Office Ergonomics Awareness

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Designing a Ergonomic Workstation
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

• Components accessories for an ergonomic
  workstation
• Designing an ergonomic workstation
• Ergonomic products

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Ergonomics

• 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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Workstation Components

• Adjustable Chair
• Monitor
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Desk

Source http//www.sorm.state.tx.us
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Adjustable Chair

• Choose a quality ergonomic chair with maximum
  adjustments and simple controls
• Height
• Seat depth
• Seat angle
• Lumbar support
• Arm rests
• Tilt

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Adjustable Chair

• Read the manual, learn how to properly adjust
  the chair
• Adjust so
• Feet rest comfortably on the floor or are
  supported by foot rest
• Lumbar region of the spine receives support
  (dont sit on the front edge of chair)
• Backs of legs are supported
• Armrests support shoulders and arms
• You are comfortable

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Monitor

• Position the monitor
• Directly in front of body
• About 18-30 inches away from body (arms length)
• Top of monitor about eye level, or slightly below

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Mouse

• Should be at the same level and distance as the
  keyboard
• New mouse designs (e.g., vertical, trackball)
  require less index finger work

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Keyboard

• Several new styles of keyboards
• Designed to promote neutral posture
• Dont just accept the keyboard that came with
  your computer - shop around!

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Keyboard Tray

• Adjustable
• swivels left and right, tilts forward and back,
  allows for mouse, extends to different heights
  and positions
• Positioned so wrists are in the neutral posture

Straight
Not bent or twisted
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Desk

• The least flexible component
• Obtain accessories to accommodate and adjust
  existing furnishings
• If able to purchase new, look for designs that
  will allow correct monitor, keyboard, and mouse
  positioning
• Some new designs have adjustable height surfaces

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Accessories Foot Rest

• If you have trouble keeping your feet on the
  floor,try a foot rest.

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Accessories Document holder

• Should be
• Adjustable
• Mounted to monitor or at same height

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Accessories Wrist rest

• Should be
• Used only during pauses, not during typing
• Gel material should be resistant to permanent
  indentations

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Accessories Phone

• Telephone Head Set
• Prevents neck extension while cradling telephone
  with shoulder
• Speaker Phone
• Place telephone within reach

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Could Be Better Designs
Excessive clutter and glare
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Could Be Better Designs
Overcrowded, Excessive clutter, Keyboard Mouse
too high
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Could Be Better Designs
Overcrowded, Excessive clutter, Keyboard Mouse
too high
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Prepared by
http//engineering.tamu.edu/safety/
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Designing a Ergonomic Workstation
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.