Ergonomics in the Workplace

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Ergonomics in the Workplace

• Brought to you by

With Resources from Washington Department of
Labor and Industries and OSHA
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What is Ergonomics?

• Ergonomics is the study of how people physically
  interact with their work environment to perform
  their required tasks. This is often described as
  Fitting the Task to the Worker

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What Type of Work Does Someone in Retail Do?

• Working in a retail environment requires the
  physical ability to stand for extended periods,
  and to move and handle boxes of merchandise and
  fixtures throughout the store, which entails
  lifting, and performing all functions listed
• Assist in floor moves, merchandising, display
  maintenance, and housekeeping
• Assist in processing and replenishing merchandise
  and monitoring floor stock.
• Assist in completing price changes within the
  department.
• Assist in ringing up sales at registers and/or
  bagging merchandise.
• Participate in year-end inventory and cycle
  counts.

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Retail Duties Continued

• Retail Office and Management responsibilities
• include the above plus many of the following
• Entering financials, inventories and employer
  specific information for the retail environment
  into a database.
• Organize and maintain paper and electronic files.
  
• Manage projects conduct research and
  disseminate information by using the telephone,
  mail services, websites, and e-mail.
• These positions often involve sitting for long
  periods and employees may spend a lot of time
  keyboarding, particularly at a computer monitor.
• Many times employees are required to travel and
  communicate through computer usage.
• Any other duties as requested. As you know this
  can be anything from janitorial to retrieving
  carts

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• Because of these duties employees may
  encounter back strains/sprains, shoulder
  injuries, elbow, forearm and wrist injuries and
  possibly nerve damage. We are here today to help
  you identify how these injuries happen and help
  you avoid them.

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The New Office
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Objectives

• List the three relationships you need to
  establish with your register or computer
  workstation
• List at least two changes you will make to your
  workstation as a result of this class
• Demonstrate at least one stretch you can do at
  your workstation
• Understand what a safe working zone is

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The Office and Retail Environment
typing filing bagging mousing phone
use twisting standing scanning reading
writing lifting collating
temperature lighting noise
Environment
Tasks
height weight history
chair keyboard mouse scanner cash register phone
scale calculator desk counter
Tools
Person
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The Office and Retail Environment
Tasks
Environment
Tools
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Risk Factors

• Awkward, static or constrained postures
• Head/neck
• Shoulder
• Elbow
• Wrist
• Back
• Repetition
• Using Scissors
• Keying
• Mouse use

• Force
• Stapling
• Picking up merchandise
• Three hole punching
• Contact Stress
• Lifting and Carrying

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Contributing Factors
Potential Hazard Contributing Factor
Awkward Posture Keyboard on tray, mouse on desk
Awkward Posture Keyboard Height
Awkward Posture Bi-focals
Awkward Posture Screen Glare
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Exposure
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Aggregation of Risk

Repetition
and

Force
and
Awkward Posture
Repetition and Force
or
Awkward Posture
Increase in Risk
Repetition or
Force or
Awkward Posture
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Neutral Posture

• The Spine

The Upper Extremities
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Similar?
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Non-neutral Spine

• Hips rotated backward
• Lumbar curve flattened

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Non-neutral Spine
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WRA [phone]
Neutral Seated Posture
Head level
Shoulders relaxed
Wrists straight
Elbows at sides
Lumbar curve supported
Feet supported
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3 steps for workstation setup

1. Establish your relationship with the floor or
   where you stand at the counter.
2. Establish your relationship with the keyboard or
   register keys
3. Establish your relationship with the monitor on
   your computer or register.

Now, thats more ergonomic!
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Establish your relationship with the floor
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Establish your relationship with the keyboard
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Establish your relationship with the monitor
WRA [phone]
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For Cashiers
WRA [phone]
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Workstation Configurations
WRA [phone]
L handed person R handed person Adapted corner
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Balance
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Balance
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Seating
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Adjustable Chair
Adjustable arms
Lumbar support
Waterfall seat
Height and tilt adjustable
Easy to reach controls
5-caster base
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Stool for Counter Use

• Notice how this man is in a neutral position

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Foot Lift and Toe Space

• Avoid standing directly on cement floors without
  proper shoes and mats.

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Reach Zones
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Minimize Reach

• Avoid reaching more than 12 inches in front of
  the body.
• To minimize shoulder disorders, avoid reaching
  above shoulder height, below waist level or
  behind the body

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Neutral Stance

• Relax, dont lean over the counter

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Safe Lifting Zone

• This is the suggested Safe Lifting Zone assuming
  an in-shape average person

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Avoid Actions That Require Awkward Lifting and
Reaching

• Lifting above the shoulders, below the knees or
  at arms length

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Awkward Motions

• Try not bending your
• neck or back

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Something to Think About
Consider what effect arm placement and the weight
of lifting an item will do to you back Imagine
your upper body like a forklift, using your arms
as the forks. You hold a sack of flour 20 inches
away from your body that weighs 20 pounds.
Multiply 20 X 20, this equals 400 pounds of
compressive force directly on your spine where
you are bending to make the lift.
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Input Devices
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Alternate How Items Are Keyed

Consider using keyboards to enter the quantity of
identical products rather than scanning each
individual item.
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Reduce Wrist Force

• Reduce force or pressure on the wrists and hands.
• For example, any task or tools that generate a
  bent wrist when used.

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The Carpal Tunnel
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Reduce Flexion or Deviation of Wrist

• Design tasks and select tools to reduce extreme
  flexion or deviation of the wrist

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Avoid Pounding, Gripping and Pressing

• Avoid repeated pounding with the base of the hand
• Avoid repetitive gripping actions
• Avoid repetitive, forceful pressing with the
  finger tips

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Avoid Forearm Rotation

• Avoid inward or outward rotation of the forearm
  when the wrist is bent to minimize elbow
  disorders

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Examples of Gripping and Twisting
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Repetitive Arm and Wrist Movement
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Keyboards
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More Keyboards
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A solution you may not like
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Mice and Trackballs
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Change your buttons
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Laptops
Fits in laptop case
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Stand and Sit/Stand Workstations
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Break 10 minutes
Get up and move around
Go outside for a walk
Stretch
Mini Break 3 seconds to 1 minute
Eyes away from screen (20-20-20 rule)
Hands off keys and mouse Breathe deep
Stretch Relax and
breathe Look outside
Close your eyes
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Stretching
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Stretching
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Stretching
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Stretching
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Eye Exercises Stretches

• Palming
• Focus Changes

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What can you do?

• Report symptoms early
• Listen to your body
• Take breaks
• Stretch regularly

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Any Questions

• Type your questions in now.
• You can also send questions to my
• email
• patti_at_retailassociationservices.com
• or
• Call Patti at [phone] ext.21
• Email me your workspace pictures and I will help
  with any set up problems you might have.