Give Your Wrist A Rest: The Best Ergonomic Keyboards

October 28th, 2009 in Health    No Comments

In this short article the director of Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University was asked to pick three of the best keyboards for aching wrists. The results were:

• Goldtouch Go! — Light weight and ideal for mobile users, this keyboard is divided into two angled halves that naturally straighten the hands and wrists. (Cost: $139).
• Kensington Comfort Type Slim Keyboard – Looks like a traditional keyboard but the keys are angled toward the center, allowing for a straighter and more relaxed wrist posture. (Cost: $20).
• Jasper Freeboard – A good choice for those who use their mouse as much as they type, the Freeboard has a built-in mousepad which prevents overextension and straining and has a snap-on attachment for the left-handed. (Cost: $149).

Source: Shivani Vora, Inc. (New York); Oct, 2009

Steelcase Think Chair

April 30th, 2009 in Furniture    No Comments

It’s hard to justify purchasing new office furniture in a recession but the author of this piece thinks spending $729 on a Steelcase Think Chair could be a wise investment. The chair design features two trade-marked mechanisms developed by Steelcase after consultation with the University of Vermont’s Back Research Center.

Flexible metal bands in the chair’s back move with and support your back while the reclining apparatus under the seat ensures a smooth, jerk-free transition from sitting upright to leaning backward. Arm rests can be adjusted to move closer to your body and can also move forward or backward with a nudge from your elbows – great for shifting from your keyboard to answering your phone. Although there are no complicated levers, users can “program” their favorite chair positions with an analog, manual knob. (more…)

Know How To Sit? Local Back Care Consultant Says Simple Office Space Changes Can Relieve Pain

June 7th, 2008 in Health    No Comments

This article contains a number of ergonomic tips for small changes in office space that can instantly alleviate back pain. A few of the tips:

• Adjust your chair for your height. The back of your knees should be two finger-widths from the edge of the chair with your feet flat on the ground. People with shorter legs may need footrests.
• Use the back of your chair for support. Too much leaning forward strains your back muscles.
• Bring your work to you. Your monitor should sit about an arms length from your face. Always adjust your seat first then bring your work station to you. Most people need to bring their monitor and keyboard forward.

(more…)

Office Ergonomics In The 21st Century

January 3rd, 2008 in Health    No Comments

Ergonomic concerns have become a routine consideration when it comes to designing workspaces and purchasing equipment, and an impressive array of products have been designed to limit the stress of working long hours at desks and workstations. It is little wonder, therefore, that there has been real progress in alleviating problems ranging from eye strain and back pain to carpal tunnel syndrome. This article offers an overview of ergonomic progress in the traditional office and notes a trend toward closer examination
of ergonomics in nontraditional settings. It points out the role of company ergonomic programs in helping employees internalize ergonomics and foment improvements in health and productivity. (more…)

New Technologies And The Ergonomic Risk To Users

August 14th, 2007 in Health    No Comments

We have entered into a modern age of new communication devices, micro-technologies and even nanotechnologies. This article identifies a new challenge that has arisen from the heat of this technological onrush – the ergonomic challenges that face the technology user.

To begin with, many users find themselves becoming stressed and intimidated by the new levels of almost constant contact engendered by the communication infrastructures currently being built by companies. Then there are repetitive motion injuries like “BlackBerry thumbs” and visual ergonomic risks associated with looking at their small screens under poor lighting conditions.

After a thorough discussion of current tech-based ergonomic concerns the article segues into the potential health problems associated with coming nanotechnologies and the need to develop safeguards to protect workers from the inevitable buildup of nanoparticles in the workplace.

Organizations like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are currently concluding studies but it will be years before any long-term effects are identified. This article calls for more attention to risk factors of new technologies and additional efforts to create “appropriate training modalities” for learning new technologies.

Source: Cynthia Roth, Occupational Hazards (Cleveland), Aug 2007

Study Links Office Temperature To Keyboarding Performance

January 14th, 2005 in Office Management    No Comments

If your office is too cold you might not be typing as accurately — or as much — as you could be, according to a study evaluating the influence of indoor environmental conditions on worker productivity. Conducted by Alan Hedge, director of Cornell University’s Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory, the study found a 74-percent increase in typing mistakes and a 46-percent reduction in typing output when office temperatures fell from 77°F to 68°F. The findings were presented at the 2004 Eastern Ergonomics Conference in New York.

The study investigated the link between changes in physical environmental conditions and changes in work performance. During the study, which was conducted at Insurance Office of America’s headquarters in Orlando, FL, nine workstations were equipped with a miniature personal environment sensor for sampling air temperature every 15 minutes for a full working month. Researchers recorded the amount of time that employees typed and the amount of time they spent making corrections.

“At 77°F, employees were keying 100-percent of the time with a 10-percent error rate, while at 68°F, keying went down to 54-percent of the time with a 25-percent error rate,” says Hedge. “Temperature is a key variable that can impact performance.” An abbreviated version of Hedge’s study is available at http://ergo.human.cornell.edu.

A study found a 74-percent increase in typing mistakes and a 46-percent reduction in typing output when office temperatures fell from 77°F to 68°F.

Source: Professional Safety; Jan, 2005

Office Chair Ergonomics

December 24th, 2004 in Furniture    No Comments

In almost any aspect of daily life, people spend a great deal of time sitting down. Consider the following when choosing an office chair:

Seat height: The chair must not be so high that tissues in the back of the thigh are compressed and that the seat front edge does not reduce blood supply to the legs. This means that the front edge of the seat should be a bit lower than the distance from the floor to the underside of the thigh when seated.

Seat width: Fit is achieved when the seat width is wider than the width of the hips. This feature is important in ensuring that the worker will have flexibility to adjust their posture to relieve postural loading.

Seat depth: The back of the knee has relatively sensitive skin and little padding over the tendons, nerves and blood vessels; as a result, the seat depth should be slightly shorter than the worker’s upper thigh.

Seat angle: The seat angle should allow users to vary their posture forward and backward. This aids in ensuring good blood flow and to reduce loading on the spine and trunk muscles. It should also be lockable in various positions.

Trevor Schell is an ergonomist with the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., Sudbury Clinic.

Source: Trevor Schell, Northern Ontario Business; Dec, 2004 Copyright Northern Ontario Business Dec 2004

How Ergonomically Friendly is Your Workspace?

January 19th, 2003 in Health    No Comments

Widespread cutbacks and workers being asked to work longer and harder make an ergonomically sound office all the more vital. This article discusses work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s) as well as injuries resulting from static posture and repetitive motion. It then offers a five-step program for achieving a sound ergonomic program, both as office manager and as end-user of office equipment and furniture. A short related article provides additional ergonomic tips for office workers and an extensive list of ergonomic sources and their websites.

Source: Karen Fritscher-Porter, Office Solutions; Jan-Feb, 2003