O FFICE E RGONOMICS Presented by: Scott D. Cole, COSS, ASP

O BJECTIVES Introduction to Ergonomics Overview of Ergonomic Risk Factors Basic Ergonomic Design Principles How to Arrange Your Workspace

E RGONOMICS The science of adjusting and arranging the environment to fit the employee. Visual and musculoskeletal discomfort and fatigue are eliminated or reduced.

D IFFERENCES

R ISK F ACTORS Repetition A task or a series of motions performed over and over Forceful Exertions Amount of physical effort required to perform a task Awkward Postures Reaching, bending, twisting, holding fixed positions Contact Stress Exposure of a body part to a hard or sharp surface repetitively or forcefully at a workstation or tool

E LIMINATE R EPETITION Take frequent, short breaks Drink water Vary tasks throughout your day

E LIMINATE F ORCEFUL E XERTIONS Keyboard strokes Pushing and pulling

E LIMINATE A WKWARD P OSTURES Telephone Document References Chair Keyboard Mouse Visual Display Unit Desk

E LIMINATE C ONTACT S TRESS Desk Chair Mouse Keyboard

S TANDING N EUTRAL

T HE N EUTRAL S EATED P OSITION

T HE C HAIR Seat Pan Provides support, waterfall design, adequate hip room. Height Adjustable? Feet firmly on the ground. Lumbar Support Back Rest Large enough to provide mid to upper support. Armrests Adjustable, padded and contoured. 5 Spokes for Stability

E XAMPLE OF A G OOD C HAIR

T HE K EYBOARD

K EYBOARD P LACEMENT AND P OSITIONING Just above the users lap – 1- 2 above the thighs Lettered portion of the keyboard centered with the visual display unit The letter H should be aligned with the users bellybutton At a negative slope

T HE M OUSE

M OUSE P LACEMENT AND P OSITIONING Mouse from the elbow Eliminate the numeric keypad At a negative slope Avoid wrist wrests

T HE D ESK Consider the user(s) 28 – 30 above the floor Deep enough to accommodate all equipment and processing information Make it adjustable, if possible Rolled edges

T HE V ISUAL D ISPLAY U NIT

T HE V ISUAL D ISPLAY U NIT (VDU) Eliminate glare Arms length away or more Centered in front of the user (duel VDU exemption) Bottom of the VDU tilted towards the user VDU should be as low as possible, 15 – 50 degrees below horizontal eye level

L IGHTING Indirect lighting Control outside lighting with blinds and shades Keep ambient light levels low and supplement with task lighting Position the VDT so that it is parallel with the fluorescent tube

T HANK Y OU Presented by: Scott D. Cole, COSS, ASP O FFICE E RGONOMICS