Marie Tully

Johns Hopkins University

Hardware, Operating, and Networking Systems for Schools

Fall 2010

“Ergonomics” is derived from

the Greek language:

Ergon: meaning to work

and

Nomos: meaning laws or rules

http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/What.htm

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the science of work and the study of the relationship of the human body to the workplace environment. Ergonomics stresses the importance of comfort, safety, and productivity of the worker by enhancing their physical comfort.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2312909_improve-office-ergonomics.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OveV-qglBZ8

Egronomics as defined by the esteemed Dr. Ergo

Ergonomics as defined by Occupational Safety & Health

Administration (OSHA)

“Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job

demands to the capabilities of the working population.

… the term here refers to assessing those work-related factors that may

pose a risk of musculoskeletal disorders and recommendations to

alleviate them. “

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/

What is OSHA’s role?

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/guidelines.html

To develop industry-

specific and task-

specific guidelines to reduce

and prevent

workplace musculoske

letal disorders (MSDs).

These voluntary guidelines are tools to

assist employers

in recognizing

and controlling ergonomics

-related risk

factors.

Prevent the development of

occupational disorders

Enhance worker productivity and

satisfaction

Reduce employees physical and mental

stress

Reduce the potential for

fatigue, error, or unsafe acts

Improve the evaluation and

design of facilities, environments, jobs,

tasks, tools, and equipment in the

work place

Improve safety in the work place

$ave employers money $$$

Why the increased concern and interest in Ergonomics?

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/ http://www.ergoweb.com/resources/faq/questions.cfm#purpose http://www.ehs.umaryland.edu/OSH/ergonomics.cfm

Ergonomic Risk Factors are primarily:

Physical StressorsJoints

Muscles

Nerves

Tendons

Bones

Environmental Factors

Hearing

VisionGeneral Comfort

& Health

http://www.ehs.umaryland.edu/OSH/ergonomics.cfm http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/What.htm

• Mold• Radon• Environment

al Pollutants

Indoor Air Quality

• Permanent Hearing Loss

Excessive Noise • Eyestrain

• Headaches-especially with computer useImproper

Lighting

• Fatigue• Headaches• Rashes• Congestion

Sick Building

Syndrome

http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/What.htm

Environmental Factors

Physical Stressors

Caused by repetitive

motions that would not

result in undue stress or harm if performed

only once

Repetitive Strain

Injuries (RSI)

Cumulative Trauma

Disorders (CTD)

http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/What.htm

Repetitive Motions

Tasks Involving Vibration

Tasks Using Awkward Positions

Tasks Using Excessive Force

Physical Stressors

http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/What.htm

Awkward Posture•Leaning Forward Or Sideway At Desk•Wrist Is At An Odd Angle When Typing •Reaching To Use A Mouse•Twisting Neck To Look At Monitor Or Phone

•Lifting Objects From Below Waist or Above Shoulders

Repitition•Continuous Poor Posture•Long Hours of Typing•Long Hours of Filing •Long Hours of Stamping•Frequent Lifting•Repeated Motions with Computer Mouse•Squeezing Motion as with a cake decorators icing bag

•Sitting For Long Hours in the Same Position While Typing

Force•Pounding On Keyboard•Stamping•Lifting Heavy Boxes Or Furniture•Carrying Office Equipment•Using An Improper Grip

Examples of Physical Stress Risk Factors

http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/CTD.htm

Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD)

Understanding How Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD) Effect the Human Body

“To understand Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs), it is necessary to understand how the body works. Body movements are produced by contracting and relaxing muscles. The muscles are attached to bones by tendons. Tendons are smooth, and in some parts of the body they glide back and forth inside tubes called synovial sheaths. The sheath produces a lubricant called synovial fluid to help the tendons glide easily. CTDs result when repeated stress is placed on the tendons, muscles, or nerves causing inflammation or damage. “

http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/CTD.htm

http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/CTD.htm

Common CTDs

Carpal Tunnel: median nerve is compressed from

tendons and sheaths swelling or repeated bending of wrist

Tendonitis: inflammation of the tendons

Tenosynovitis: inflammation of the synovial

sheath

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

http://www.youtube.com/v/S7Jkoks2lt4&feature=related

Burning in the hands,

wrists, fingers,

forearms, or elbows Tingling,

coldness, or numbness in

the hands

Loss of strength and coordination in the hands

Pain that wakes you at

night

Swelling of wrists and

joints

Feeling a need to massage

hands, wrists, and arms

Pain in upper back, shoulders,

or neck associated with computer use

What Are the Symptoms of CTD?

http://eeshop.unl.edu/rsi.html

Preventive Measures

Use an ergonomically appropriate chair that fits the person to his/her workstation

Use supplemental equipment to reduce musculoskeletal

strain (wrist rests, copy stands, lumbar rolls)

Position equipment properly (lower keyboards, position terminals to reduce glare,

provide adequate work space to perform the task required

by the job)

Recommended appropriate VDT terminal placement is:24 inches average distance face to screen & all sides regardless of partitions.

Top of VDT screen should be at eye level

Provide noise insulation - Recommend printers and other noise generating

equipment placed away from immediate work areas

Encourage employees to take "computer breaks"

Prevent glare - close blinds, use soft lighting and task

lighting, provide anti-glare screens

Recommend employees get annual eye exams

http://ehs.virginia.edu/ehs/ehs.ergo/ergo.msi.html

Preventive Measures

When Sitting• feet rest comfortably on the floor or on a footrest• knees are slightly lower than your hips.• curve of the chair back fits into the deepest part of the curve in your lower back

• back of the chair is upright or tilted back for comfort• Armrests are adjusted so that they are just slightly below the elbows when shoulders are relaxed

• DON’T SLOUCH or STICK YOUR NECK OUT!

When Keying• shoulders are relaxed & elbows are close to the body• elbows are bent to 90 degrees• tops of the “home row” keys are at the same height as your elbows, or slightly lower than your elbows

• wrists are straight ,not bent

When Positioning the Cursor (using a mouse, trackball, touch pad, etc.)• Place pointing device close to the keyboard

http://groups.ucanr.org/ehs/files/59743.pdf http://ehs.virginia.edu/ehs/ehs.ergo/ergo.vdt.html

Preventive Measures

When Viewing the Monitor• It is in front of you & the top line of print is at or just below your

eye level; lower if you wear glasses• able to scan the screen from top to bottom by using only eye

movements, not head movements• you can sit against the back of the chair reading the screen from

a comfortable distance, without eye fatigue, blurred vision or headaches

• no glare on screen, use an optical glass anti-glare filter where needed

When Reading a Document• document is not on the flat work surface• document is next to the monitor or between the monitor and the

keyboard• document is at the same distance as, or closer than, the monitor• You can look at the document and the monitor by moving only

your eyes, not your head

http://groups.ucanr.org/ehs/files/59743.pdf http://ehs.virginia.edu/ehs/ehs.ergo/ergo.vdt.html

Tips for an Ergonomically Friendly Workstation

Workstation Design

Workstation Design

Workstation Design

Workstation Design

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=ergonomic+images&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=ergonomic+images&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=ergonomic+images&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=ergonomic+images&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

A Little

Ergo Humor