What Is Ergonomics?

11 Office Ergonomic Tips for Easing the Workplace Stress Caused Due to Working Long Hours!

2008-10-08T19:13:00.000+07:00

Author: Neelima Reddy

“No day in your working life will be so bad if you follow the right ergonomic techniques.”

Usually, an employee working at the desk has a habit of working for longer hours without following proper ergonomic techniques. In order to avoid stress throughout the day and work with maximum alertness, you need to follow some ergonomic techniques.

Ergonomic techniques are very important to ease the stress and work with maximum alertness. When you spend maximum amount of time in front of your desk, you should be aware of how the arrangement and design of your equipment can impact your health, comfort and overall productivity.

These tips are highly effective for modern workers.

1. Create a great computer work space!

In designing your office work space, it is essential to think creatively and innovatively. Employees with longer limbs experience a greater risk with congested work space, so ensure that the space is large enough.

Provide proper place for the equipment and the things that are essential to make your dream workstation.

2. Right way to organize the desk or workstation!

Standard desk sizes are not suitable for everyone’s needs, so choose the desk that is right for you. If the desk is for a group of people, then prefer adjustable furniture.

• Organize the desktop to access the things easily without any strain.
• Place frequently used objects at a closer distance to avoid excessive extensions.
• Accommodate the place below the desk suitable to your legs at correct height and the place should be free for stretching.
• Use a foot rest if your feet don’t rest flat on the floor after adjusting your chair height.
• Use matte finish on the work surface to minimize the glare or reflections.
• Use a document holder, if you need to refer documents during keying.

3. Make suitable chair adjustments!

Begin your work with correct chair height. To arrange the chair in an ergonomic position, just stand in front of the chair and adjust the chair height to your knee length.

Adjust the chair’s backrest in order to support your lower back. Then tighten the chair’s backrest, so that it does not give away with your body weight.

Throughout the working day, re-adjust the chair to your various body postures. Don’t stay in a single static position for long hours. Alternate your posture between sitting and standing positions when you are performing daily tasks. Take small breaks and walk for few minutes.

4. Maintain accurate ergonomic monitor distance!

You need to sit in an awkward position if the monitor is too close or too far to your eyes. Finally this can lead to an improper ergonomic posture thus causing eye strain. Forward leaning can fatigue the eyes and put stress on the torso because there is no support for your back.

Follow the below tips to reduce the eye strain:

• Clean monitor surface.
• Attain optimum comfort by adjusting the contrast and brightness.
• Maintain right distance from the monitor to the user i.e. 18-30 inches.
• Place the monitor at an angle of 90 degrees to the windows.

5. Seek right ergonomic keyboard!

Do you spend most of your work time in typing? Using the keyboard and placing it can greatly affect the risk of getting RSI and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Follow these techniques in order to reduce the risk of these injuries:

• First make suitable chair adjustments, then place your hands comfortably at your sides. Your forearm should be at an angle of 90 degrees with your upper arm.
• Place the keyboard in such a manner so that your arms should be parallel to your thighs.
• If needed, place a keyboard tray to achieve right ergonomic posture.
• Follow right typing techniques.
• Set the keyboard at a closer distance from you to avoid unnecessary trouble in reaching the keyboard.
• Gently press the keys and don’t hold them down for extended periods.

6. Exercise at your desk!

Desk exercises offer relief to computer users from pain, stiffness and posture problems. Computer work at office involves maintaining same posture for long periods resulting in muscle stiffness and tension.

Practice simple stretching exercises which can be performed at the desk. Stretching exercises improves flexibility and decreases the risk of injury, physical stress and improves performance.

7. Light your working area!

Improper lighting can cause visual discomforts like burning eyes, eye strain, itching, and blurred vision. So, adjust the lights to reduce the glare and also position your monitor at an angle to reduce the reflection.

Reduce the eye fatigue by following the below tips:
• Avoid intense lighting in your working area.
• Monitor should be at an angle of 90 degrees to the windows.
• Use desk lamps, instead of overhead lights.
• Use monitor shield to reduce the glare due to overhead lights.

8. Know the right usage of input device!

Whatever might be the input device you use, make sure that it must be within your reach and don’t hold it too tightly so that there is less stress on the muscles. If you are not feeling good with your mouse, try an alternate one like trackball or touch pad.

Placing the input device too close or too far can cause discomfort in your forearm, shoulder, elbow and wrist.

Follow these tips to overcome from these discomforts:
• Place the mouse at your comfortable reach for natural relaxation and comfortable eye-hand coordination.
• Avoid bending wrist upward and ensure that you are sitting lower than your elbow height so that holding the mouse can be easier for you.
• Make sure the mouse surface is stable.

9. Give priority to the work habits!

Working at the desk can cause discomfort on your upper extremities and on your eyes. So, to avoid these discomforts, you need to learn some work habits.
• Take frequent breaks for every 20-40 minutes, get up and walk around for 2-3 minutes.
• Don’t stay in one static position for longer hours, change the posture periodically.
• Provide your eyes with vision breaks for every hour.
• Stretch your neck, back, and hands for every hour.
• Substitute the mouse usage by using alternative keystrokes.

Follow these work habits, so that you won’t experience any stress on any part of your body.

10. Identify Proper usage of laptop computers!

Work on a laptop computer only when it is on the table but not on your lap. If you need to use it very frequently, it is better to use separate mouse and keyboard to reduce the stress on your hands and wrists.

Techniques you need to follow while using laptop computer:
• While typing, place your hands straight so that your wrists should not bend and should not be resting on your lap, table, or on a palm rest. Use palm or wrist rests to give support in the break.
• If the table you are using is too high for keying, then use a laptop holder by tilting the laptop towards you.

11. Know how to use the phone at your desk!

Avoid placing the phone receiver between your shoulder and neck as it can cause strain on your neck muscles. Use a headset or put the call on speakerphone to reduce the stress on neck muscles.

You can notice an amazing improvement in your work related discomforts and also in the quality of your work after following these techniques.

Easy Guide To The Best Ergonomic Chair Tips

2008-10-06T19:12:00.000+07:00

Author: Helen Hecker

If you're willing to purchase a used chair you might be able to find a used ergonomic chair, ergonomic office chair or an expensive chair like the Aeron chair online or on eBay. If you spend just about all of your waking hours at your desk, you know you require an ergonomic office chair that works with your body to spare you from needless backaches and fatigue. The word ergonomics is often used when speaking about working at the computer in a way that promotes beneficial posture and body form.

Incorrect ergonomics can cause back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and additional medical issues. When shopping for or purchasing an ergonomic chair online, finding the best ergonomic chair depends a great deal on what sort of work you do whether at home or outside of home. More attention should be given to ergonomics when shopping for or purchasing anything that we are going to be using every day.

Ergonomic task chairs and seating generally have a lower back design for better movement in a computer workstation; these task chairs are obtainable with or without arms. Ergonomic intensive-use chairs or seating, a.k.a. 24/7 seating, is for dispatch room security monitoring areas, control rooms, and 911 emergency dispatch offices. Tilt choices on the industrial chair mechanisms in addition to cylinder height must be weighed depending on the task to be managed.

There are a lot of extra-large ergonomic chairs that are outstanding for security guards as the size of this chair provides for equipment to be worn on the belt and not to become fastened on the arms of the chair. Managers' chairs often have a knee tilt mechanism, which is ideal for multitasking; it makes it easy to go from computer work to telephone conferences with extraordinary ease. Ergonomic intensive-use chairs are very long-wearing and particularly need to be ergonomic in purpose, since workers are generally sitting for many hours.

The tilt mechanism sustains support when you move and recline; it's better to have your back somewhat reclined while seated at your desk. The foremost section of the seat should slope downward somewhat and permit a fist-size opening between the back of the knees and the front edge of the seat pan to keep down pressure at the back of the thighs. The chair reclines or tilt adjustment modifies the angle of the whole seat as it is relative to the floor.

Remember, a lumbar support cushion properly positioned behind the small of the back may greatly help to accentuate lumbar support. The hydraulic seat height adjustment permits the user to adjust the chair so their feet can rest upon the floor or footrest and the upper body is properly lined up with the computer monitor and with the keyboard and mouse. Rubber locking casters are of value on stools to prevent tipping.

It is also essential that the user shift body position throughout the day. A lot of chairs come with a built-in lumbar adjustment which may be adjusted by turning a knob on the side of the chair. Just about every ergonomic task chair comes with a hydraulic seat height adjustment, which is in all probability the single most important adjustment mechanism on a chair.

The best ergonomic chairs, such as the Herman Miller Aeron Chair, begin at approximately $400 or so. Ergonomic chair prices do vary greatly and first-class materials and construction will cost more. Some online stores will allow you to rent ergonomic chairs and additional high-ticket ergonomic equipment; you can test a chair for a month prior to determining if you want to purchase it and if you choose to keep the chair, the stores will apply the rental price towards the total cost.

Top 5 Most Important Ergonomic Furniture Items

2008-09-13T17:35:00.000+07:00

By Sharon Stage

Not everyone has heard the term "ergonomic furniture," but anyone who sits at a desk or computer throughout the majority of their work day knows that office furniture can, quite literally, be a real pain in the butt. Pain in the back, neck, and shoulders is quite common among office employees, and many people actually develop chronic conditions such as migraine headaches and posture issues as a result of poorly designed workstations. For these reasons, it is important to equip your workstation with the proper furniture and supplies, in order to reduce the amount of pain you experience and maximize overall productivity levels. Here is a list of the top 5 most important ergonomic items to have:

1) Office Chair

This is obviously the piece of furniture that most influences your comfort while at work, because it supports your back and hips while working. Ergonomic office chairs should adequately provide cushioning to your lower back, and also have a backrest that encourages you to sit at a comfortable angle. Ergonomic office chairs made with quality design in mind have been proven to increase productivity by at least 8% throughout the work day.

2) Office Desk

The placement and structure of your desk affects the angle of your wrists, elbows, neck, and head while working. Ergonomic desks will position your monitor directly in your line of vision and allow your wrists to be supported while you type. Desks should also be easily adjustable, in order to allow customization for your particular body type.

3) Computer Mouse

An ergonomic mouse should allow your posture to remain neutral while you operate the computer. This means that the mouse is at the correct height and can be accessed easily, without twist or strain. It should also be equipped with a special non-slip surface that will reduce tension in the arm as a result of securing hand placement on the mouse, and will often come with extra programmable features.

4) Computer Keyboard

A good computer keyboard is actually considered to be a solid treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Ergonomic keyboards are usually split in two pieces, in order to eliminate awkward arm and wrist positioning, and can reduce the instance of tendinitis and chronic wrist pain. They can also be adjusted to accommodate a range of different sizes and posture needs.

5) Armrest

While most standard office chairs are equipped with armrests, they may not be positioned to provide the support necessary for repetitive computer-related tasks. For that reason, many companies now make separate armrests that can be clipped to the front of the desk and aligned properly to provide maximum protection against arm and shoulder pain. The overall benefits of an ergonomic armrest are reduced tension and relief from chronic pain.

Ergonomic Keyboards Make the Work Environment More Productive

2008-09-10T09:32:00.001+07:00

By Frank Barnett

At numerous offices, the computer set-ups are loaded with the most up-to-date equipment and all sorts of technological advances, which is a definite plus for the efficiency of some employees. However, that is not the sole approach being implemented in today's offices to improve worker performance. Lots of firms increase their employees' comfort at performing their daily computer chores, and therefore their productivity also, by providing ergonomic keyboards.

Ergonomic keyboards have been around for a long time - almost as long as the modern personal computer, and have long been seen as the ideal for the person who spends their days in an office at a computer terminal. Using an ergonomic keyboard has long gone from an office perk to an office essential, as more and more medical research illustrates the possible damage a person can do themselves through prolonged use of a keyboard.

Eventually, using a non-ergonomically designed keyboard to do typing can lead to the formation of a "repetitive strain injury". This kind of ailment can show itself in different ways, but is typically manifested as carpal tunnel syndrome for those afflicted. The cause of this is that ordinary keyboards have a format that forces the typical user to awkwardly position their hands in order to type.

Lower the amount of stress that is put on your wrists and hands by using an ergonomic keyboard. You can put your hands at a more comfortable angle when using an ergonomic keyboard. You can prevent injury by holding your hands and forearms this way in fact, you can virtually eliminate the stress when spending long days typing.

While working at your personal computer workstation if you want to improve the condition of your health then ergonomic keyboards are not the only ergonomic resource that you can use. There are many other things like ergonomic mouse, eye-strain reducing monitors, and other office technologies. are developed for minimizing the discomfort that can result from completing repetitive tasks. these technologies help every office worker to maintain good health.

Therefore, if you want to add health benefits for your hands and arms, raise the comfort level as you type, and lower your chance of forming injuries as a consequence of typing or using other outdated office equipment, then think about changing over to ergonomically-designed keyboards and other work-friendly technological innovations. Instantly you will observe an increase in the comfort level of your workplace.

In many companies, a worker's output is improved through the use of an ergonomic keyboard. Over time, typing while using a ordinary keyboard can result in the development of a repetitive strain injury. While working at your personal computer workstation, if you want to improve the condition of your health, then ergonomic keyboards are not the only ergonomic resources that you can use. There are many other tools like ergonomic mouse, eye-strain reducing monitors, and other technologies that are developed for minimizing the discomfort that can result from completing repetitive tasks.

Investing in Ergonomics

2008-09-09T22:20:00.001+07:00

By Alezandrix Khinx

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is a way of properly designing office equipment to conform to the physical condition of the person in it. Ergonomically-sound office equipment intends to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and increasing comfort. When equipment fits a person's physique, it is ergonomically designed.

Some ergonomic products are designed for people with specific needs. All ergonomic products, however, including tables, chairs, displays, tools, lighting and other equipment, are designed to make all users comfortable while working, thereby increasing productivity.

Using Ergonomic Desks

Ergonomic desks, computer consoles, and other furniture pieces are designed to provide a comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing working surface as well as securely house or conceal office equipment such as computers, peripherals and cabling.

With its modern design, ergonomic office equipment offers flexibility to the user, maximizing user comfort and efficiency.

Benefits of Ergonomics

All work environments must be safe and free of stress. Poor worker posture is a major cause of back pain, workplace stress, and repetitive strain injury, resulting in lost work time, reduced productivity, compromised health, and low worker morale.

Although some ergonomic products are priced higher, an investment in ergonomic products will repay itself through increased worker productivity and well-being. Investing in ergonomics will result in:

1. Improved worker morale and higher productivity, resulting to greater efficiency;

2. Reduced risk of litigation from repetitive stress and other job-related injuries;

3. Compliance with local health and safety laws.

Recommendation

Ergonomic products are designed to meet the needs and preferences of each worker. Individuals have diverse needs and preferences; some workers prefer sitting down while others prefer standing up. Ergonomic products are available in a wide array of choices to meet each individual's preferences.

Ergonomic products are designed to make every workplace more comfortable and safer. An investment in ergonomics makes sense for every company. The well-being of every worker is essential to achieve optimum company growth. The more comfortable the worker is in his or her workplace, the more productive and effective that worker will be.

Ergonomics For Better Productivity For Your Small Biz: Some Useful Tips

2008-09-08T11:15:00.000+07:00

By Alexander Gordon

Set Aside a Good Amount for Ergonomic Items:

When it comes to finalizing the budget, you should set aside a good amount to be spent on ergonomics for better productivity for your small biz. If you are really fed up with the repeated strain injuries and resulting loss of productivity, then you should not hesitate to buy ergonomic chairs, computer screens and the keyboards.

What Are The Views Of The Experts?

When you give importance to ergonomics for better productivity for your small biz, you should take into consideration the views of the chief executive officer of Rossiter & Associates. This is a Cincinnati health care company that deals with the problems related with repetitive stress injuries and also with the techniques of connective tissues. According to him, most of the people running small businesses make the mistake of concentrating only on providing ergonomic tables, desks, furniture, adjustable keyboards for the computers, and so on. He does not stop you from doing this, but he feels that you should not forget about the employees who are going to use these ergonomic things.

Human Part of the Equation:

So, when you analyze the view of the experts in the field of ergonomics for better productivity for your small biz, you should give equal importance to the human part of the equation. That is taking care of your employees also. So, what should you do in addition to providing the ergonomic equipments to your employees? This is a very important question; and if you want of take full advantage of ergonomic science for the benefit of your small biz, then you need to focus on ergonomic training also for your employees. You have to make sure that taking care of the employees becomes an integrated part of the culture of your small biz.

Relation between Ergonomics and Productivity:

Do you know what difference it can make if you apply ergonomics for better productivity for your small biz? According to the study performed at Microsoft, 90% of the employees were of the view that there is a direct relation between the designing of the workstation and the productivity of the employees.

What Approach Should You Adopt?

What is the best method for applying ergonomics for better productivity for your small biz? Instead of taking action when the employees start complaining, you should adopt a proactive approach. Now, how to adopt the proactive approach? For this purpose, you can consult many online resources. There are so many free online resources that can guide you efficiently in this regard. There are websites that can suggest to you whether or not your employees are exposed to any kind of unnecessary risk.

Alexander Gordon is a writer for http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com - The Small Business Consulting Community. Sign-up for the free success steps newsletter and get our booklet valued at $24.95 for free as a special bonus. The newsletter provides daily strategies on starting and significantly growing a business.

Understand the Need for Ergonomics

2008-09-06T23:10:00.001+07:00

By Darren Williger

The popularity of the term “ergonomics” in this current age we live in cannot be understated. Every business in existence seems to want to ensure that their offices maintain ergonomic standards by all possible means. Designers of household and office equipment have also realized the importance or ergonomics and medical professionals are also singing praises of this field of study. So what exactly is the purpose of ergonomics and is it really worth the fuss that it’s generating?

Ergonomics may seem like a somewhat confusing and far-reaching term but the essence of the concept is rooted in simplicity. The field simply focuses on relieving people of any form of emotional and physical stress and making people more comfortable whether they are at home or work. It also helps people achieve a better level of harmony and peace as well and reduces the propensity for people to get injured or sick in the workplace.

What people really don’t understand is whether the simple purchase of a new piece of office furniture can provide all these benefits. However, ergonomics isn’t simply about buying furniture to reduce the amount of stress or strain your body is subjected to on a daily basis. Ergonomics also focuses on the reduction of discomfort and the alleviation of stress on different areas of the body. These areas are the physical areas (hands, neck, back, eyes) and the mental areas as well. All of this in turn helps boost your response to life issues and your productivity as well as your immune system.

What your ergonomic lifestyle means is that you can gain your comfort and meet any technological demands that may arise as a result of the stress of modern day employment. This can be achieved by simply upgrading any equipment and tools that you currently use and finding those that can help you complete any tasks that you set out to do easily. The endgame is to design your home or office in a way that involves the use of elements that balances your work regardless of any obstacles to your progress. It isn’t about compelling your body to adjust to your environment but making sure your environment adapts to suit your purposes.

This may seem somewhat complicated and far-fetched but in reality, it isn’t. Sometimes all you need is a simple touch like the addition of a light source to your office space or reducing the height of your chair. These procedures all alleviate certain aspects of discomfort in your work or office space and improve your productivity.

Slouching may be causing certain problems in your workplace due to the way that your desk or computer has been placed. A new keyboard may easily resolve any problems that you experience with your hands while lowering the temperature a bit might keep you comfortable.

Ergonomics isn’t about complexity or spending a huge chunk of your budget. Most of the time all you really need to know is to find out how best you can take care of each worker in your establishment in ways that satisfy their personal aspirations and requirements

7 Tips for Choosing the Best Ergonomic Chair

2008-08-26T17:48:00.001+07:00

Author: Steve Lott

Choosing the right ergonomic chair for your body type is not the easiest task, but with a little research and helpful advice you will find the chair of your dreams. The following tips provide you with a base of what to look when shopping for an ergonomic chair, whether it is for home or the office.

Tip #1: All ergonomic chairs are not created equal. The saying "you get what you pay for" definitely applies to ergonomic chairs as well. You will find chairs ranging in price from $50 to $1000 and everywhere in between. Some will fall apart in a year and some will last a lifetime. Make sure you set your budget as high as you can if you want the best, most comfortable ergonomic chair.

Tip #2: One size chair does not fit all users. When looking for an ergonomic chair the more adjustable features it has the better. Not only will it make it easier for you to adjust the chair to your body type but if the chair you buy is going in a place where others might use it also it will make adjusting it to fit their needs that much easier.

Tip #3: Pay attention to the size and shape of the actual seat cushion and back rest. Most ergonomic chair manufacturers have a variety of seat sizes to choose from and the size you need is determined by, you guessed it, the size of your body! This is the first place ergonomic chairs differ from standard computer chairs because standard chairs rarely come in more than one size.

Tip #4: Can the height and tilt of the seat cushion be adjusted? Most chairs allow you to adjust the height easily but being able to adjust the tilt of the seat is a special feature that usually only ergonomic chairs have. Being able to set the tilt where you want it allows for even grater comfort than height adjustability alone.

Tip #5: Does the back cushion have multiple depth settings? A back cushion that only stays in one place is not very ergonomic so most ergonomic chair manufacturers include a feature that allows you to adjust the depth, or tilt, of your back support cushion. This is another adjustment that will help get your body in the proper posture for extended computer use.

Tip #6: Opt for the adjustable arms feature to really bring your seating experience to a whole new level. Adjustable chair arms allow you to change the height and tilt of the arms so they can fit users with various heights and seating postures.

Tip #7: Make sure the chair you end up purchasing is covered under warranty for at least one year. Good chair manufacturers will always include a warranty and they stand by their products 100%, it's the less expensive brands you need to watch out for.

The Importance of Ergonomic Products

2008-08-07T23:52:00.000+07:00

By Vinodh Pushparaj

Interestingly, ergonomics though sounds to be a modern and trendy phenomenon, its principles are based on primitive life style. It is a known fact that earlier generations did not have to face a whole lot of medical complications that our generation is facing. Some of the factors that contribute to these medical complications are associated with our poor work conditions and our unhealthy life style which our forefathers and mothers instinctively avoided. We are running short of that life saving instinct. They knew how and how not an action is to be performed, when and when not something can be done easily. They were attuned to nature and to their own bodily nature. They were sensitive to the bodily cues and were able to modify their actions and hence lead a healthy life.

However there is a wide new awakening in this area in the form of Ergonomics. The word Ergonomics finds its root in Greek. “Ergon” in Greek means work and “nomoi” means law or rule. So ergonomics means law of work. Ergonomics is a branch of science that deals with the design of objects, systems and environment. Though can be mislead by the etymological meaning of the word, it is not limited to work but generally physical actions including sports and leisure activities of human beings. Ergonomics is not a stand-alone branch of science like many other branches science. Ergonomics relies on the principles of many other branches of science including, psychology of human beings, anatomy and physiology and also on results of cultural studies. Ergonomics seeks to produce a job environment that will help people to operate in their optimum levels and increase efficiency by increasing comfort in work and reducing fatigue. For example, a 6 feet tall individual cannot be comfortable in a low car where he or she has to place himself or herself in unnatural bodily postures that will result in fatigue that would even undermine the safety measures. This means that a car has to be designed to accommodate a six feet tall individual to drive comfortably without straining oneself.

Studies have proved that ergonomically designed products reduce stress at work places. This applies especially to people who work in the IT industry. Many psychological disorders have been associated with people who work in poor IT environments. This has lead to an in depth study on how to reduce the anomalies, which in turn has lead to the booming market of ergonomically designed IT products. Some of the computer accessories that are designed using ergonomic principles include, vertical mouse, ergonomic keyboard, adjustable computer furniture and the list extends.

While it is good to choose ergonomically designed products for your use, you have to be careful in choosing a genuine product. Because, there are lot of products that markup their price at an exorbitant rates in the name of ergonomic products. It may not be necessarily so – ergonomic product need not necessarily look too different from the one’s that are already in use. We often wrongly associate ergonomic products with fancy looking products on which the product manufacturers thrive.

New Wellness Study: Employees with Balanced Diets Have 10 Times More Energy

2008-07-29T23:23:00.001+07:00

ComPsych Corporation has released its 2008 Health & Productivity Index, a workplace wellness study which revealed only 5 percent of employees with unbalanced diets had high levels of energy, while 50 percent of workers with balanced diets had high energy. ComPsych is the world's largest provider of employee assistance programs and worldwide leader in GuidanceResources (EAPs, behavioral health, wellness, work-life and crisis intervention services).

"Energy is a key factor in productivity," said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych. "Lack of energy is also one of the most common health-related complaints we hear from employees. Given the connection between balanced diets and energy, organizations that promote healthy food - as part of a comprehensive wellness program - can expect to see payoff in terms of productivity and performance."

To measure the impact of personal wellness and lifestyle choices on employees' workplace effectiveness, ComPsych surveyed more than 1,000 employees across the U.S. from employers of all sizes and industries.

2008 Health & Productivity Index Key Findings:

-- Fifty percent of workers with balanced diets had high energy, while only 5 percent of employees with unbalanced diets had high levels of energy.

-- Of employees with healthy diets, 73 percent reported having high levels of productivity, compared to 24 percent of employees with poor dietary habits.

-- Fifty-one percent of ideal weight employees had high morale, while less than half that amount - 25 percent - of very overweight employees had high morale levels.

-- Fifty-seven percent of healthy weight employees reported high levels of productivity, while only 27 percent of very overweight employees reported being highly productive.

Workplace Ergonomics Program

2008-07-24T16:28:00.000+07:00

Source: SafeComputingTips.Com

Workplace Ergonomics Program

Workplace Ergonomics Program - Evaluation

Three reasons for evaluating your Workplace Ergonomics program
1. Your workplace ergonomics program is not achieving the desired results at an affordable cost.

2. Your workplace ergonomics program is effective and efficient, but you desire to improve.

3. OSHA's working draft Ergonomics Program Standard requires you to evaluate your workplace ergonomics program once every three years.

A simple way to evaluate your workplace ergonomics program is to perform a "gap analysis" by comparing your activities to a list taken from best practices. One approach, given below, is based on six important elements of an effective workplace ergonomics program.

This list has been derived from such documents as OSHA's Ergonomics Program Management Guidelines for Meatpacking Plants (OSHA 3123, 1993) and NIOSH's Elements of Workplace ergonomics program (DHHS 97-117, 1997), as well as observations in industry.
Workplace ergonomics program Evaluation List

Compare your workplace ergonomics program activities with the following list to identify opportunities for improvement your workplace ergonomics program and those activities that are not currently being accomplished systematically in your organization.

Workplace ergonomics program - Management Leadership and Employee Involvement:

* Employee involvement is supported by a mission statement signed by management.
* Accountability is assigned for ergonomics, medical management, facilities management and engineering management.
* The workplace ergonomics program is reviewed periodically and compared with industry best practices.
* Program components are reviewed periodically to ensure that the workplace ergonomics program is meeting stated goals.

Workplace ergonomics program - Worksite Analysis/Risk Assessment:

* Injury/illness records and employee reports are reviewed periodically to identify ergonomic concerns with jobs and workstations.
* Ergonomic risk assessments are performed before changes are made to workstation layouts, tools, equipment, furniture and processes.
* Ergonomic risks are identified and prioritized by department and communicated to management.
* Ergonomic risk assessments and employee discomfort surveys are performed periodically.

Workplace ergonomics program - Hazard Prevention and Control:

* Documented processes to perform ergonomic hazard analysis and to implement acceptable controls are part of the program.
* Ergonomic assessments include the evaluation and documentation of known ergonomic risk factors by both objective and subjective measures.
* Multiple control strategies are evaluated, with an emphasis on engineering controls.
* Administrative controls are designed to control specific ergonomic risks and monitored to ensure that they are followed.
* Design standards for tools, equipment, and furniture are applied to vendors, as well as internally.

Workplace ergonomics program - Medical Management:

* Prevention, recognition and control of ergonomics-related injuries and illnesses are part of a trained health care provider service that has managed protocols.
* A qualified health care provider administers the medical management program.
* Periodic health surveillance is conducted for employees assigned to jobs with recognized ergonomic risks.
* Treatment protocols follow established practices for conservative care.
* Trends are monitored through comprehensive recordkeeping.
* Early reporting of signs and symptoms of cumulative trauma disorders is encouraged.

Workplace ergonomics program - Training and Education:

* Training programs are designed to fit the needs of different levels of personnel.
* Ergonomic awareness training is given annually to employees exposed to ergonomic risks.
* Solutions training addresses retrofitted interventions and preventive measures for new workplace design.
* Maintenance and facilities management personnel understand and apply the issues affecting ergonomic improvements.

Workplace ergonomics program - Process Management:

* Goals and objectives drive your ergonomics activities.
* An ergonomics plan with measurable goals and defined resources is generated annually.
* Internal customers (i.e., employees, supervisors and managers) are stratified, and the satisfaction level of each subset is monitored independently.
* Improvement projects have clearly defined goals and timelines.
* Key ergonomics processes, including ergonomics team activities, are monitored and their performance checked against metrics.

Facilities planning and ergonomics are linked by defined process steps.

The New Ergonomics: Good Health Through Inconvenience

2008-07-24T16:23:00.002+07:00

By: June Campbell
Source: SafeComputingTips.Com

You spend your day at a computer workstation or executive desk. The furniture item fills up the corner of the room, holds your computer, fax/phone/copier, scanner, filing basket and a year's worth of office supplies. There's enough space left over to spread out a picnic lunch if you are so inclined. You settle comfortably into a big executive type chair on casters and get ready to call a few colleagues in for a meeting. As you wait, you talk into a telephone receiver that you're squeezing in place by crunching your shoulder up towards your ear.

That scene is SO nineties, workplace experts tell us. The trend of the new century is towards office furnishings and office equipment that encourage mobility. Get rid of all that big, expensive office furniture before it kills you, they say. Replace it with a smaller "just big enough" desk and equipment that encourages you to move around as you do your job.

In other words, get rid of all that "convenience." Force yourself into healthy action by making your environment inconvenient.

In the first years of this new century, the health hazards associated with a desk job have moved beyond conditions like repetitive strain disorder and carpal tunnel syndrome. Not that we can forget about those conditions, but there's more to worry about now.

e-thrombosis is a newly-recognized condition that afflicts people who sit still for extended lengths of time. And, sitting still for extended periods of time in the workplace is usually associated with computer use.

E-thrombosis (medical terminology is Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT) is similar to the condition suffered by long distance air travelers. It's no laughing matter. E-thrombosis can be life threatening. A blood clot forms in the legs due to long hours of inactivity. The clot can break off and move into the lungs with sometimes fatal results.

Although only one case has been diagnosed at this time, researchers believe that e-thrombosis may have contributed to many cases of pulmonary embolisms, but gone unnoticed.

Sitting still for hours on end leaves us vulnerable to this and possibly other health hazards. And, according to physiotherapists, working out at the end of the day isn't the solution. By that time, the damage has been done and the workout could do more damage.

Prevention is not difficult. All that is required is that you move about regularly throughout the day.

Get a desk thats just-big-enough, or an e-work station with movable modules. Put that fax machine in one corner of the room and the copier in another. Provide yourself with articulated arm rests for computer use. Get both an adjustable chair and a fitness stool. Switch back and forth between the two, and at intervals throughout the day, sit on a fitness ball instead of the chair or stool. Sitting on the ball forces good posture and strengthens core muscles.

Have room so you can pace about as you think. Get a phone with a wireless headset that allows you to pace during phone conversations. Have standup work surfaces so you can sort papers, read reports or talk to colleagues while standing. Look into foot switches that allow you to transfer some of the computer tasks to your feet instead of your hands.

Walking around only five to ten minutes each hour is all that it takes.
In short, get moving! It's good for you.

Preventative Tips for working in the office

2008-07-18T23:23:00.000+07:00

Source: TheHelpingHand.Com

Rest your hands frequently, especially when any tingling, numbness, pain, cramping, etc. occurs.
Try and control your mouse with the lightest possible grip.
Rest your palms, not your wrist, on a wrist-rest or the desktop.
When using a keyboard/mouse, your hands should be even or slightly lower than your elbows. An adjustable keyboard tray mounted under the desktop may be necessary.
Keep your hands in-line with your forearms as much as possible, not bent in/out or up/down at the wrist.
Rest your elbows on your chair's armrests and adjust them so the weight of your arms is supported by the armrests, not supported by your shoulders.
Use a foot rest if your feet aren't flat on the floor.
The top of your monitor should be about eye level so you aren't bending your neck up or too far down.
Sit upright so your head is above your shoulders. Don't slouch forward.
Take frequent breaks and do stretching exercises to replenish blood flow which is restricted by continuous muscle use, especially involving your hands.
Alter your posture from time to time but keep within the guidelines of correct sitting most of the time.
Sit so the natural hollow stays in your lower back. A good adjustable chair should allow this.
Position your monitor and keyboard in front of you, not to the side.
Use larger barreled pens (1/2"+ diameter) to make them easier to grasp.
Don't wear wrist splints for extended periods during the day. Some muscles may atrophy.
Don't type with long fingernails.
Cut back or discontinue the use of tobacco products.

Preventative Tips for working in the factory or house

2008-07-18T23:20:00.001+07:00

Source: TheHelpingHand.Com

Rest your hands frequently, especially when any tingling, numbness, pain, etc. occurs.
If a repetitive job is awkward, try to find a better way to accomplish it.
When using vibrating tools, try to insulate the vibration from your hands with gloves, padding, etc.
Alternate easy and hard tasks that use your hands.
Keep your wrist in a neutral position as much as possible, not bent or twisted.
Use your whole hand to grasp objects, not just your thumb and index finger.
Give your hand and wrist time to recover after forceful movements.
Don't carry heavy objects for long periods. Use jacks, carts, dollies, etc. whenever possible.
Increase the diameter of the handles of tools and equipment with tape, foam or other materials to help reduce the force of your grip and to spread the pressure more evenly over the hand.
Keep your hands warm to promote circulation.
Avoid sleeping on or with your hands bent at the wrist. If you experience CTS symptoms at night due to this, wrist splints may help.
Cut back or discontinue the use of tobacco products.

How To Ease Office Aches And Pains

2008-07-16T17:46:00.000+07:00

Source: Forbes.Com

Tips for setting-up your office with a slide show explaining each point ...

"Office employees who sit at their computers for eight or more hours daily report frequent aches and pains, ranging from stiff necks to lower backaches to numb wrists. Add to that list "BlackBerry thumb," the throbbing sensation many users feel in their digit from too much typing on the hand-held device.

The good news is a few small adjustments to your workstation and your daily routine should alleviate, or even prevent, the pain.

The most important thing office workers can do, according to those who study ergonomics, is to take short breaks every 30 minutes. That might seem frequent, but you don't even need to leave your desk. Just stand up and roll your shoulders back a few times. Holding the same posture for hours and repeating the same activities--typing and clicking a mouse--puts strain on muscles over time. Taking breaks eases that tension.

"There's a lot of social pressure to sit at your desk all day," says Deborah Quilter, the author of two books on repetitive strain injury. "Managers worry that their employees lose productivity, but [they] will gain productivity in the long term. If your employees are healthy, there's less downtime and fewer workers'-compensation costs."

Desk Set-up

The right way to sit (Faulty sitting posture can cause severe pain in the back)

2008-07-16T17:43:00.002+07:00

DR. YASH GULATI (A Delhi-based orthopaedician)

Summary:

Tips to avoid backache

Always maintain good sitting posture
If pain occurs, apply some pain balm like Iodex instead of relying on drug management initailly.
Do not sit continuously for a long duration at a stretch. Stand up, stretch your back muscles, and stroll around for a few minutes.
Do small jobs like fetching a glass of water or files
Avoid extensive, continuous traveling. Take short breaks
Avoid high heeled shoes
Choose your chair according to your height and comfort.
See your doctor if pain persists for more than two weeks.

Ergonomic seating

Ensure that your hands, wrists, and forearms are in a row, almost parallel to the floor.
Ensure that your head and torso are in-line with head slightly bent forward, facing the front and balanced.
Ensure that your shoulders are at ease with upper arms hanging normally at the sides.
Ensure that your elbows are close to your body and bent between 90 and 110 degrees.
The feet should be either supported by a footrest or relaxing on the floor.
Ensure that your knees and hips are in almost the same height with your feet slightly forward.

The Ultimate Guide to Workstation Ergonomics: 10 Easy Tips (and a Huge List of Resources)

2008-07-13T11:44:00.001+07:00

By HR World Editors on October 1, 2007

If you're like most people, you spend a good portion of your waking hours sitting at a desk or working with a computer. This time can become painful — and even unbearable — if you don't take steps to properly set up your workstation to work with your body and not against it.

Creating an ergonomic workstation is easier than you might think, and the payoff can be huge. These tips and resources can get you on the path to making your workstation more ergonomic and maybe even more productive.

Tips

Work Area: When setting up a work area, make sure that the space is large enough for you to spread out comfortably and allows for a full range of motion, which can be a special concern for those with especially long limbs. You should also leave plenty of room to arrange the items you use most frequently in such a way that there is no strain for you to reach them.
Laptops: When using a laptop, it's best to use it while it's on a table rather than on your lap. If you use it frequently, you might be better served by using a separate keyboard and mouse rather than using the built-in keyboard and touch pad to reduce strain on your wrists and hands.
Keyboard: If you spend a lot of your workday typing, where you place your keyboard and how you use it can greatly affect your risk for getting RSIs (repetitive stress injuries) like carpal tunnel syndrome. Your keyboard should be placed so that your arms are parallel to your thighs. If your desk doesn't allow for this, try getting a keyboard tray. You'll also want to do your best to use good typing techniques, keeping your wrists elevated and not hitting the keys too hard.
Mouse: When setting up your desk, make sure to keep your mouse easily within reach and try not to grip it too tightly, as doing so can strain the muscles in your hand. If you find that using a mouse bothers you too much, try using an alternate input device like a trackball or a touch pad.
Desk: There is no one-size-fits-all desk, so choose one that is right for you. You can help reduce your chance of injury by getting a document holder, arranging your electronics within your reach and making sure that the area underneath your desk remains uncluttered.
Chair: A good chair can do wonders, as sitting is much harder on your back than it might appear to be. Make sure to keep your lower back supported, and adjust your chair so that you can easily reach your keyboard and mouse. If this means raising the chair so that your feet don't quite reach the floor, get a footrest to help keep your feet from dangling.
Monitor: Improperly configured monitors can cause a great deal of eyestrain, resulting in headaches and difficulty concentrating. Center your monitor in front of you at a comfortable distance, and adjust the brightness settings so that it’s easy on your eyes. Make sure to take breaks from staring at your screen, too. Glare can be a problem as well, and if you can't seem to eliminate it, use a glass glare filter.
Lighting: Common office lighting can often create a great deal of eyestrain by making your computer monitor difficult to see. Adjust your shades or lights as much as you can to reduce glare, and position your monitor at such an angle to light sources that reflection is reduced. It can be helpful to keep overhead lights dimmed and use a desk lamp for close work.
Work Habits: You can arrange your work habits so that you don't put undue stress on any part of your body. Make sure to take frequent breaks, get up and walk around, and change positions frequently so that repetitive tasks and static work won't take their tolls.
Phone: It can be tempting to multitask and cradle your phone receiver between your neck and shoulder. However, this should be avoided, as it can create a great deal of strain in your neck muscles. If you need to have your hands free, try using a headset or put the call on speakerphone.

What Is Ergonomics?

2008-07-13T11:10:00.003+07:00

Ergonomics is derived from two Greek words: “ergon”, meaning work and “nomoi”, meaning natural laws.
It's the scientific discipline concerned with designing according to the human needs, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. The field is also called human engineering, and human factors engineering.

Ergonomic research is primarily performed by ergonomists, who study human capabilities in relationship to their work demands. Information derived from ergonomists contributes to the design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products, environments and systems in order to make them compatible with the needs, abilities and limitations of people.

To assess the fit between a person and their work, ergonomists consider:

the job being done and the demands on the worker;
the equipment used (its size, shape, and how appropriate it is for the task);
the information used (how it is presented, accessed, and changed).

Five aspects of ergonomics

There are five aspects of ergonomics, safety, comfort, ease of use, productivity/performance, and aesthetics. Based on these aspects of ergonomics, examples are given of how products or systems could benefit from redesign based on ergonomic principles.

Safety - Medicine bottles: The print on them could be larger so that a sick person who may have impaired vision (due to sinuses, etc.) can more easily see the dosages and label. Ergonomics could design the print style, color and size for optimal viewing.
Comfort - Alarm clock display: Some displays are harshly bright, drawing one’s eye to the light when surroundings are dark. Ergonomic principles could redesign this based on contrast principles.
Ease of use - Street Signs: In a strange area, many times it is difficult to spot street signs. This could be addressed with the principles of visual detection in ergonomics.
Productivity/performance - HD TV: The sound on HD TV is much lower than regular TV. So when you switch from HD to regular, the volume increases dramatically. Ergonomics recognizes that this difference in decibel level creates a difference in loudness and hurts human ears and this could be solved by evening out the decibel levels. Voicemail instructions: It takes too long to have to listen to all of the obvious instructions. Ergonomics could address this by providing more options to the user, enabling them to easily and quickly skip the instructions.
Aesthetics - Signs in the workplace: Signage should be made consistent throughout the workplace to not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also so that information is easily accessible for all signs

Source: Wikipedia, Ergonomics.Org

New ''Standing'' Desk Created to Improve Students' Academic Achievement and Physical Fitness

2008-07-03T19:57:00.004+07:00

Wis. Company’s Innovation Fulfills Teacher’s Vision;

Launches Line of Ergonomic Products for K-12 Students

CENTURIA, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When Abby Brown, a Minnesota teacher of more than 22 years, speaks about possibilities, those around her listen. Brown has a vision of what student learning and productivity looks like, and now students at Marine Elementary are reaping the benefits of a joint effort between Brown and Wisconsin-based Sunway Inc.

Launching the first of its Stand Up for Learning ergonomic products, Sunway has introduced the AlphaBetter™ Student Desk, an adjustable-height desk that allows students to stand while completing their school work. The AlphaBetter Student Desk was designed specifically at Brown’s request, and its effects on academic achievement and physical fitness are being studied by Education Minnesota/Ypsilon Associates and researchers from the University of Minnesota.

“Confining students to one position throughout the entire school day—day after day—isn’t in their best interest academically or physically,” said Brown, a sixth-grade teacher who has taught at Marine Elementary for 19 years. “Research shows us that attention to task, physical well-being—perhaps even self-esteem—can be improved by offering students the option to complete their work standing.”

When Brown glimpsed media coverage about a “classroom of the future,” she was inspired to seek classroom improvements that could benefit her own students. Last spring, she contacted Sunway to solicit a standing desk.

“Abby was very specific about her request, and with almost two decades of ergonomics experience in office furniture we knew how to achieve it,” says Tim Skiba, president of Sunway. “Combining our experience with Abby’s 22 years in the classroom, the AlphaBetter desk is one of the strongest education furniture products available.”

Using grants solicited from local sources, Brown has now filled four classrooms in her school district with the AlphaBetter Student Desk. She has also enlisted Education Minnesota/Ypsilon Associates to identify potential improvements in academic achievement, while University of Minnesota researchers are studying the impact on students’ caloric expenditure and physical fitness.

Brown continues to solicit additional financial support and raise awareness of the AlphaBetter Student Desk and its benefits within the Midwest. She regularly attends Rotary Club meetings and completes grant applications, hoping to increase the number of school districts using the unique standing desk. In particular, she points out the benefits to students with ADHD and other special needs.

Currently, the Stand Up for Learning products include:

AlphaBetter Student Desk — A high-end, quality school product, the AlphaBetter Student Desk is an adjustable-height desk designed to fit most students from third to 12th grade. Supporting legs adjust from 26 to 42 inches providing the best-fit option for individual students, and steel frame construction allows for long-lasting durability and stability. The AlphaBetter Student Desk is assembled in Sunway’s Centuria, Wis.-based manufacturing plant, with metalwork supplied by Midwest metal suppliers.

An added feature of the AlphaBetter Student Desk is the patent-pending Pendulum Footrest, which comes standard on all AlphaBetter desks. The footrest naturally corrects a student’s body position and ergonomic posture while providing lower back stress relief.

Adjustable-Height Stool — An adjustable-height stool, weighing 19 pounds and featuring steel “tip-resistant” legs for added stability, this Sunway product allows for height variation between 21 and nearly 36 inches.