Ergonomics at Work or School

Ergonomics is the science of fitting the workspace tools with the individual who will be utilizing them. Simply put, the workspace and tools need to accommodate the worker, not the other way around. In the past, ergonomics mainly referred to those jobs that required lifting and being on your feet all day with focus on proper techniques for preventing back strain. With the advent of technology, more jobs are sedentary, centered on the computer, leading to a multitude of never-before seen injuries. Studies have demonstrated that workers are more productive and less likely to sustain these types of work-related injuries if a consistent effort is made to maintain proper body positioning of the entire body. This makes the worker invaluable due to increased employee productivity and fewer days missed due to musculoskeletal or eye injury.

Maintaining stable posture is the basis of beneficial ergonomics. The spine anchors the arms and legs to the body, protects the spinal column, allows us to walk upright, and supports about 50% of the body. It is made up of bones, tendons, muscles, nerves, and ligaments to allow the body flexible fluid motion. The body was not meant to sit for extended periods of time. Protecting the spine is of the utmost importance in this day and age. Other parts of the body affected by prolonged sitting are the neck, shoulders, muscles, circulatory system, and the eyes, so it is crucial to protect these areas as well.

Background Information

• Cost of Injuries - AFL-CIO website demonstrating cost of employee absence.
• Evolution of Office Furniture – Office furniture from status symbol to functional
• Office Chair Selection – Tips on the selection of an appropriate office chair.
• Recognition of Bad Ergonomics – How-to on recognizing poor body posturing.
• Guidelines – General guidelines to help develop healthy workplace habits.

The Body

• Human spine – The anatomy of the spine. 
• Musculoskeletal System – In-depth information on the effects of sitting on the muscles and blood vessels of the body.
• Mechanics of sitting – Information regarding multiple sitting postures, the mechanics of sitting, and ideal office furniture criteria.

Posture

• Good Posture – Correct posture for sitting, lifting and driving activities.
• Workstation Posture – Excellent graphic demonstrating all aspects of good ergonomics at the desk workstation.
• Neutral Posture Keyboard Technique – Guide to arranging and organizing workplace environment for maximum benefit.
• Keyboard Retraining – Detailed information relating to the computer keyboard with tips on efficient navigation.
• How to Sit at a Computer – Further advice for sitting at a computer.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Facts on carpal tunnel syndrome, a repetitive motion injury associated with poor ergonomics.

Visual

• What is Visual Ergonomics? – Pertains to protecting the eye from glare, dryness, and repeated reflection.
• Visual Tips – Advice on glare, eye positioning, computer glasses, and minimizing glare.
• Monitor Adjustments – Learn how to adjust the computer monitor for maximum benefit.
• Computer Vision Syndrome – Eye-related injuries associated with poor workplace habits.

Additional Information

• Ergonomics for Students – Ergonomic considerations for students.
• Comic Links for Kids – Links to comics for children to instill early habits of good ergonomics.
• Stretching Exercises – Exercises to perform at the workstation.
• Workstation Readiness – Extensive information about proper positioning of equipment, lighting and when to take a break.
• Laptop Ergonomics – Images of proper and improper laptop positioning techniques.