Office Safety Ergonomics Handout

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Office Ergonomics & SafetyOffice Ergonomics & Safety

Occupational Health, Safety & Risk Unit

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Scope To enable staff reduce the risk factors that are inherent in screen based work.

To ensure staff are able to recognise the signs & symptoms usually associated with the onset of “soft tissue” injuries & take appropriate steps to avoid exacerbating the condition.

Ensure staff can identify & control the range of hazards & risks associated with office based work

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ObjectivesKnow how to correctly adjusting your chair to optimize the match between the body & desk.

Perform basic exercise routines to promote blood flow and reduce muscle fatigue.

Effectively use simple keyboard workstation assessment checklists to identify & assess the functionality & serviceability of keyboard workstations

Identify & implement adequate control measures for the hazards that are inherent in office based work

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Obtaining the best ergonomic fit:

PeopleTask designEnvironmentEquipmentSoftwareSupervisionEducationCulture

hands

lightexercise

keyboardmouse

desk vduchair

eyes

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Common terms used to describe the range of conditions characterised by discomfort or persistent pain in muscles,

tendons & other soft tissues, with or without physical manifestations:

Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD)Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS)These conditions are usually caused or aggravated by repetitive movement, sustained or constrained postures &/or forceful movements

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Who is most at risk?

Process workersMachinistsKeyboard operatorsTypistsClerksCarpet layers Mail sorters

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Indicators of Work-Related Ergonomic Problems

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Discomfort

Pain

Injury

Performance

Fatigue

Time

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Adjusting your chair

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Sitting at your desk

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Positioning the Monitor

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Organising your Work-Space

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Important “Rules of Thumb”:Appropriate keyboard placementAppropriate mouse placement & useNo necking the phoneEye rest breaksShorter more frequent breaksKnow how your chair worksCheck serviceability regularlyVary tasksPace yourselfMonitor your bodySeek help if required

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2 – Minute Warm-Up Exercises

Bend your wrist & fingerswith your other hand, bendingyour elbow slightly at the sametime, until you feel the stretchOver the back of your forearm.

Stretch your arm out in frontWith your elbow straight,

Palm facing away from you.With your hand pull yourFingers backwards until

you feel the stretch.

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Tuck your chin down ontoyour chest and gently turnyour head from side to side,keeping your chin on yourchest.

Turn your head slowly fromSide to side ten times

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Breaks

Roll the shoulders –raise them, pull them

back, then drop them &relax. Repeat in theopposite directionInterlock fingers, palms up. Stretch

arms above the head until they arestraight. Do not arch the back

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Grasp shin, lift leg off the floor.Send forward curling the back,

with nose towards the knee. Note: This should be avoided in pre-

or Post-natal conditions.

Drop left shoulder, reaching lefthand towards the floor. Returnto starting position. Repeat on

right side.

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Other common office based hazards

Loose leads, cords, wires, cablesOverloaded electrical circuitsUnrealistic work loads & time linesFaulty or unserviceable emergency equipmentUnserviceable chairsFaulty electrical appliances & equipment

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Other common office based hazards

Heavy boxes, equipment, furnitureExtremes of temperature, ventilation, lighting, humidityLoose carpets & floor coverings, slippery floorsDraws left openPoor hygiene & housekeepingExcessive fuel loads eg old papersOvercrowding

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Common hazard control measures for office based environments:

Take immediate actions to control potential hazardsAdopt realistic workloads & timelinesProper installation of cables & wiringAvoid using adaptors & power boardsDo not use faulty equipment replace, tag or destroyNo heavy lifting

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Common hazard control measures for office based environments:

Implement effective servicing agreements for air conditioning systemsInitiate maintenance requests as requiredKeep filing cabinets closed when not in useDiscard rubbishResist proposals that would lead to overcrowding in officesIntroduce & maintain appropriate hygiene & housekeeping measures

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Major benefits derived from eliminating &/or reducing office based hazards:

Reduced occupational risksReduced incidence of injuryReduced direct & indirect costsReduced interruption to business activityIncreased job satisfactionLower staff turnoverIncreased moraleIncreased output

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Where to Get More Information

Other training sessionsUWS Health & Safety in the Office Guidelines (Draft)UWS Librarywww.ergonomic.org.au Ergonomics Society of Aust.

Consulting services, other sources