Ergonomics in the Offi ce: More Than Just Sore Wrists By Joy M. Ebben, Ph.D, CPE Human Factors and Ergonomic Specialist, IAC Industries, Brea, Calif. Workplace ergonomics: everyone is talking about it, some people are trying to cursor positioning device and working materials. Each surface can be adjusted do something about it, and the government is hesitant to regulate it. Ergonomics independently for height and tilt. This split design allows the monitor to be placed has been and continues to be an important consideration in the design and lower than the keyboard height. It is sometimes necessary to position the entire manufacturing of products used by humans at work. monitor screen below eye height when using the large monitors common in engineering environments. One of the current misconceptions is that ergonomics is synonymous with cumulative trauma disorders or musculoskeletal problems. Ergonomics, however, Lighting: Lighting, both natural and artifi cial, often causes glare problems. applies to the design of all human interfaces. This includes the remote control Sometimes the user can see objects refl ected on the computer screen. Often the and onscreen interface for your VCR as well as the design of the displays and lighting reduces the contrast ratio of the background and foreground, particularly functions in your car. on monitor screens with dark backgrounds. Lighting can also cause direct glare on the user’s eyes. In my work as an ergonomist for a manufacturer of workstations, I deal with ergonomics as To evaluate how much your offi ce’s lighting is reducing the human interface for assembling, testing, your quality or comfort, turn off the lights, work at your repairing and packaging electronic and For better ergonomics monitor in the darkened room and notice the difference. mechanical components. Consider turning the lights down or using directional in the offi ce environments, task lighting or indirect lighting (light refl ected off We can defi ne ergonomics (also called human you should lower monitors, the ceiling). You could also use screens with light engineering) as: “An applied science concerned backgrounds, position the computer so windows are with human abilities, human limitations, and avoid retractable keyboard trays, at 90 degrees to the computer monitor, or use a high- other human characteristics relevant to human- and be aware of any problems quality glare fi lter. interface design that need to be considered when designing tool, machines, systems, tasks, with your mouse, Mouse, trackball, touchpad: Some engineers use jobs and environments for safe, comfortable and a mouse, trackball or touch pad all day long. These effective human use.” trackball, or touchpad. devices can cause musculoskeletal discomfort, depending on their design and location. Make a note TIPS FOR OFFICE ERGONOMICS of any discomfort you feel and take immediate measures to eliminate it. Look for awkward postures of Ergonomics in offi ce environments plays an important role in the effi ciency, the wrist or forearm, high repetition (such as pressing one button with the same comfort, and safety of employees. There are several main areas of workstation fi nger), tense muscles in the hand, or forceful exertion when you hold your arm design that often get overlooked or misunderstood. out to use a device.

Monitor height and location: Lower monitors so the top of the screen is at or Make changes in the workstation set-up to provide neutral postures and minimize below eye level. Consider longer viewing distances (which requires larger text and force requirements. You should also try to reduce muscle tension. Consider graphics). Always provide tilt and swivel pedestals for every monitor. reprogramming the buttons or learning how to use the device with your other hand. You can also try different methods of performing the same task to give your Keyboard height: Pull-out keyboard trays usually cause more problems than overused muscles a rest – like using keyboard equivalents to the button pressing. they solve. People often use them in an attempt to correct inappropriate working And make sure you take breaks! height when standard desks are too high. A better solution is to provide a chair OMPLEX NGINEERING ORKSTATIONS and footrest that can be used to raise the user’s elbow height to keyboard height. C E W If there is a center-pull drawer, remove it to allow more room under the work surface. That way, shorter people can sit higher. Some engineering environments have very complex computer workstations. They may have multiple large monitors, multiple keyboards, a large digitizing pad, a The design approach I prefer is to provide suffi cient space for the monitor and scanner, one or more printers, a modem, a CD disk drive, back-up tape drives and keyboard on the worksurface. This allows users to be closer to their hard-copy so on. Workstations with so many computers and peripherals are challenging to working materials. It also enables free movement of the keyboard and allows design for comfortable use. users to rest their forearms on the worksurface when they’re not typing. First, evaluate your visual requirements. Get your displays positioned so you can Some of the newer computer workstations have a split surface design. One see them without awkward body positioning. Place the keyboards and digitizers in surface is for the monitor; the other is for the keyboard, mouse or other front of the monitors. Lower the monitors (if possible) and angle the display face to

Reprinted from The Inside Line • March 1996 Provided by IAC Industries, Brea, CA • 714•990•8997 • www.iacindustries.com Ergonomics in the Offi ce (continued)

minimize off-axis viewing. Keep visual requirements in mind when you’re deciding where to place the other devices – and don’t forget aspects such as reach, frequency of use, and the force required to operate each device.

Make sure you have a good chair that provides easy height adjustment, independent forward seat pan tilt, a rocking option, adjustable arms, adjustable back height and independent back tilt.

SUMMING UP: ERGONOMICS IN THE OFFICE

Applying good ergonomics engineering during product development, job design, and workstation defi nition can signifi cantly contribute to ease of product manufacturing and employee satisfaction. A good knowledge of ergonomics can reduce musculoskeletal disorders and ultimately improve your profi t margins.

Take full advantage of the wide range of skills a professional ergonomist can bring to your organization. After designing for ease of manufacturing and providing properly designed workstations, train your employees how to work properly, be aware of discomfort, and know how to make changes to minimize or eliminate the discomfort.

For offi ce environments, you should remember to lower monitors, avoid retractable keyboard trays, and be aware of potential problems with a mouse, trackball, or touchpad. Engineers, with their large monitors and extensive peripherals, should take some time to set up their workstations to minimize musculoskeletal fatigue and lighting glare. These changes will help everyone be more productive and healthy.

Reprinted from The Inside Line • March 1996 Provided by IAC Industries, Brea, CA • 714•990•8997 • www.iacindustries.com