purchase
  aBroken Glass Container from a safety supply
  vendor.

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Prevention Strategies Hand Injuries

• At your desk
• Do not pound the keys. Use a light touch.
• Hold the mouse lightly
• Keep your hands and arms warm
• Use two hands to perform double key operations
  like Ctrl-C or Alt-F instead of twisting one hand
  to do it.
• Position frequently-used equipment so that you
  dont have to reach for it.

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Prevention Strategies Eyestrain

• Many office related headaches are caused by
  eyestrain
• Dry eyes
• Monitor glare
• Tired/strained eye muscles
• Recommendations
• Take breaks
• Frequently look up and away focus on different
  objects
• Dont forget to blink
• Ask your physician about use of moisturizing eye
  drops

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Prevention Strategies Eyestrain

• Position monitor at a comfortable distance
• Avoid glare
• Adjust VDT brightness and contrast
• Keep screen clear of dust
• Look up and away every few minutes or so!
• Focus on objects at different distances, to
  exercise your eye muscles
• Clean your eyeglasses!
• Take lots of breaks to stretch and relax
• Recommended15 minute break for every HOUR of
  computer use

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Protect Your Eyes

• Dont rub your eyes with soiled/dirty hands
• Keep eyes away from sharp objects, corner
  cabinets, protruding objects, boxes, pencils,
  etc.
• If you get something in your eyes, seek first
  aidor medical care
• See your doctor for regular eye vision exams
• Correct poor vision
• Wear appropriate eye protection, when necessary

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Prevention Strategies CTDs

• 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
• Are you holding your neck at an awkward angle
  while you type or talk on the phone?
• Are you (over-) extending your reach?
• Is your reaching arm unsupported?

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Prevention Strategies CTDs

• If you are experiencing symptoms of CTDs
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or fingers
• Pain in fingers, hands wrists, or even shooting
  up into the arms or forearms
• Loss of strength or coordination in the hands
• Numbness or discomfort in the hands that wakes
  you up at night....
• SEE A DOCTOR!

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Additional Information...

• http//www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/index.html
  
• http//www.ErgonomicHome.com/
• http//www.som.tulane.edu/oehs/ergolink.htm
• http//www.sittingmachine.com/
• http//www.meadhatcher.com/artcls.php3
• http//www.office-ergo.com/
• http//ergonomics.ucla.edu/
• http//www.sorm.state.tx.us/Index.htm

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Prepared by
http//engineering.tamu.edu/safety/
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Office Ergonomics Prevention
Engineering Ergonomics Safety Training
Office of Engineering Safety Texas Engineering
Experiment Station (TEES) The Dwight Look
College of Engineering
A safe, healthful, and secure environment for
scholarship and research.