Office Ergonomic Evaluations

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Office Ergonomic Evaluations

• INSY 3021
• Auburn University
• Spring 2007
• John Lesh PT

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Recommended resources

• Class and lab lecture material
• OSHA computer workstation e-tools
• http//osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/i
  ndex.html

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Philosophy of Ergonomics

• Have you heard this before?
• Fit the Task to the Person
• Adjustability
  Adjustability Adjustability
• Users needs
• Your goal Place worker in efficient postures.

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What to take

• For Student Team Project
• Clipboard
• Tape measure
• Pad and pencil
• Risk factor, hazard, workstation checklist
• Digital camera

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What to take Professional Consultant

• Student List Plus
• Body part discomfort survey, pain questionnaire
• Injury History and Data
• Job and task analysis
• Video Camera

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Flowchart
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Checklist
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Worksite Analysis

• Types of analysis that can be performed
• Task Analysis
• Tasks worker performs and frequency
• Workstation Analysis
• Furniture, equipment, accessories, employee
  interface
• Environmental Analysis
• Glare, lighting, temperature, noise,
  space/location
• Organizational Analysis
• Management style, staffing, scheduling,
  managerial support for ergonomics, other

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Miscellaneous

• Be careful what you say Unless you want a short
  consulting career.
• This is the worst workstation I have ever seen.
• If I were you, I would sue __________.
• This is causing your pain.
• You need a new ___________.

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Start with the big picture

• If possible, try to observe unofficially for at
  least a few minutes
• Then, talk with them for a few minutes AND LISTEN
  well
• You must engage the user in the process for
  success
• Open ended questions at first, then, more
  specific
• Get to know the job
• Listen for any issues that they bring up
• Put the person at ease.
• Ask them what they think?
• May not be accurate but it will be interesting.

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Now fine tune and focus

• More formal understanding Ask them if they have
  pain or issues versus just letting them talk?
• This is where you take control to direct and
  focus in
• Do they seem
• Happy with their work?
• Overworked?
• Stressed?
• Unhappy with management?
• Cynical about situation or previous
  interventions?

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Evaluate the workstation itself

• Get the big picture before you formally assess.
• What really catches your eye?
• Can you see it from across the room?
• How comfortable, relaxed, supported does the
  worker appear?
• Are there apparent worker adjustments to
  workstation?
• Could be a big indicator of problems.

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Initiate your formal evaluation

• You should already understand job tasks unless
  you are undertaking the actual work measurement
  to identify tasks and times.
• Sources may depend on whether brief assessment or
  detailed assessment related to a problem
• Job description
• Supervisor
• Employee
• Formal observation for 15 minutes
• Videotaped observation

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Keep in mind primary tasks

• Frequent and critical tasks will determine
  placement
• Reach envelopes
• Keep asking yourself
• Why is it placed there?
• Where should it be?
• Dont forget irregular tasks or tasks that occur
  on certain days

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Use your checklist

• A detailed checklist will assist in
• Remembering and documenting your findings
• Performing your evaluation in a methodical and
  efficient manner
• Learning a routine until you gain experience
• However Sometimes taking notes puts people on
  the defense, or makes them nervous, versus a more
  informal method

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Evaluate seating

• The seating is a good starting point
• What type of seating is it?
• Height
• Depth/clearance to back of knee
• Backrest position
• Armrests
• Does the seating promote movement, good posture,
  and allow access to work surface?

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Work Surface Assessment

• Height
• Placement of equipment and accessories in zones
• Is there a keyboard tray?
• Does the work station mandate elevated seat
  adjustment?
• If so, is a foot rest available?
• Is there enough room? Is there clutter?
• What about leg room?
• Storage?

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Keyboard and placement

• Is there a dedicated keyboard tray?
• What adjustments does it have?
• Is there room for the mouse on the tray too?
• What postures are observed during keyboard use?
• If an alternate keyboard, does it seem to improve
  anything?

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Monitor Placement

• For dedicated computer use, is monitor central?
• What about
• Height
• Tilt
• Distance
• Does the monitor placement cause any postural
  problems?
• Any problems with bifocal use or eyeglass issues?

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Mice, Document Holders, Other

• Are document holders used?
• Are they well adjusted?
• If not used, are they indicated?
• Where is the mouse placed? Why? How often used?
• Where are common accessories such as phone,
  printer, stapler, filing located?
• Are they placed in correct zones based on use?
• Can they be used to promote movement

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Mice, Document Holders, Other

• What accessories are in use or not in use but
  indicated?
• Foot rests
• Keyboard pads
• Mouse pads
• Headset

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Other assessments

• Environmental
• Organizational

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Now what?

• Depends on who you are
• Students versus professional consultant
• What you are contracted to do
• Make changes that are made easily
• Perform on the spot training and reinforcement
• Research cost effective alternatives to problems
  not easily fixed with current work set up
• Do not promise or disclose anything to worker
  that you are not authorized to perform

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Now what?

• Report findings and recommendations and see what
  you will be allowed to address
• Purchases
• Cost benefit analysis
• Detailed training plan
• Negotiate services on recommendations based on
  payer needs and willingness to pay

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Follow up

• If you actually address a problem you will need a
  follow up schedule
• Dont create a new problem
• Good PR and marketing to follow through

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Closing and Questions

• ???????