OFFICE ERGONOMICS
 UNC - Charlotte
 Safety and
Environmental
Health Department
 King Building – 1st
Floor
COURSE OBJECTIVES
 Understand the definition of ergonomics
 Understand Primary Causes of
Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs).
 Understand ways to prevent CTDs
 Learn about PC workstation accessories
to reduce computer work stress
 Basic exercises to reduce / relieve ergostress.
DEFINITION
 ERGONOMICS is a way of working
smarter--not harder by designing tools,
equipment, work stations and tasks that
allow a job to fit the worker and NOT by
fitting the worker to the job:
 Layout / type of controls & displays
 Lighting & Temperature
 Process (Heights, reaches, weights)
WHY WORRY ?
 Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
(WMSDs) are fastest-growing injury/illness
category (accounting for over 1.8 million
annual lost workday cases in 1997 BLS stats).
 Up 600% over last 11 years
 $13 to 20 billion total injury cost / year &
average $29 K / case compensation claim
cost
 More lost workdays for Repetitive Stress
Injuries (RSI’s) (avg = 30 days for a Carpal
Tunnel injury)
MSD INJURY DATA
 600,000 MSDs require time off
from work.
 Women suffer more ergonomic
injuries due to:
 jobs requiring more heavy lifting,
repetitive movement while completing
tasks and awkward postures and as a
result account for:
 70% of Carpal Tunnel
 62% of Tendonitis
CAR COST IS (PARTIALLY)--A PAIN IN
THE BACK !!
 According to Dr. E.W. Simmons,
president of the American Back
Society, medical costs related to
back injuries can add up to
$1,800 to the price of every car
made in Detroit!
CTD INJURY FACTORS
 CTD Injuries cause Lesions
to tendons of the neck,
back, shoulders, arms,
wrists or hands
 Primary causes:
 Repetitive movements
over long periods of time
 Awkward postures
 Use of excessive forces
CTD RISK CONTROL: POSTURE
 NEUTRAL & COMFORTABLE:
 Wrists straight
 Shoulders relaxed with
elbows close to body
 head / shoulders & back in
vertical alignment
 Feet flat on floor
 Frequent breaks when
bent postures can’t be
avoided
ERGONOMIC ALIGNMENT
 Proper tool alignment illustrated – note
wrist and elbow positioning
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
 Up to 15% occurrence rate in certain industries.
 A natural occurrence with repetitive motion of
hands & wrists -- especially with high force levels
and awkward wrist positioning.
 Proper keyboard positioning and good wrist
support can help most PC users avoid problems
 GOOD NEWS: rates have dropped about 30%
since 1990 -- which most attribute to strong
workplace ergonomics programs
CTD RISK CONTROL:
REPETITION
 Use automatic tools for repetitive tasks
(screw and bolt tightening)
 Eliminate unnecessary tasks /
movements by redesigning maintenance
procedures and workstations
 Take short, frequent breaks
 Alternate tasks and processes to use
different muscle groups
ERGONOMICS SUMMARY
 Good ergonomic design of tools, processes
and furniture can markedly improve
personnel comfort, health, morale, and
productivity.
 Individual effort as part of a departmental
workshop team is the greatest means of
identifying / improving workplace
ergonomic issues.
 It’s critical to seek prompt medical aid for
symptoms of ergonomic stress / CTDs.
Computer Ergonomics
 Routine PC user is defined as a person spending
20 hours or more per week working at a
computer.
 Studies of PC users have not shown a risk of eye
damage...although fatigue is quite possible
during extended usage.
 NIOSH studies have not indicated a radiation
hazard nor pregnancy risk from PC usage.
 Workers using bi/tri-focal glasses that use a PC
may need special purpose glasses for computer
work that keep eyes/head on level plane.
ERGONOMIC KEYBOARDS




Three types: Fixed split, Adjustable split &
“Sculptured”
Awkward wrist postures minimized with 15 to
25 horizontal degree key split AND 8 to 66
degree vertical incline.
Key Layout Design Changes Have:
 increased comfort (81% of users)
 improved postures
 reduced muscle activity
 lowered carpal tunnel pressure in lab
settings
Obtained primarily to alleviate an injury
WRIST RESTS
 No medical evidence that they reduce RSI injuries. They
work for some, but not for others
 Usage Guidelines:
 Buy rest that is even with top of keyboard
 Material should be “medium-soft” (foam--gel mix) so
foam doesn’t break down. AVOID hard plastic types
 DON’T leave wrists on rest...which compresses carpal
tunnel. Palm rest instead.
 Changing typing habits more critical than wrist support
 MOST APPROPRIATELY USED TO REST HANDS DURING
PAUSE IN TYPING
 LEARN TO TYPE CORRECTLY WITH “FLOATING WRISTS”
FIRST!!!
Ergonomic chairs
 Adjustable back height
 Adjustable arm rests
 Adjustable Seat Pan Tilt
and Height to
accommodate user body
type
 Note: Chair on left is
NOT ergonomically
designed – it is equipped
with fixed arm rests and
non-adjustable back and
seat pan height
Alternative Pointing Devices
 Track-balls
 “Scrolling” Mouse
Other Ergonomic PC
Accessories
 Height-adjustable articulating keyboard tray – controls
height and tilt adjustments, allows proper keyboard
positioning for many different body types.
 3M model AKT 100 shown above is a good example of
a well made keyboard tray.
Ergonomically Incorrect PC Station Design
Ergonomically Correct PC Station Design
Model Computer Workstation

Keyboard trays WITH wrist
support.

Split "Natural" keyboards to
facilitate neutral wrist angle

Fully adjustable ergonomic
chair

Document holder to minimize
head / eye & neck movements

Corner desk units to position
monitor directly in front of
employee

Foot rest where requested.

Re-organization of working
materials within employee arm
reach.

Alternative pointing devices
Ergonomic Evaluation
Questions ??... Contact S & EH
 Workplace ergonomic assessments will
be provided by Safety and
Environmental Health Dept upon
request.
 S, & EH phone extension – 4279
 HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY DAY