Office Ergonomics Flashcards
What are the individual risk factors for neck pain?
- Health behaviours
- Occupation
- General health, prior pain, comorbidities
- Psychological factors
What are the workplace factors for neck pain?
- Self-reported psychosocial workplace exposures
- Physical workplace exposures
What are the risk factors for MSD in office workers?
- Repetitive mvt (fingers, wrist, head, shoulder)
- Sustained, static and/or awkward postures of head, neck, UL, trunk, LL
What are some sources of risk?
- wrist and fingers = nature of work, task monotony
- head = typing style, uncorrected vision, location of docs
- head = visual correction, height/distance of monitor, high job demands
- shoulder = mouse use/position
- low back = lack of task variety, prolonged sitting/sedentary work
How do you conduct a workstation Ax?
- Identify risk factors (talk to worker, task analysis)
2. Assess risk for injury (checklist or tool, e.g. ROSA = Rapid Office Strain Ax, RULA = Rapid UL postural Ax tool)
Chair features?
- Easily adjustable height and angle
- Adjustable back rest height, depth, angle
- Cloth covered
- Seat accomodate thighs and have curved edge
- 5-pt castor base for stability
- Enable neutral spine posture, hips slightly higher than knees
- Arm rests
How do you determine seat height?
- STAND in front, seat at knee level
- SIT fit clenched fist b/w legs and seat
- ADJUST backrest to support lower back curve
What posture is good for phone calls or thinking?
Upright or slight backward lean
How many fingers behind knee?
2-3
Work surface height for writing?
Elbow height or just above
Work surface height for keyboard use?
Just below elbow height
Alternate chairs?
- fit balls
- kneeling chair
- saddle chair
- sit-stand station
- active workstations
How far should top of screen be from eyes?
600-700mm (arms length)
What should top of screen be level with?
Eyes. Lower for bi-focal wearers.
Tilt of screen?
5 degrees upward to reduce glare
How far should keyboard be from edge of desk?
> =10cm to allow for wrist/forearm to rest
What’s NOT recommended?
Separate keyboard trays, wrist rests
Recommended mouse/keyboard use?
<5hrs/day
Alternative mouse?
Hover mouse, vertical mouse
Feet position?
Flat on floor, or use footrest/books to relieve pressure on thighs (parallel to floor)
What’s wrong with fit balls?
- Safety hazard
- Variable LB support
- Difficult to navigate around workstation
- Good for exercise, but NOT recommended for 8hr use
- Greater thoracic erector spinae muscle activity
Pros for kneeling chair?
Encourages good spinal posture
Cons for kneeling chair?
- Increased strain on knees, constrains legs = reducing mvt and circulation
- Only some have back rest
- Difficult to access and exit quickly
- Difficult to use with a skirt
Pros of saddle/Bambach chair?
- Adjustable height and seat angle
- Good spinal posture
- May have LB support
- Allows manoeuvrability
- Good for workers to get close to clients
Cons of saddle chair?
- Discomfort in saddle area
What’s the best workplace intervention to reduce MSK pain in office workers?
Resistance training!
