Ergonomics, Health and Safety Considerations...

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Ergonomics is the scientific, interdisciplinary study of individuals and their physical relationship to their environment.

The word, ergonomics, is derived from the greek words ergos meaning "work" and nomos meaning "laws"; therefore, we have the laws of work...

Ergonomics can be further defined as the design of the workplace, equipment, machine, tool, product, environment, and system, taking into consideration human's physical, physiological, biomechanical, and psychological capabilities.

Many people would think of computing as an activity without risk. However, more and more of us are becoming aware of cumulative trauma disorders or CTDs. CTDs for computer users include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sore neck and sore backs. These injuries are not mere nuisances. They can cause severe pain, lost workdays, and result in surgery.

 Ergonomist’s stress proper posture as a way to avoid problems while working at your computer.

Ergonomics - Easy steps to follow are:

1. Make sure your forearm and wrist are parallel to the ground. The hand should be straight in relation to the forearm, not flexed up or down. Keeping your hands in this position puts less pressure on the nerves and tendons passing through your wrist, thus avoiding irritation. You can accomplish this by adjusting the height of your chair until your forearms and hands are in the right posture. A good wrist rest will insure that your hands will not flex.

2. Your eyes should be level with the top of the monitor. This will insure that your head and neck are in a more natural position. Your head and neck should not be too far forward or backward. Use phone books or reams of paper to make the adjustment.

3. Feet should be flat on the floor. If they do not touch the floor or if you tend to use the base of the chair to rest your feet, a footrest should be used. A footrest also can be used to push you back into the chair providing more back support.

4. Your body should be open. All joints should be greater than 90 degrees.

5. Your monitor should be directly in front of you. You should not be twisting your body left or right in order to work at your computer.

As stated above, wrist rests and footrests can be used to keep you in the right posture. Also, adjustable keyboard trays can be used to give you more flexibility while positioning your arms and hands. A document stand can hold papers so that you do not have to constantly twist your neck to read from a document. The seat height, back, and arms of your chair should all adjust so that you may achieve the proper posture.

Ergonomics - In the Workplace...

Computers are continually becoming faster and faster and allow users to increase work rates and reduce time spent on many common tasks. The introduction of lcd / tft monitors provides the employer with the ideal opportunity of creating a truly ergonomic environment for their employees by utilising height and reach adjustable mounting solutions.

Whether it is an office, call centre, medical or industrial environment Vesa Mount can provides a number of solutions for mounting lcd monitors, keyboards and mice along with the cpu.

By creating a more ergonomic workplace the employer will benefit from greater productivity and less absence due to RSI related complaints.

Ergonomic statistics show that the eye level of the average female is over 127mm shorter than the average man in a standing position. Likewise the average man is over 114mm taller in a seated position. These differences are even greater when you consider that the eye level shortest 5% of women is 1414mm and the tallest 5% of men is 1742mm. This is a difference of 328mm is a standing position and 287mm in a sitting position.

Most ergonomist’s base adjustment requirements on 95% of the population which avoids 2.5% of the very tallest and shortest population. Using these figures employers should provide their users with a minimum monitor adjustment of 114mm in a seating position and 127mm in a standing position.

In addition to setting the monitor at the correct height it is also important to take into consideration the position of the keyboard and mouse relative to the height of the user. In a standing position the keyboard / mouse height should be adjustable by 94mm and in a sitting position by 102mm.

By adhering to the above ergonomic statistics users will benefit from a more comfortable and safer workplace and will in turn reward their employers with increased productivity, less absenteeism, and fewer law suits!!

Ergonomics - Top Tips:

1. Use a good chair with a dynamic chair back and sit with the back support slightly angled

2. The top of monitor casing should be 3-5 cm above eye level.

3. To reduce screen glare use an optical glass anti-glare filter where necessary.

4. Sit at arms length from monitor.

5. Feet should be on the floor or on a stable footrest.

6. Use a document holder, preferably in-line with the computer screen.

7. Wrists should be flat and straight in relation to forearms to use keyboard/mouse/input device.

8. Arms and elbows should be relaxed and close to body.

9. Centre the monitor and keyboard directly in front of you.

10. Use a negative tilt keyboard tray with an upper mouse platform or downward tiltable platform adjacent to keyboard.

11. Use a stable work surface and stable (no bounce) keyboard tray.

12. Take frequent short breaks

There are also legal obligations of the employer towards their employees. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) regulations 1992 focus’s on computer use whilst in the place of employment. The Health and Safety Executive publish both books and leaflets on the regulations with the latest being: For more information on Ergonomics and the workplace please visit the HSE Website or click here for the 'Understanding Ergonomics at works PDF'.