What is ergonomics? Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the
worker. When there is a mismatch between the physical requirements of the job
and the physical capacity of the worker, work-related musculoskeletal disorders
(WMSDs) can result. Workers who must repeat the same motion throughout their
workday, work in an awkward position use a great deal of force to perform,
repeatedly lift heavy objects or face a combination of these risk factors are
most likely to develop WMSDs. In this report, I will outline the main factors in
having a safe workstation. Sitting-Chair There are certain ways in which you may
choose an ergonomically correct chair. Does the seat feel comfortable and fit
you shape? When you sit in the chair the seat should be at least one inch wider
than your hips and thighs on either side. The seat should not be too long for
your legs otherwise it will catch you behind the knees or it will prevent you
from leaning fully back. Most ergonomic chairs have a seat with a front that
prevents the seat from catching you behind the knees. The seat should also be
contoured to allow even weight distribution and it should be comfortable to sit
on. Is the seat chair height adjustable? The chair should be adjustable so that
you can adjust seat height while you are sitting on the chair. Some chairs have
a mechanical height adjustment (spinning) mechanism. Does the chair have a
comfortable lower back rest? Many chairs have cushioned lower back supports that
can be adjusted up and down and forwards and backwards to fit your shape. If the
chair has a fixed height lower back support and it feels comfortable when you
sit back against this then a fixed lower back support may be acceptable. When
you sit back against the lower back support is there space for hips?
Insufficient hip room can make you sit too far forwards on the seat so that you
will not have enough thigh support. Does the seat still feel comfortable after
you've been sitting in it for 30 - 60 minutes? If the seat is made from foam
then continuous use can cause it to become deformed and then it will not provide
cushioned support. Insufficient cushioning and inappropriate contouring can
cause discomfort and hip and back fatigue. Is the tilt of the seat adjustable?
In some situations it can be helpful to change the tilt of the seat pan to help
to maintain a healthy seated posture. Does the chair have a 5-pedestal base? The
chair should have at least a 5-pedestal base with casters that glide freely over
the floor surface. You may also want to choose a chair that swivels easily. Do
you need armrests on your chair? If so, are the armrests broad, cushioned and
comfortable?
While sitting can you adjust the height of the armrests and can you move the
armrests closer together or further apart? Typing- Keyboard In the ideal typing
posture both static and dynamic muscle loads are minimized. This posture is
achieved when the keyboard is below seated elbow height and the keyboard base is
gently sloped away from the user so that the key tops are accessible to the
hands in a neutral posture. In this position the arms, shoulders, neck and back
can relax, especially during brief rest pauses. Also, in this slightly reclined
sitting position the low back rests against the lumbar support of the chair, the
elbow angle is opened to promote circulation to the lower arm and hand, the
abdominal angle, and the popliteal angle (behind the knees) are opened to
promote blood circulation. The feet rest firmly upon the floor. Looking-Monitor
Optical glass glare filters on computer monitors can reduce health and vision
problems related to computer glare and help boost productivity in computer
users, according to a new Cornell University study. After using a glass
anti-glare filter, the percentage of problems related to tiredness, trouble
focusing eyes, itching/watery eyes and dry eyes was half what they were before
filter use. This was true for people, who use computer monitors all day at work,
said ergonomist Alan Hedge, who is the professor of design and environmental
analysis and director of the Human Factors Laboratory at Cornell University.
Also, 80 percent of users reported that the filters made it easier to read their
screens, and more than half said that the filters helped their productivity. We
can now conclude that anti glare filters are a must in a safe workstation.
Scrolling-Mouse The following tips should avoid a mouse-related injury. The same
posture principles apply to other input devices (e.g. trackball, pen, etc.).
Mouse Grip - don't throttle your mouse, hold the mouse gently to move it over a
surface. Mouse from the Elbow - don't skate or flick the mouse with your wrist.
Make controlled movements using your elbow as the pivot point and keep your
wrist straight. Optimal Mouse position- sit back in your chair, relax your arms
then lift your hand up, pivoting at the elbow, until your hand is just above
elbow level. Your mouse should be positioned somewhere around this point. With a
flat mouse platform, position this above the keyboard and over the numeric
keypad if you are right handed - you can easily move it out of the way if you
need to access these keys. Protect your wrist - if you look at the wrist it is
curved away from any contact surface. The forearm is shaped liked this for the
wrist to remain free of surface pressure.
