| An organization's physical infrastructure greatly | | | | reduce common health risks faced at work. The |
| reflects its attitude toward its employees. Bright | | | | health risks, medically categorized as Repetitive |
| and clean work units, comfortable furniture, | | | | Strain Injuries (RSIs), MusculoSkeletal Disorders |
| spacious cabins, health-friendly computers & | | | | (MSDs) and Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs), |
| accessories, impress upon employees the | | | | are basically injuries affecting muscles, ligaments, |
| aesthetic and sensitive outlook of the organization. | | | | tendons, joints and nerves. Chairs Prolonged sitting |
| Ineffective office ergonomics can have an | | | | results in muscular fatigue and has a significant |
| adverse effect on employee output. Proper | | | | effect on feet, legs, and back. Compounded with |
| ergonomic planning is sure to promote a safer, | | | | poorly-designed chairs, this exposes employees to |
| healthier and work-conducive environment for | | | | an increased health risk. Ergonomic chairs include |
| employees and a productive ambiance for the | | | | those that have adjustable armrests, backrests |
| organization. | | | | with lumbar support, and allow for seat height |
| Elements to Consider for Effective Office | | | | & depth adjustability. Employees should be |
| Ergonomics Building Design & Maintenance Did | | | | trained on correct postures and effective |
| you know that an improper office building design | | | | exercises to keep fit at workplace. Computers, |
| can cause Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) in its | | | | Keyboards & Other Input Devices |
| occupants? Sick Building Syndrome, also referred | | | | Incompatible alignment of computers and |
| to as Building Sickness, impacts employee health | | | | accessories can injure eye, neck, shoulders, |
| by causing headaches, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, | | | | wrists, elbows and forearms. Monitors should be |
| throat problems, respiratory discomfort, ocular | | | | properly positioned from the user to allow |
| & nasal distress, and dryness and itchiness of | | | | comfortable viewing without much strain to the |
| skin. Low quality air within the office buildings, due | | | | neck. Anti-glare monitors or customized eye |
| to factors such as inadequate ventilation, | | | | glasses are effective in minimizing eye distress. |
| ineffective air conditioning and thermal retention, is | | | | Document holders, if used, should be aligned at a |
| believed to be the chief cause of SBS. | | | | height equal to that of the monitor to avoid eye, |
| Building ventilation should be so designed to | | | | neck and shoulder pain. |
| prevent entrance of chemical contaminants and | | | | Ergonomic keyboards designed to minimize muscle |
| biological pollutants from the external environment. | | | | discomfort and injuries are available. Fixed-split |
| It has been found that sources of such | | | | keyboards, adjustable-split keyboards are some |
| contaminants are mostly within the office buildings. | | | | popular ergonomic keyboards. Standard keyboard |
| Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs, found in | | | | compatibility can be improved by the usage of |
| carpets, paints, wooden furniture, fax machines, | | | | keyboard trays, which enable achieve appropriate |
| etc. have an acute impact on human health. | | | | height and distance. |
| Stagnation of water on ceiling tiles and insulation | | | | Mouse, trackball and other input devices are to be |
| breeds biological contaminants. Planned design and | | | | chosen keeping in mind factors such as size, |
| regular maintenance of office buildings can create | | | | shape, operational ease, and the way they fit into |
| a health-conducive environment for employees. | | | | the contours of the hand. Certain trackball designs |
| Lighting & Acoustics Sufficient natural light | | | | make usage difficult and the user ends up injuring |
| should be allowed within the office building; it | | | | the thumb, and muscles or tendons of the hand. |
| promotes a feeling of freshness and an active | | | | Currently many branded computer mouse, |
| atmosphere. Bright overhead lights and | | | | trackballs, and other input devices such as touch |
| consequent eye distress and headaches are | | | | pads, touch screens, etc., designed to ergonomic |
| common to employees in most workplaces. | | | | specifications are available in the market. |
| Impact of such harsh artificial lighting can be | | | | Laptops If work equipment involves laptops, then |
| reduced by using filters, lower indirect light | | | | laptop stands, drawers or laptop desks should be |
| fixtures and task lighting. A combination of indirect | | | | used to avoid associated health risks. Several |
| lighting and task lighting is used in workplace | | | | users work with laptops on their laps; this not only |
| environments for optimal illumination; while indirect | | | | causes headaches and pain in the back, neck and |
| lighting allows adequate light for orientation, task | | | | shoulders due to a bad keyboard posture, but |
| lights, which are positioned closer to the employee | | | | also exposes the user to the extreme heat |
| working area, allow the employee sufficient light | | | | emitted by the laptops, which may harm the |
| to perform his/her task. Shades, screens and | | | | body internally. Usage of laptop stands or other |
| filters can be fitted to computer monitors to | | | | options allows for adjustment to ergonomic height |
| reduce the effect of glare on eyes. | | | | and appropriate distance from the user. |
| Noise can have a psychological effect on | | | | Laptop design integrates monitor and keyboard, |
| employees; instances where substantial noise | | | | which prevents the user from achieving an ideal |
| pollution resulted in poor delivery by employees at | | | | monitor position and keyboard position |
| interviews are not unheard of. Proper acoustic | | | | simultaneously. In other words, if the user adjusts |
| fittings capable of absorbing noise can be a | | | | the monitor to an optimal position, he doesn't |
| solution to such noise pollution. Work-Area A work | | | | have keyboard right or vice-versa. This leads to |
| area should be so designed that it allows effective | | | | an incorrect posture, which causes musculoskeletal |
| accommodation of work equipment and employee | | | | disorders. External keyboard and mouse can be |
| personal effects, and free body movement. | | | | used while working on laptops. Users should also |
| Document holders and head phones/speaker | | | | be trained on correct postures and working |
| phones can be effective for employees whose | | | | methods that need to be followed while working |
| job responsibilities require continuous document | | | | with these units. Smaller, light-weight models can |
| reference and phone usage. They reduce strain to | | | | be chosen depending on job requirement. |
| eyes, back, shoulders and neck. Foot rests and | | | | Ergonomic awareness, regular workplace |
| glare-minimizing work surfaces minimize strain to | | | | evaluations and employee ergonomic training |
| feet and eyes. | | | | programs are essential to create and maintain a |
| Good ergonomic furniture and work equipment | | | | healthy productive work environment. |