What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the science of fitting the task to the worker to maximize productivity while reducing discomfort, fatigue, and injury.

Injury Risk Factors

Risk factors that are associated with ergonomics incluce things like awkward postures, repetitive tasks, long durations, and/or forceful exertions. These risks don't often happen from one particular event they usually occur over the course of time causing them to be a cumulative risk. So just because something doesn't hurt you today does not mean that it won't down the road. 

The causes of these risks most often involve musculoskeletal injuries; things like Tendonitis, DeQuervain’s Tenosynoviti, Ganglion Cyst, Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow), Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow), Carpal Tunnel Syndrom, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrom, and etc. 

The Economics of Ergonomics

Requests for Ergonomic Evaluations

CWU EH&S has an Certified Office Ergonomic Evaluator (COEE) who can provide guidance to employees who have questions or concerns. Employees can request an online office ergonomic self-assessment, which includes questions about areas of discomfort and produces recommended workstation adjustments and training resources to help alleviate the areas of discomfort. When an online self-assessment is completed, EH&S will review and determine if an on-site visit is warranted by our COEE. The request form can be found at Request Ergonomic Assessment.

Consultants

CWU EH&S does not currently have resources to provide ergonomics assessments for non-office work environments. For these types of assessments, an outside consultant may be a good option for departments to address potential risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal injuries. Consultants will evaluate workstations or work tasks to determine if changes should be made to better fit the employee.

Office Ergonomics

Introduction

Ergonomics is a scientific discipline, which is concerned with improving the productivity, health, safety and comfort of people, as well as promoting effective interaction among people, technology and the environment in which both must operate.

Responsibility

Departments are encouraged to purchase adjustable equipment for the reasonable accommodation of users.  Some users may have special needs, such as left-handedness, color blindness, vision impairment, etc.  The goal should be flexibility to accommodate the user population so that personnel may interface effectively with equipment. Equipment should be sized to fit the individual user.

Purpose

Ergonomic furniture should be designed to facilitate task performance, minimize fatigue and injury by fitting equipment to the body size, strength and range of motion of the user. Office furnishings, which are generally available, have adjustable components that enable the user to modify the workstation to accommodate different physical dimensions and the requirements of the job.  Ergonomically designed furniture can reduce pain and injury, increase productivity, improve morale, and decrease complaints.

The purchase of equipment should be task specific to eliminate:

1. Static or awkward posture,
2. Repetitive motion,
3. Poor access or inadequate clearance and excessive reach,
4. Display that are difficult to read and understand, and
5. Controls that are confusing to operate or require too much force. Therefore, furniture that is selected should be suitable for the types of tasks performed and be adaptable to multi-purpose use. Office workstations must be designed carefully to meet the need of the staff and to accomplish the goals of the facility.
6. Objectives should support humans to achieve the operational objectives for which they are responsible. There are three goals to consider in human-centered design.
   1. Enhance human abilities
   2. Overcome human limitations
   3. Foster user acceptance

To achieve these objectives, there are several key elements of ergonomics in the office to consider.

1. Equipment - video display terminals/monitors
2. Software design - system design and screen design for greater usability
3. Workstation design: chairs, work surfaces and accessories. Environment: space planning, use of colors, lighting, acoustics, air quality and thermal factors
4. Training - preparing workers to deal with technology

Recommendations

To give departments guidance in selecting office furniture and setting up workstations, the following guidelines are from the American National Standards Institute and the Environmental Health and Safety Center. Included are diagrams and a checklist to guide you through the process.

Chairs

OFFICE CHAIR ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE FOR A MORE COMFORTABLE, NUETRAL, SEATED POSTURE

Workstation Design

1. Correct work station height depends upon the user of a work station and upon the chair and other factors that interact with the user and table. The ideal is for the user to be able to sit at the work station with the keyboard in place and be able to easily maintain a 90 to 100-degree elbow angle and straight wrists while keying. The height of an adjustable keyboard support should adjust between 23 and 28-inches to accommodate most-but not all-users. 26-inches is a recommended compromise position while leg clearance must still be considered.
    
2. Leg room: Knee spaces should allow a worker to feel uncrowded and to allow some changes of position even with the keyboard support lowered to the correct level for use. The knee space should be at least 30-inches wide by 19-inches deep by 27-inches high to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  For those using a footrest, clearance must be calculated with the legs in place on the footrest. Likewise, depth of the "clearance envelope" for both legs and toes should be evaluated while the workstation user is in a normal working position at the work station (determined by the design of the seating system and the way the user sits).  Drawers and support legs (for furniture) should not go where human legs need to fit.
    
3. The work station top should be big enough to allow space not only for all computer-related necessary equipment, but also for paperwork, books, and other materials needed while working at the computer. Working with materials on chairs and at odd angles has the potential for neck and other body strain. Frequently used items should be kept close to avoid long reaches. A general recommendation is that the work area top should be at least as big as the standard office desk – 30-inches by 60-inches. A depth of at least 30-inches allows flexibility in use/reuse of the work area. Usable space may be maximized by good wire/cable management.
    
4. Thickness of work surface: One inch

Accessories

Ergonomic Tips For Your Work Environment

Office Ergonomics:

• CWU Ergonomic Adjustments
• Office Ergonomics 101
• Ergonomic Checklist 
• Healthy Computing
• NIH Ergonomics for Computer Workstations
• NIH Eye Exercises and Stretches

 Ergonomics for Cu​stodians:

• Safe Work Practices (Worksafebc.com)
• Working Safer & Easier (Department of Industrial Relations)

 Ergonomics for Maintenance & Construction:

• Ergonomics for Construction Workers (NIOSH)
• Simple Solutions (NIOSH)
• A Guide to Selecting Non-Powered Hand Tools

 Ergonomics for Laboratory:

• UCLA Ergonomics
• NIH Ergonomics in the Laboratory

• OSHA Laboratory Safety: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders

 Ergonomics for Material Handling:

• NIOSH Ergonomic Guidelines for Manual Material Handling 

  General Ergonomics:

• CDC/NIOSH Ergonomic Studies
• WA Dept of Labor & Industries - Sprains and Strains
• WA Dept of Labor & Industries Ergonomics Publication