In the days when typists were trained to sit with their backs straight and their feet directly in front of them to capture proper posture, office ergonomics was not really a consideration. Today, however, many workers perform their tasks in a virtual world, spending a majority of the day in front of computer screens, often located in a "cube," and are responsible for multitasking sometimes 10 or more hours daily. As a result, workers are experiencing more stress and work-related injuries, some due to ergonomic issues.
Function
Ergonomics examines the way your body moves within your environment while accomplishing specific tasks and is a practice most commonly used in the workplace. Ergonomics, also referred to as human engineering, involves arranging equipment in a workspace or other regularly used areas to "fit" the person. Moving a computer screen, lights and other needed equipment to reduce eye strain, neck or other muscle tension, or pain are examples of ergonomics at work.
Significance
Because office ergonomics targets the arrangement of your workspace, productivity and overall quality of daily work can improve and the risk of injury can decrease. While the majority of work-related injuries occur due to falls, improper lifting techniques, repetitive movements and awkward positioning, arranging the workspace to fit the way a person works in the office can alleviate or eliminate factors that contribute to these injuries.
Factors
To determine how a workstation should be set up, an must be completed. The biotechnology evaluation examines workstation setup as it relates to posture and repetitive movements, body positioning and the length of time the position is maintained while performing tasks; work surroundings, such as lighting, noise, temperature and work surface; and office equipment used while working. Once completed, the office ergonomics evaluation summary contains recommendations for a workspace design and arrangement specific to the person using the area.
Injuries
The most common office-related injuries involve the musculoskeletal, vision and hearing systems. Musculoskeletal injuries that can result from poor ergonomics include bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle strains, tendinitis and tennis elbow. Vision impairments include eye strain; watery, red and swollen eyes; double-vision; headaches due to eye strain; and neck and shoulder pain from poor posture. The inability to concentrate that can be caused by noises from nearby office machines and coworker conversations can result in hearing issues.
Considerations
According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, employee fatigue and pain associated with muscle strain is reduced when appropriate ergonomic techniques are in place. Further, the department indicates that by using the technology available to engineer man and his environment, employers are likely to see a decline in overall paid time off for illness and work-related injuries. Employee turnover is often reduced as well.
Tags: work-related injuries, ergonomics evaluation, from poor, office ergonomics, repetitive movements