OfficeErgonomicsHandbook

At Knoll, our commitment to accessible, thoughtful design, coupled with leadingedge technology, has resulted in a portfolio of ergonomic products, includingoffice seating, monitors and keyboard supports, lighting and adjustable worktables. These ergonomic products form the building blocks of a workplace thatfacilitates productivity and comfort with equal effect – a workplace that enablespeople to perform their tasks safely, happily and efficiently.

The benefits of an ergonomically sound workplace are manifold. An organizationthat incorporates ergonomic products into the workplace stands to enjoy reducedhealth hazards and discomfort among associates, leading to a healthier workforcewith fewer health care costs. Ergonomically sound workplaces also often experience fewer cases of absenteeism and lower turnover rates. All of this helps workers to be more efficient and productive – making ergonomics a soundinvestment from any angle.

Knoll puts these benefits comfortably within the reach of organizations and individuals alike with a variety of ergonomic products that enable users to adjust themselves and the tools around them according to their own size, shapeand work style.

Use this guide to shape an effective health and safety program in your workplace.

Work, Design and Technology.

Contents04 What Is Ergonomics?

06 What Are Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)?

07 What Causes MSDs?

08 Prevention of MSDs

10 What Is Ergonomic Design?

12 How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace?

17 What Are the Benefits of Applying Ergonomics in the Workplace?

18 Endnotes

19 Glossary

Office Ergonomics Handbook

Information in this book is used under license from Comprehensive Loss Management, Inc. and written in collaboration with, and for use by, Knoll, Inc.

© 2005 Comprehensive Loss Management, Inc.

04 What Is Ergonomics?

What Is Ergonomics?

Beginning with the popular use of personal computers in theearly 1980s and continuing today with innovations in inputdevices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cellphones, technology has revolutionized most jobs and createdendless possibilities for new ones.

While doing these jobs may require only small amounts of physical activity, we bring our whole bodies to work. In order forus to work as efficiently as possible, we must accommodate ourbodies by providing a safe, comfortable workplace.

It’s a way of looking at the designs of tasks, tools, equipmentand workplace layouts and the overall organization of work to fitthe job to the person, rather than the person to the job. Byunderstanding ergonomics – and how to analyze and adaptwork to avoid ergonomic health hazards – we can all work inways that decrease daily discomfort and the risk of on-the-jobinjury while increasing productivity and reducing the costs associated with workplace injuries.

The benefits of implementing ergonomics in the workplacewould seem to be common sense. Unfortunately, ergonomicimprovements are often viewed only as expenses: what theycost to put in place. Instead, they should be seen as invest-ments by realizing the financial return they bring in terms ofimproved productivity, decreased absenteeism and turnover and lowered insurance and workers’ compensation costs.

To bring about that shift in thinking, two points must beunderstood:• Making ergonomic improvements is effective in increasing

productivity and preventing workplace injuries.

• Simple changes can have immediate and far-reaching results.

Consider, for instance, the return on investment that comes from providing an ergonomically correct chair, which is generallyconsidered the easiest and most cost-effective “fix.”

How much will having a good chair improve a worker’s dailyproductivity? While figures vary, most ergonomic improvements are thought to increase worker productivity by 10% to 20%.1 Given that theaverage worker is productive about 5 hours of his or her workday, or 300 minutes, that comes to an increase of 30 to 60 minutes. With even just a 5% increase in productivity, that’s 15 minutes a day, or 1 hour and 15 minutes a week.2

And what about the initial investment? The Occupational Safetyand Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that an averageergonomics program costs $150 to $400 per worker a year. For a small business of, say, 20 employees, that’s an annualinvestment of as little as $3,000.3

Finally, consider the results of a 2001 survey of executives, who reported receiving a $3 return for every $1 they invested in workplace safety.4 OSHA has estimated that an effectivehealth and safety program can save $4 to $6 for every $1invested.5 Such investments in safety are generally consideredcost effective. Thus, applying ergonomics is just good business.

That’s the philosophy underlying the science of ergonomics, which seeks toadapt tasks and tools to fit the person.

What Is Ergonomics? 05

What can happen when the needs and diversity of the humanbody are not addressed? Typically, there is a dramatic increasein injuries caused by repetitive motion and stress, which arecalled Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). That’s the situationfacing many businesses today.

Consider the following information from the U.S. Bureau ofLabor Statistics:• MSDs now account for 33% of all injuries and illnesses that

make people miss work. In 2003, 435,180 cases of MSDswere reported among workers from all occupations, makingthis the most prevalent type of workplace injury or illness.6

• The incidence of MSDs is particularly high among office workers. Of the 435,180 cases in 2003, 39,350 reports, or nearly 40%, were injuries and illnesses reported for thisoccupational group.7

• Among the office workers who reported MSDs in 2003, the median number of days away from work was 10, compared to 8 for other types of injuries/illnesses.8 The resulting conclusion is that not only are MSDs increasinglycommon, but they make people miss more days of work than other types of injuries and illnesses.

• People with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, an inflammation of tendons in the wrist due to repeated stress and one of themost common disorders among office workers, missed anaverage of 30 workdays per year – three times as many days as workers who reported other MSDs.9

In addition to absenteeism, there is also the problem of presenteeism: when employees show up for work but performat less than full capacity because of illness or other medical conditions. Among the chief health-related conditions affectingworkers’ productivity are MSDs. Research by the Institute forHealth and Productivity Management found MSDs to be thenumber-one health reason for absenteeism and the number-tworeason for presenteeism.10

The effects of presenteeism are more difficult to measure thanthose of absenteeism because these workers are, in fact, on thejob. They tend to work at a slower pace, however, and to makemore mistakes and otherwise do lower-quality work.Researchers estimate that in terms of lost productivity, theeffects of presenteeism are 7.5 times greater than those ofabsenteeism,11 and according to the Harvard Business Review,costs American businesses $150 billion a year.12

Other direct costs include insurance coverage, workers’ compensation and covering for absent employees. The indirectcosts include losing experienced staff and having to recruit and train new staff. There is also the potential for legal costsstemming from employee lawsuits and government fines, bothof which can run into the millions of dollars.

Consider these figures on costs:• MSDs cost U.S. businesses up to $60 billion a year.13

• An estimated $15 to $20 billion of that cost is for workers’compensation.14 About $1 out of every $3 spent on workers’comp goes for an MSD-related claim.15

• The average lifetime cost of treating someone with CarpalTunnel Syndrome, including medical bills and lost work time,is estimated at $30,000.16

We must consider the lifetime costs of treating workers withMSDs because these are chronic conditions. That is, they develop gradually and get worse over time. That means thatmany people working today have yet to be diagnosed.Moreover, those who have been diagnosed will need ongoingcare because MSDs can result in permanent disabilities and continued cost implications.

One more factor makes the future outlook for MSDs even moreserious: People are living longer and thus working longer. In2000, almost 11% of the workforce was over 55 years old; thenumber of workers in this category will double in the comingyears with the baby-boom generation.17 In order to provide fortheir workers’ health and well-being, employers must considernot only the normal effects of aging but also the effects of yearsof working in poor conditions.

Lost productivity is certainly one ofthe greatest direct costs of MSDs.

06 What Are Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)?

What Are Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)?

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are characterized by wear and tear on tendons, muscles, joints and sensitive nervetissue and are caused by repetitive use over an extended periodof time. MSDs may include muscle strains and tears, ligamentsprains, joint and tendon inflammation, pinched nerves and spinaldisc degeneration.

What these conditions have in common is that they are cumulativeand occur gradually over time. Fatigue and discomfort can resultwhenever force or pressure is placed on the body or the samemovement is performed repeatedly over a long period of time.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome(CTS)

Raynaud’s Phenomenon

Trigger Finger

Rotator Cuff Syndrome

Epicondylitis

Tendonitis of the rotator cuffinside the shoulder

Tendonitis of the elbow

Swelling in the carpal tunnel insidethe wrist, which places pressureon the median nerve and tendons

Increased sensitivity of the handto cold

Catching and pain that occurswith movement of the finger

Hand and Wrist MSDsThe most common conditions include these:

Arm and Shoulder MSDsThe arms and shoulders are most often affected by tendonitis,which is inflammation of the tendons, or the tissues that connectthe muscles to the bones. Common types include the following:

Herniated spinal disc

Sciatica

Tension Neck Syndrome

Protrusion of the spinal disc, potentiallyplacing pressure on a nerve

Pressure on the sciatic nerve in thelow-back and buttocks area thatresults in pain running down the leg

Tightening of the muscles in the neck,causing pain

Lower-back and Neck MSDsPain in the lower back or neck may indicate any of these conditions:

The common signs and symptoms of MSDs are as follow:

• Pain

• Numbness

• Tingling

• Burning

• Cramping

• Stiffness

These signs and symptoms are less common:

• Decreased range of motion

• Deformity

• Decreased grip strength

• Loss of muscle function

In general, any of these signs and symptoms may be worse at night or even first noticed at night.

What Causes MSDs? 07

What Causes MSDs?

In office work environments, these major risk factors can lead to MSDs:

Awkward Postures and PositionsWorking in awkward postures and positions can put addeddemands on your wrists, hands, arms, shoulders and back. Here are some examples of awkward postures and positionsfound in office work:

• Bending your wrists

• Holding your elbows away from your body

• Stretching your arms out

• Sitting or standing with your back rounded or your shoulders slumped forward

• Making long reaches for materials

In addition to potentially causing MSDs, working in awkwardpostures and positions can lead to fatigue during the workday,causing drops in productivity and efficiency.

ForceInjuries due to force are usually associated with industrial andmanufacturing jobs. However, such injuries also occur in officework as a result of performing tasks like these:

• Holding a pen or pencil in a pinch grip

• Using excessive force when moving equipment or supplies

• Hitting the keys harder than necessary while doing data entry or typing

• Clicking on a mouse harder than necessary

Tasks such as these can put excessive force on your hands and wrists,causing fatigue and – if done for long periods of time – MSDs.

RepetitionThe more you repeat the same movement using the same position during the workday, the greater the chance that you will develop an MSD. Here are some examples of office jobs with high repetition:

• Data entry and typing

• Sorting

• Filing

These jobs are performed with the same movements and handpositions and repeated many times during the workday.

Keep in mind, however, that repetition itself is not necessarilyharmful. The problem lies in the frequency of the task and combining it with awkward postures and high levels of force.

Poor Working Posture

08 Prevention of MSDs

Prevention of MSDs

How can MSDs be prevented?How you move and use your body while performing work activities will determine how healthy and comfortable you feel onthe job. To ensure that everyone feels as healthy and comfortableas possible, workplaces, equipment and tasks should be reviewedaccording to the principles of ergonomics. Doing so is the mosteffective way to prevent the development of MSDs.

This means keeping your joints in their strongest, most stable and least stressful positions while you work.

For example, if you spend a good part of your workday at a computer, pay attention to how you position your arms and wrists.To reduce muscle strain on your upper body, keep your elbowsclose to your body and your shoulders down and relaxed. And asmuch as possible, work with your forearms, wrists and handsrelaxed and in a neutral position.

One of the basic principles of ergonomics is to use good body positions that keepyou working in neutral.

Also think about your posture. When you sit or stand, try tomaintain the normal slight inward curve in your lower back.Keeping your lower back in this position helps align your neck,head and shoulders and also reduces the stress to your lowerback. In addition, aligning your head over your shouldersreduces the strain on your neck and improves blood flow to your upper body.

Finally, be sure to give your body a rest by taking a series ofshort breaks, or microbreaks, throughout the workday. Thehuman body is designed to move, so holding one position orperforming one task for a long time increases the stress on muscles and joints. Taking breaks will help minimize musclefatigue and the tightness that results.

Awkward Postures and PositionsPoor posture and position can put added strain on your wrists, hands, arms, shoulders, back and neck.

Proper Postures and PositionsProper ergonomic posture keeps your body in a neutral position.

No or minimal bend at wrists

Head, neck, back, elbowsand knees properly aligned

Back rounded and shouldersslumped forward

Elbows away from body

Feet flat on floor

Prevention of MSDs? 09

Bent wrists

10 What is Ergonomic Design?

What Is Ergonomic Design?

Ergonomic DesignTo keep your body working in neutral, you should adjust yourworkstation to your body, rather than adjust your body to yourworkstation. These adjustments are made possible throughergonomic design: the practice of designing workplaces,machines and tasks to match the capabilities and limitations of the human body.

Employees come in all shapes and sizes, yet most work using the same office equipment and furniture. The followingelements of the work environment should be adjusted to fit each individual employee:

• Chairs

• Keyboards and mice

• Computer monitors

• Document holders

• Work habits

• Visual comfort

Ergonomic PrinciplesEach of the following sections provides general guidelines onhow to apply ergonomic principles in the office workplace. Keepin mind, however, that these guidelines only provide a startingpoint. You should make adjustments as needed to ensure yourcomfort in your specific work setting. That means it’s essentialfor you to understand basic ergonomic principles and to knowhow to adjust your furniture and equipment.

The goal is to create a workplace inwhich employees can work in neutral,minimizing wear and tear on their bodies.

Padded Arm and Wrist Reststo reduce arm and shoulder discomfort during pauses in typing

Keyboard PlatformShould be placed at elbowheight, parallel to floor or in a slight negative tilt

Adjustable MonitorTop of monitor shouldbe placed at eye levelto allow proper headand neck position.Screen should be freeof glare and should tiltand pivot

SeatingA good chair has proper lumbar support

Adjustable Deskand Furnitureallows for properbody alignment

Working in Neutral

Task Lightsshould be positionedto reduce glare

What Is Ergonomic Design? 11

12 How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace?

How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace?

Ergonomists recommend four basic working postures: standing plusthree seated positions, including rearward tilt, upright and forwardtilt.18 Given the amount of time most office workers spend sitting,

The ideal chair for a workstation can be easily adjusted from aseated position. In most situations, your chair should be adjustedto recline about 10 to 25 degrees. This position is similar to howyou would sit while driving a car.

When you’re leaning over your work surface – for instance, reading or writing on papers that are flat on your desk – your chairshould be adjusted to tilt slightly forward so it will support yourlower back. Adjusting your chair to tilt slightly forward can alsoprovide a good change in posture, if you have been sitting for a long time.

Make sure you sit against the back of the chair. The chair’s backrest should provide lumbar support so that it fits the contourof your lower back.

Adjust the chair’s seat height in relationship to the height of yourdesk or workstation. For most office tasks, including working at acomputer, the desk surface should be slightly below elbow levelwhen your arms are resting comfortably at your sides and yourelbows are bent at a 90 degree angle. Raise or lower the seat ofthe chair as needed so that your arms are in this position.

In adjusting the seat height of the chair, also consider the positionof your legs and feet. Your thighs should be nearly parallel to thefloor, and your feet should be resting flat on the floor. If your feetcannot reach the floor, use a footrest that allows your heels to belower than your toes. Also consider using a height-adjustabledesk to achieve the correct posture for desk work.

The front edge of the seat should be rounded (called a waterfallfront) so it doesn’t press into the backs of your knees. If the chairhas armrests, they should also be well rounded. They should notbe so high as to force your shoulders upward or so wide as toforce your elbows away from your body.

The chair should also be stable; a five-star base is preferred. And the chair should be mobile, swiveling easily and rollingsmoothly on casters.

Finally, the cushions of the chair should be covered with durableyet breathable upholstery material, such as a mesh-type fabric.

Keep in mind that no chair – not even one that’s fully adjustable –will be ergonomically appropriate if it’s not used correctly. Again, be sure that you know how to adjust your chair to fit your own needs.

Also remember that no single position is appropriate for extendedperiods of time. In addition to alternating among the various seated positions, be sure to stand periodically to reduce the pressure on your back and to improve your circulation. Having a height-adjustable desk can encourage you to alternate positions throughout the day.

Chairs

having a good chair is crucial to their on-the-job comfort and productivity.

Waterfall EdgeBack ReclineArm AdjustmentSeat Depth AdjustmentSeat Height Adjustment

How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace? 13

When you work at a keyboard, typewriter or calculator, makesure that you hold your wrists and hands in a neutral position.Your fingers should rest flat or level on the work surface in orderto keep your wrists working in neutral and to allow your musclesto work more efficiently.

Using a wrist support or palm rest can help you relax your arms and keep your wrists straight while working at a keyboardor mouse. The support or rest should be level with the keys on the keyboard.

It’s best to use the wrist or palm rest while you are taking abreak – for instance, looking at the monitor to review what youhave keyed in. You should keep your hands and wrists hoveringover the keys while you are actually typing.

Another important ergonomic consideration is how to positionthe keyboard in relation to the monitor. The keyboard should bepositioned directly in front of you, and in most office situations, itshould be aligned with the monitor. Avoid situations in which youhave to turn your head or bend your neck repeatedly to look atthe monitor and see what you have typed or keyed in.

If you work extensively with a mouse, position the mouse andmouse pad next to the keyboard and on the same plane. Doing so will keep your wrist straight and help you avoid making long reaches.

In using both a mouse and a keyboard, be gentle! Use controlled, even strokes to prevent wear and tear on your hands as well as your equipment.

The first ergonomic consideration for a keyboard and mouse isheight. This depends on the height of the work surface yourkeyboard rests on and the height of your chair. Ideally, the keyboard and mouse should be about 1 inch below the bottom of your elbow.

As mentioned earlier, you should adjust your chair in relation tothe height of your work surface. When seated in a comfortableposition, your arms should rest at your sides, forming approximately a 90 degree angle at each elbow. Your forearms,wrists and hands should be relaxed and aligned.

You can ensure good alignment by positioning your keyboard ata negative tilt, or having the front of the keyboard lower than theback (where the space bar is). Having the keyboard in this tiltedposition lets you straighten your wrists, hands and fingers forimproved comfort.

Be careful not to create too much of a tilt, however. If the backof the keyboard is too high, you will bend your wrists forward toreach the keys, which will be counterproductive. Also make surethat the mouse remains on a flat surface.

Keyboards and Mice

An adjustable keyboard tray or arm allows changing the height and angle of thekeyboard and mouse to suit individual needs.

Having a height-adjustable desk can help you makethe needed adjustments to ensure good posture.

Proper positionWrists and hands should be aligned in a neutral position while typing.

Poor positionTyping with bent wrists can cause strain and discomfort.

14 How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace?

Computer MonitorsIf you use a laptop as your primary computer and have itsitting on a desk, you need to make several adjustments:

• Attach a separate keyboard and mouse to the laptop, andput them on an external tray system that you can position atthe appropriate height.

• Put the laptop itself on a stand, so you can raise the screen to the correct level.

• Tilt the screen to the best possible position to avoid glare.

Regardless of what type of monitor you use, you should positionit to the correct level and distance. To maintain correct postureand proper head and neck position while seated at a computer,the top of the monitor screen should be at or just below youreye level. In addition, the monitor should be positioned about anarm’s reach from your face.

Note that this is the correct distance for most people. Youshould adjust the position of your monitor as needed for comfortable viewing and focus. For instance, if you wear bifocalsand look at the screen through your lower lenses, lower yourmonitor as much as possible and sit further back.

As mentioned earlier, it’s also important to consider how thecomputer monitor and keyboard are positioned. In most officesettings, the monitor should be aligned with the keyboard. Avoidsetups in which you have to turn your head or bend your neckrepeatedly to look at the monitor. The use of a monitor arm willallow you greater flexibility in positioning.

Whatever type of monitor you use, be sure to adjust the controls forbrightness, contrast and the like as needed for comfortable viewing.Keeping the monitor clean will also improve your visual comfort.

Several types of computer monitors can be found in office work-places today, including cathode ray tubes (CRTs), flat-panelmonitors and laptop computer screens. You should tailor theguidelines that follow according to your specific type of monitorand workstation setup.

A CRT has the general size, shape and weight of a traditionalbox-type television. That means that this type of monitor requiresa lot of room on your desktop, particularly depth (that is, fromfront to back). A true computer desk is designed to accommo-date this depth, especially for a large monitor. A CRT-type moni-tor is also heavy, which means the surface it sits on must besturdy. Given its weight, a CRT (especially a large one) can bedifficult to position using an arm, platform or other support. Forthe same reason, this type of monitor isn’t very portable.

Many of the issues involved in positioning a CRT-type monitorcan be eliminated by using a flat-panel monitor. This type ofmonitor is only an inch or so deep, regardless of the size of theactual screen, and so it is very lightweight. Given these features,you can mount and position a flat-panel monitor in a variety ofways using a stand, arm or other support. The result is that youhave more freedom to individualize the height, distance and tilt ofyour monitor.

Many workers today have a laptop as their primary computer, in and out of the office.

Most critical is the fact that having the monitor and keyboard soclose together makes it impossible to work in the proper posture.Another problem is the small size of the keyboard and mouse,which encourages the use of bad hand and wrist positions.

While a laptop is very portable, it poses a range of ergonomic difficulties.

How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace? 15

Document Holders

Working efficiently doesn’t necessarily mean working continuouslyon one task. In fact, an employee who focuses solely on one bigproject until it’s been completed may not be as efficient as onewho alternates tasks and takes breaks periodically to provide hisor her mind and body with a needed break.

To work efficiently, the human body needs to change positions andmove throughout the day. As described earlier, it’s good to alternateamong the three recommended sitting positions and also to standfrom time to time. Know how to adjust your equipment to allow foralternating positions. Your concentration will increase and yourfatigue – both mental and physical – will decrease if you spread outor break up tasks whenever possible.

Your goal should be to do frequent but mild stretches within apain-free range. Doing so will not only reduce the muscle fatiguethat comes from doing repetitive tasks and holding awkward positions but will likely improve your productivity, as well.

Also practice these good work habits to reduce stress and fatigue:

• Keep your elbows at your sides or use an armrest or wrist rest for support. (Make sure the arm or wrist rest is adjustedappropriately for your body size.)

• If you use the phone frequently or for prolonged periods of time, use a telephone headset.

• Position work equipment and materials so that the most frequently used items are within a comfortable arm’s reach and the less used items are farther away.

Using a copyholder while working at a keyboard can helpreduce eye motion and discomfort and allow you to maintainproper neck posture. However, the copyholder must be positioned correctly to prevent neck and eye strain.

Specifically, the copyholder should be placed directly next to themonitor on either side. The copyholder should also be posi-tioned at the same height and distance from your face as themonitor — about an arm’s reach. Again, make whatever adjust-ments are needed for your own comfortable viewing and focus.

Work Habits

One way of breaking up and spreadingout work is to take regular stretch breaksthroughout the day.

Using a laptop as a primary computer can cause ergonomic difficultiesincluding neck, shoulder and back strain and cramped hand positions.

Using a laptop with a laptop stand and external keyboard and keyboardsupport allows users to work in an ergonomically correct position.

16 How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied?

Visual comfort plays a major role in your ability to complete jobtasks. This means that lighting must be considered whendesigning a work area according to ergonomic principles. Thereshould be enough light to allow you to read documents, but thisdoes not necessarily mean bright light. The goal is to prevent orreduce glare.

There are two types of glare:• Direct glare is caused by intensely bright light sources shining

directly into the eyes, such as the sun coming in the windowand bright light fixtures shining down from the ceiling.

• Reflected glare includes bright spots that are caused whenlight reflects on a computer monitor or work surface and intothe eyes.

To improve visual comfort and reduce glare, use any ofthese measures:• Provide indirect lighting.

• Place good diffusers on overhead lights.

• Lower the general level of light in the work area, and providetask lighting for each workstation (that is, lights directed onspecific work, such as documents).

• Add shades to windows.

Also avoid using bright overhead lighting, which can cause shad-ows along with direct and reflected glare.

Control glare on computer monitors using any of the following methods:• Position the desk so that light sources (such as windows) are

perpendicular to the monitor, rather than directly behind you or the monitor.

• Tilt or move the monitor so that it doesn’t reflect light sources.

• Install blinds on windows near monitors.

• Adjust the controls for brightness and contrast on the monitor.

• Use a nonglare filter to cover the screen on the computer monitor, and keep both the filter and the monitor clean.

• Lower the level of area light.

A second factor that affects visual comfort is dryness.If your eyes feel dry at work, it may be that the airflow from theventilation system is blowing on you. Correct this problem byredirecting the airflow or moving your desk. Your eyes might alsobecome dry if you tend to stare at your computer monitor whileworking — something many people do. Try to blink more frequently and look away from your monitor from time to time.

If you wear glasses, you should consider one additional factor forvisual comfort: Your prescription may need to be adjusted so it’scorrect for the distances involved in doing your job. For instance,if you work at a computer, you should be able to read what’s onthe monitor without tilting your head forward or backward.

This may be a particular problem if you wear bifocals. In general,lower your monitor as much as possible. To ensure comfort andreading ability, you may need to consult an eye doctor that spe-cializes in treating people who work at computers. Considerhaving a special pair of glasses made just for work.

Consult your eye doctor about any problems you’re having withyour eyes, including dryness and strain. Be sure to describe thespecific nature of the work you do and the environment in whichyou do it. Doing so will not only help your doctor understandwhat may be causing your problems, but it will also help him orher treat them appropriately.

Remember, too, that your vision will change as you age and thatyou will likely have to have your prescription adjusted from time totime. Problems with eye dryness also tend to increase with age.

Visual Comfort

The correct positioning of a task light helps to avoid glare.

What Are the Benefits of Applying Ergonomics in the Workplace? 17

What Are the Benefits of Applying Ergonomics in the Workplace?

To achieve these gains, people throughout the organizationmust be committed to making ergonomic improvements. At theemployee level, workers need to understand their responsibilityin using equipment correctly, in stretching and taking breaksthroughout the day and in reporting any problems they experience. At the management level, it’s essential to committhe resources for making improvements and to communicatethe importance of ergonomics to everyone in the organization.Ergonomics must be embraced as a principle of good businessoperation, and making improvements must be viewed as anongoing process.

Applying ergonomic principles in the workplace has two clear benefits:

• To prevent injuries • To increase productivity

Making ergonomic improvements will reduce the risks for MSDsand eliminate or at least decrease their incidence in the workplace. In addition to safeguarding workers’ health and well-being, making ergonomic improvements will also decreaseemployee absenteeism and turnover and lower insurance andworkers’ compensation costs. As noted earlier, even smallimprovements can bring about significant, measurable results.

– as much as a 6 to 1 return on investment, according to somesources. Thus, making this investment in safety clearly costeffective. Applying ergonomics is just good business.

Making ergonomic improvements will also contribute to noticeable gains in workers’ productivity

18 Endnotes

Endnotes

1 E. Grandjean in I. Chong, “The economics of ergonomics:What’s missing from office ergonomics is a way to calculatethe financial benefits,” Active Input Solutions (2001). Availableonline at www.activeinput.com/econo.html.

2 M. F. Schneider, “Why ergonomics can no longer beignored,” Office Administration and Automation, 46 (July 1985): 7, pp. 26–29.

3 M. Fletcher, “Ergo injury prevention programs reap big sav-ings: BI Workers’ Compensation Conference,” BusinessInsurance, November 5, 2001, p. 54.

4 “Ergo programs, claims validation cut costs: WorkersCompensation and Disability Management Conference,”Business Insurance, November 10, 2003, p. 46.

5 Occupational Safety and Health Administration, DraftProposed Ergonomics Protection Standard, Chapter V,Preliminary Quantitative Risk Assessment, Chapter VII,Summary of the Economic Analysis and Regulatory FlexibilityAnalysis, March 1995.

6 J. L. Nash, “Report: Repetitive motion injuries are still no. 1workplace injury,” Occupational Hazards. Available online atwww.occupational hazards.com/articles/13173. April 1,2005.

7 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table11, “Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesseswith days away from work involving musculoskeletal disorders by selected worker and case characteristics,2003.” Available online at www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/case/ostb1377.pdf. March 30, 2005.

8 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table 11.

9 L. Kovach, “Take breaks, or your body could suffer the con-sequences,” San Diego Business Journal, 25 (September20, 2004): 38, pp. 21–22.

10 P. C. Pilette, “Presenteeism and productivity: Two reasons `employee assistance programs make good business cents,”Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association, 8 (Spring 2005): 1, pp. 12–14.

11 K. Dixon, “Weighing the costs of presenteeism: CEOs maybe burning out their work forces,” Chief Executive (U.S.),June 2005, p. 22.

12 P. Hemp, “Presenteeism: At work — but out of it,” HarvardBusiness Review, 82 (October 1, 2004): 10, pp. 49–58.

13 K. Sarkis, “Ergonomics viewed as sound investment,”Occupational Hazards, 62 (July 2000): 7, p. 16.

14 J. W. Kochaniec, “Ergonomics efforts viewed as soundinvestment,” Business Insurance, May 8, 2000, p. 36.

15 Sarkis.

16 “Technology: Do the math,” Risk and Insurance, 15 (June2004): 7, pp. 52–53.

17 U. Wright, “Demographics of the aging American workforce,”ErgoSolutions Magazine [Special Report], October 2004, pp.16–20.

18 Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’sAssociation (BIFMA), Standards, Ergonomic Guidelines G1-2002, p. 12.

Glossary 19

Glossary

Awkward postures and positions: Working in ways that placeincreased demands on the body, such as overreaching andtwisting.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): Swelling of the carpal tunnelinside the wrist, which places pressure on the median nerve andtendons.

Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs): Injuries that occur overtime because of repeated trauma or exposure to a specific bodypart, such as the back, hand, wrist and forearm. Generally con-sidered synonymous with Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) —see definition below.

Ergonomic design: The practice of designing workplaces,machines and tasks to match the capabilities and limitations ofthe human body.

Ergonomics: The science that seeks to adapt tasks and toolsto fit the person.

Force: Requiring the muscles and joints to worker harder or toexert more effort.

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs): A group of conditionscharacterized by wear and tear on tendons, muscles, joints andsensitive nerve tissues and caused by repetitive use over anextended period of time. May include muscle strains and tears,ligament sprains, joint and tendon inflammation, pinched nervesand spinal disc degeneration.

Repetition: Doing the same movement repeatedly or frequently.

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) or Repetitive Motion Injuries(RMIs): Damage to tendons, nerves and other soft tissues thatis caused by the repeated performance of a limited number ofphysical movements. Generally considered synonymous withMusculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) — see definition above.

Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons, which are the tissuesthat connect the muscles to the bones.

Working in neutral: Keeping the joints in their strongest, moststable and least stressful positions while performing work activities.

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