Work can be a
real pain in the neck sometimes - literally. Unfortunately, the tasks
you perform every day can take a physical toll on your body if you're
not careful. In 2000, the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health
Administration (OSHA) reported that nearly 2 million workers in the
United States suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders
(WMSDs) every year. Ergonomics is the best preventive medicine. "It
increases people's effectiveness and reduces turnover and lost work
time," says Rani Lueder, principal, Humanics ErgoSystems Inc., Encino,
CA.
Facilities
professionals are in a unique position to help office-working
tenants/occupants, as well as their own team members, avoid repetitive
stress injuries, occupational overuse syndrome, and WMSDs. By making
informed decisions about ergonomic office furniture and creating an
overall awareness about neutral body postures and safe behavior on the
job, workers at both a computer and in a physical plant can enjoy
prolonged health.
Ergonomic Computer Work
Workstations.
Even though most office workers use the same tools (phones, keyboards,
monitors, etc.), their work can be very different, and just as diverse
are the shapes and sizes of these individuals. It's important to
remember that there is no one-size-fits-all workstation.
Height-adjustable workstations are ideal, but can be expensive. If
fixed-height workstations are more in line with your budget, keep the
following advice in mind: "Designing for the average is out. When you
design for the average, you limit the most," says Kent Hatcher, senior
consultant and ergonomics engineer, Humantech Inc., Ann Arbor, MI.
Instead, he recommends purchasing products for the extremes. For
instance, select a workstation with a desk height that can accommodate
the tallest individuals. "If the 6-foot-5-inch person can fit
underneath it, everybody can fit underneath it," he says. Pair this
with a height-adjustable chair, a keyboard tray, and a footrest for
shorter workers.
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