VDT OCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICS

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VDTOCCUPATIONALERGONOMICS

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VDTOCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICSObjectives

• Identify and Evaluate the Ergonomic Risk Factors
  Associated With VDT Environments
• Develop Effective Engineering and Administrative
  Controls to Minimize Exposures Associated With
  VDT Environments

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CURRENT VDT ISSUES

• Visual Discomfort
• Electromagnetic Frequency ( EMF ) Exposure
• Fatigue / Stress
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

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VISUAL DISCOMFORTComplaints

• Eye Strain - Largest Single Complaint
• Burning / Itching Eyes
• Headaches
• Cataracts

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VISUAL DISCOMFORTCauses

• Eye Muscle Strain / Fatigue
• Dry Eyes
• Uncorrected Vision Problems
• Vision Correcting Eyewear - Focusing Difficulties
• Possible Indoor Air Quality ( IAQ ) Relationship

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VISUAL DISCOMFORTCurrent Consensus

• No Evidence That VDT Work Leads to Visual Damage
• No Proven Correlation Between VDT Usageand
  Cataracts
• Eye Muscle Strain / Fatigue
• Lighting / Glare
• Monitor Height Distance to Eyes
• Visual Concentration on Monitor
• Dry Eyes
• VDT Environment Less Humid
• Eye Blink Rate 3. 6 / Min VDT vs. 18. 4 / Min
  Normal
• Regular Vision Exams Recommended

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VISUAL DISCOMFORTControl Measures

• Eye Strain / Fatigue / Dryness
• Lighting / Glare
• VDT 50 fc / 500 Lux Optimum Light Level
• Office 100 fc / 1,000 Lux Optimum Light Level
• Dont Place VDT Directly Under Bright Overhead
  Lights
• Provide Indirect Lighting and Supplement With
  Task Lighting
• Place VDT Parallel to Windows
• Low Reflective Walls / Work Surfaces
• Anti-Glare Screens Last Resort Only

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VISUAL DISCOMFORTControl Measures

• Eye Strain / Fatigue / Dryness
• Ensure Monitor Display Quality
• No Apparent Flicker (Older Monitors)
• Adjustable Brightness and Contrast
• High Resolution and Polarity
• Adjust Monitor Height and Distance
• Top Character Line on Screen 15 - 20
  DegreesBelow Horizontal Eye Level Monitor
  Angled Appropriately Upward
• Eye to Screen Distance 20- 40 ( Operator
  Preference Studies 25. 5- 31 )

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VISUAL DISCOMFORTControl Measures

• Eye Strain / Fatigue / Dryness
• Eye Focusing / Muscle Defatigue Exercises
• 1 Min. Rest / Exercise Break ( Focus / Refocus )
  After 15 Min. Continuous VDT Work
• Remember to Blink Eyes Frequently
• gt 18 Blinks / Min. Minimum to Refresh Eyes
• Contact Lens Wearers Should SupplementOwn Tears
  Via Eye / Rewetting Drops

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VISUAL DISCOMFORTControl Measures

• Vision / Eyewear
• Regular Eye Exams
• New Hire / Transfer
• Annual
• VDT Specific Corrective Lenses
• Fixed Focal Length
• No Bi / Tri-Focals
• Inform Optometrist / Ophthalmologist of VDT Work
  and Eye / Screen Distance
• Some VDT Users May Need a Correction Diff.From
  One Needed For Reading / Driving

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QUESTIONS ?
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ELECTROMAGNETICFREQUENCY (EMF)
EXPOSUREComplaints

• Reproductive Disorders
• Birth Defects
• Stillbirths
• Spontaneous Abortions
• Cancer
• Leukemia
• Lymphomas
• Central Nervous System
• Cataracts
• Clusters of Reported Problems

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EMF EXPOSUREConcerns

• EMF Radiation ?
• Ionizing
• X-Ray
• Non-Ionizing
• Infrared
• Microwave
• Radiowave
• VLF
• ELF
• Or Are Other Factors the Real Issue ?

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EMF EXPOSURECurrent Consensus

• Recent Studies Conclude Emissions of All Types
  of EMFs Are Well Below Accepted Occupational and
  Environmental Health and Safety Limits
• No Direct Causal Link Established BetweenVDT Use
  and Reproductive Disorders, Canceror Cataract
  Formation
• Other Factors ( Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs,
  Age,Socioeconomic Status, etc. ) Have a Greater
  Known Effect
• Work Stress May be a Factor
• More Research Needed / Ongoing to Determine
  Correlational / Causal Links

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EMF EXPOSUREControl Measures

• Monitor / CPU Position
• Front Min. 12 Away lt 1 milligauss (mG)
• Rear Min. 24 Away lt 1 milligauss (mG)
• Essentially 0 Exposure
• Minimize Exposure to Known Reproductive and
  Carcinogenic Risk Factors
• Smoking, Alcohol Drugs
• Workstation and Job Task Design / Redesignto
  Minimize Work Stress and Maximize Comfort Level

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QUESTIONS ?
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Fatigue / StressComplaints

• Generalized Aches and Pains
• Constant Fatigue
• Sleeping / Eating Disorders
• Increased Reliance Upon Coping Mechanisms
• Smoking, Alcohol Drugs
• Ulcers
• High Blood Pressure
• Coronary Heart / Artery Disease

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Fatigue / StressCauses

• Anxiety About Job Security
• Anxiety About Ability to Operate Equipment
• Computer Phobia
• Job Ambiguities
• Perceived Lack of Control Over Job
• Concerns About Productivity
• Shiftwork / OT / Repetitive Work
• Co-worker / Supervisor / Personal Issues
• Workstation Design / Layout

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Fatigue / StressCurrent Consensus

• Lack of Job Satisfaction is Felt by Manyto be
  the Greatest Stressor
• Stress is Related to Overall Job Contentand Not
  Just VDT Use
• Physical Stressors Associated With Workstation
  Design / Layout Compound Effects of Mental
  Stressors
• Economic Climate Can Significantly Impact Job
  Fatigue / Stress Levels

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Fatigue / StressControl Measures

• Design / Redesign Jobs to IncreaseEmployee
  Control and Involvement
• Keep Employees Informed About Job Status,
  Anticipated Changes andProgress in Achieving
  Goals
• Provide Ergonomically Well-DesignedWorkstations
• Train Employees in Proper Adjustment of
  Workstation Features
• Promote On / Off Job Wellness Programs

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QUESTIONS ?
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Musculoskeletal DisordersComplaints

• 1 - Neck / Shoulder Pain
• 2 - Low Back Pain
• 3 - CTS / Wrist Pain

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSCauses

• Workstation Design / Adjustment
• Postural Positioning
• Dynamic Movement
• Static Loading
• Chair, Desk, Keyboard, Monitor, DocumentHolder,
  Telephone, etc.
• Task Design
• Concentrated Effort / Repetition
• Physical, Mental Visual
• Physical Environment
• Lighting / Noise / Temperature

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSCurrent Consensus

• Problems More Closely Related to the TaskThan to
  the Equipment
• Continuous VDT Work Defined as
• gt 2,000 Reps / Hr
• lt 30 Sec / Cycle
• gt 3.5 Hrs / Day Continuous ( gt 50 of
  Workshift )
• Symptom Severity for Upper Extremity and Low
  Back Injuries / Discomfort Closely Related to
  Typing Speed and Length of Time Typing

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSCurrent Consensus

• Prolonged Excessive Postural Deviations Dueto
  Poor Workstation Design / AdjustmentSignificantly
  Contribute to Injury / Discomfort
• Appropriate Task and Workstation Design /
  Adjustment Can Alleviate Majority of Injuries /
  Discomfort

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures

• Chair - Maximum Adjustability
• Height - 5 Caster Base
• Seat Pan - Waterfall Edge
• Backrest - Lumbar Support
• Armrests - Optional but Preferred
• Footrest - Adjustable Height / Tilt
• Relieves Body Weight Pressure on Spine
• Improves Foot Position Relativeto Chair Height

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures

• Monitor
• Adjustability For Height and Distance
• Top Character Line 15 - 20 Degrees Below
  HorizontalEye Level Monitor Angled
  Appropriately Upward
• Eye to Screen Distance 20 - 40 ( Operator
  Preference Studies 25. 5- 31 )
• Articulating Monitor Stand
• Keyboard / Mouse
• Detached For Ease of Movement
• Adjustability For Height and Distance
• Articulating Tray
• Wrist Support and Mouse Pad
• Detached Numeric Keypad

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures

• Desk / Workstation
• Adjustable Desktop Height
• Sufficient Under-Desk Legroom / Clearance
• Good Housekeeping
• Office Equipment
• Document Holder at Monitor Height
• Primarily View Monitor Monitor in Direct View
• Primarily View Document Document in Direct View
• Calculator, Telephone, etc.
• Within Individual Comfortable Reach
• Telephone Handset - Shoulder Rest or Headset

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures

• Posture
• Head / Neck Vertical and Forward Facing
• Shoulders Comfortable / Neutral Posture
• Upper / Lower Arms 90 Degree Angle
• Wrists Horizontal
• Back Upright / Lumbar Support / Contact
  Backrest at All Times
• Upper / Lower Legs 90 Degree Angle
• Feet Supported by Footrest / Reposition
  Periodically

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures

• Posture
• Office Equipment Within IndividualComfortable
  Reach
• Monitor, Keyboard and Chair Adjustments Are
  Interrelated
• Training Proper Posture / Adjustment
  of Workstation Features
• New Hire / Transfer / Periodic Refresher
• Supervisor Enforcement

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures

• Task Design
• Provide Ergonomically Well-DesignedWorkstations
• Design / Redesign Jobs to IncreaseEmployee
  Control and Involvement
• 1 Min. Rest / Exercise Break (Stretching / Eyes
  - Focus / Refocus)After 15 Min. Continuous VDT
  Work
• 15 Min. Rest Break (10 Min. Minimum)after 2 Hrs.
  Continuous VDT Work (NIOSH)

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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures

• Environment
• Humidity 50 - 70
• Room Temperature 70 - 75 Degrees ( F )
• Lighting VDT - 50 fc / 500 Lux Optimum
  Office - 100 fc / 1,000 Lux Optimum

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QUESTIONS ?
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VDTOCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICSSummaryEvaluation /
Control Measures

• Total Job Environment
• Workstation Design Adjustment
• Physical Environment
• Task Design
• Training
• Emphasize Good Ergonomics
• Design / Redesign / Adjustment
• Promote On / Off Job Wellness

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LOGOFF !