Health & Safety Workbook 8 32 Ergonomics and Workstation Ergonomics and Workstations Ergonomics is concerned with the interaction between people, equipment and their environment. Ergonomics should be considered when a new workstation is being designed, when new equipment is being selected and installed or when jobs or procedures are being considered. Musculoskeletal Disorders Poorly designed workstations and repetitive tasks may lead to muskculoskeletal disorders causing aches, pain, swelling and poor performance. More commonly people suffer from work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD’s) particularly if they carry out particular movements repetitively, maintain an awkward posture and have inadequate rest periods. Preventative measure: • It is important to design as far as possible a workstation or activity to suit an individuals needs, however this may not always be possible e.g. desk sharing. Design therefore must reach a compromise and wherever possible, should include adjustable features and flexibility. • A risk assessment may demonstrate the need for workstations to be re-designed or re- located in order to reduce the risks caused by stooping, over-reaching and similar actions. Display Screen Equipment and Workstations Various ill effects such as eyestrain, headaches and upper limb disorders have been associated with prolonged jobs involving the use of display screens. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 require specific assessments to be carried out. Where an employee is identified to be a ‘user’ (e.g. data inputer, word processor) and a significant part of their day is repetitive computer use, a detailed assessment of the workstation and activity has to be carried out. This should generally be achieved by the employee completing a self-assessment questionnaire either on their own or with the assistance of an occupational nurse. In order that employees can carry out a suitable assessment, adequate information and training needs to be provided. If you have identified employees as ‘users’ then the employee may be entitled to a free eye test and if necessary corrective lenses if required specifically for display screen use. Checklist • Have you identified anyone as a ‘user’ and have you carried out a detailed assessment? • Have any comments identified in the assessments been acted upon and records kept? • Has it improved matters?
Ergonomics and Workstations
Jun 18, 2022
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Health & Safety Workbook - Ergonomics and WorkstationErgonomics and Workstations Ergonomics is concerned with the interaction between people, equipment and their environment.
Ergonomics should be considered when a new workstation is being designed, when new equipment is being selected and installed or when jobs or procedures are being considered.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Poorly designed workstations and repetitive tasks may lead to muskculoskeletal disorders causing aches, pain, swelling and poor performance. More commonly people suffer from work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD’s) particularly if they carry out particular movements repetitively, maintain an awkward posture and have inadequate rest periods.
Preventative measure:
• It is important to design as far as possible a workstation or activity to suit an individuals needs, however this may not always be possible e.g. desk sharing. Design therefore must reach a compromise and wherever possible, should include adjustable features and flexibility.
• A risk assessment may demonstrate the need for workstations to be re-designed or re- located in order to reduce the risks caused by stooping, over-reaching and similar actions.
Display Screen Equipment and Workstations
Various ill effects such as eyestrain, headaches and upper limb disorders have been associated with prolonged jobs involving the use of display screens.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 require specific assessments to be carried out. Where an employee is identified to be a ‘user’ (e.g. data inputer, word processor) and a significant part of their day is repetitive computer use, a detailed assessment of the workstation and activity has to be carried out. This should generally be achieved by the employee completing a self-assessment questionnaire either on their own or with the assistance of an occupational nurse. In order that employees can carry out a suitable assessment, adequate information and training needs to be provided.
If you have identified employees as ‘users’ then the employee may be entitled to a free eye test and if necessary corrective lenses if required specifically for display screen use.
Checklist • Have you identified anyone as a ‘user’ and have you carried out a detailed assessment?
• Have any comments identified in the assessments been acted upon and records kept?
• Has it improved matters?
Health & Safety Workbook 8
1. Seat back adjustability
2. Good lumbar support
3. Seat height adjustability
4. No excess pressure on underside of thighs and backs of knees
5. Foot support if needed
6. Space for postural change, no obstacles under desk
7. Forearms approximately horizontal
9. Screen height and angle should allow comfortable head position
10. Space in front of keyboard to support hands/wrists during pauses in keying
1
2
Date of Review:………………………..
Ergonomics should be considered when a new workstation is being designed, when new equipment is being selected and installed or when jobs or procedures are being considered.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Poorly designed workstations and repetitive tasks may lead to muskculoskeletal disorders causing aches, pain, swelling and poor performance. More commonly people suffer from work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD’s) particularly if they carry out particular movements repetitively, maintain an awkward posture and have inadequate rest periods.
Preventative measure:
• It is important to design as far as possible a workstation or activity to suit an individuals needs, however this may not always be possible e.g. desk sharing. Design therefore must reach a compromise and wherever possible, should include adjustable features and flexibility.
• A risk assessment may demonstrate the need for workstations to be re-designed or re- located in order to reduce the risks caused by stooping, over-reaching and similar actions.
Display Screen Equipment and Workstations
Various ill effects such as eyestrain, headaches and upper limb disorders have been associated with prolonged jobs involving the use of display screens.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 require specific assessments to be carried out. Where an employee is identified to be a ‘user’ (e.g. data inputer, word processor) and a significant part of their day is repetitive computer use, a detailed assessment of the workstation and activity has to be carried out. This should generally be achieved by the employee completing a self-assessment questionnaire either on their own or with the assistance of an occupational nurse. In order that employees can carry out a suitable assessment, adequate information and training needs to be provided.
If you have identified employees as ‘users’ then the employee may be entitled to a free eye test and if necessary corrective lenses if required specifically for display screen use.
Checklist • Have you identified anyone as a ‘user’ and have you carried out a detailed assessment?
• Have any comments identified in the assessments been acted upon and records kept?
• Has it improved matters?
Health & Safety Workbook 8
1. Seat back adjustability
2. Good lumbar support
3. Seat height adjustability
4. No excess pressure on underside of thighs and backs of knees
5. Foot support if needed
6. Space for postural change, no obstacles under desk
7. Forearms approximately horizontal
9. Screen height and angle should allow comfortable head position
10. Space in front of keyboard to support hands/wrists during pauses in keying
1
2
Date of Review:………………………..
Related Documents
