| Precisely, what is ergonomics, and how does it | | | | workstation in the corner, a little out of the way |
| affect how you work? | | | | but it was used by the guy that left last week |
| Wikipedia says: 'Ergonomics is the science of | | | | and looked okay. Joe sat at the office desk, but |
| organising the task, equipment, and workspace to | | | | couldn't get his knees under the desk top, so he |
| fit the employee. Good ergonomic design is | | | | adjusted the gas to its lowest setting. The chair |
| necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, | | | | arms were a D shape and he couldn't get near |
| which can develop over time and can lead to | | | | enough to the desk to use the keyboard without |
| long-term disability and symptoms.' | | | | stooping, exacerbated by the monitor positioned |
| So, on the face of it that sounds relatively simple | | | | low on the desk. With his legs stretched out in |
| does it not? Well let's break it down into bite sized | | | | front of him, Joe was almost doubled over; in the |
| chunks. | | | | same position he was in just last Sunday morning |
| Task organisation... Am I using...o A computer | | | | ready to make the first pull on the oar. The edge |
| work stationo Control desko CCTV Monitoring or | | | | of the seat was somewhere in the middle of his |
| industrial plant MHIo Several deskso Several | | | | thigh. Every now and again Joe had to take a little |
| monitorso Keyboard and mouseo Several | | | | walk, stretch, and rest his eyes. Not a bad thing |
| computer programmes at onceo A telephone for | | | | you might say, that's right, only Joe was having |
| long periodso An Office chair for short long | | | | to take breaks every 15 minutes or so. |
| periods | | | | He'd noticed of late his elbow had been quite |
| Equipment organisationo DSE assessmento Order | | | | inflamed and particularly his right wrist. It was |
| new chair and select arms and back height.o | | | | when he was rubbing his elbow in the tea room |
| Order desko Order other ergonomic aids if | | | | that Josie from occupational health saw him |
| required.o Telephone headset | | | | massaging his funny bone. |
| Workspace. | | | | Luckily for our hero, Josie the Occupational Health |
| | | | nurse was quite clued up on funny bones and |
| 1. Read notes on DSE assessment, taking note of | | | | other extraneous body parts - but we won't go |
| recommendations. | | | | into that right now, suffice to say Joe was |
| 2. Site workstation in suitably lit area. | | | | sequestered back to his workstation for a good |
| 3. Assemble the workstation. | | | | going over. |
| - Desk (Including risers) | | | | After assessing Joes' tasks, Josie measured him |
| - Office Chair - check operation and ask for | | | | up and instantly suggested desk raisers, a new |
| demo. | | | | multi-adjustable, high back, high stem ergonomic |
| - Monitor at correct height | | | | chair with a lumbar pump. Into the bargain Josie |
| - Keyboard wrist rest | | | | suggested mouse and keyboard gel pads. |
| - Foot rest | | | | Joe's workspace was nice and bright, excellent for |
| - Mouse gel pad | | | | reading small detail on drawings but not so good |
| First of all we need to define the task. We'll take | | | | when using a computer monitor. After some |
| Joe, 29, our imaginary CAD designer as an | | | | gentle questioning, Josie - and we should know her |
| example. Joe is 6'5" tall weighs a healthy 14.5 | | | | by now - recommended moving the desk so the |
| stones and has some intermittent lower back | | | | light was out of Joes sight line, and an eye test, |
| pains not helped at all with his passion for rowing | | | | as our hero had been suffering a nagging |
| and sailing and not forgetting 8 hours a day at his | | | | eyestrain and the odd headache of late. |
| workstation tapping away for Queen and country. | | | | Josie filled out the assessment forms and 48 |
| Joe hopes to sail around the World in 2012 as part | | | | hours later Joes' new ergonomic gear arrived. |
| of the Clipper Round the World Race, but is | | | | Josie came over and along with the installer set |
| procrastinating over a golfers elbow injury he | | | | out Joe's new workstation and demonstrated the |
| picked up on a sailing course in the Solent near | | | | multi function chair. |
| Southampton. | | | | Joe is now a happy bunny and spends many an |
| Joe uses AutoCAD software and Microsoft office | | | | hours adjusting his lumbar and relieving pressure |
| suite to perform his daily tasks, like emailing, | | | | on his coccyx, whilst Josie is the proud recipient |
| spreadsheets and word documents. He has hard | | | | of a box of roses chocolates. |
| copy drawings for reference and the usual office | | | | I'd like to say that Joe asked Josie out, but Joe is |
| paraphernalia like phones and stationery trays. | | | | a little shy when it comes to the ladies. |
| Joe was asked to sit at an office chair on a | | | | |