by Ronda Crenshaw, Director of Humanscale’s National Ergonomic Group
(article from Interiors & Sources, November 2004)
Companies across all industries have seen the economic benefits of having ergonomic programs in place. Reports of success include fewer workers’ compensation claims, decreased cost per claim, and increased productivity. For guidance, The National Institute for Safety and Health (NIOSH) has outlined a pathway for creating a successful ergonomics program, with details available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ephome2.html.
With some attention to the basic principles outlined below, employers can enhance their employees’ comfort and productivity, while at the same time reducing their risk of MSDs and other costly injuries. As stated by the American Industrial Hygiene Association, “Ergonomic principles are most effectively applied to workstations and new designs on a preventive basis, before injuries or illnesses occur. Good design with ergonomics provides the greatest economic benefit for industry.”
1) Environment affects behavior. This is the driving principle of ergonomics. In other words, a well-designed workstation goes a long way toward ensuring that people work safely. Conversely, a poorly designed workstation can have a negative impact. According to a study published in the journal Occupational Medicine, office workers who were most likely to report pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were not the ones who spent the most time using a computer, but the workers who said their workstation design was poor.
Ultimately, the authors suggested “more consideration should be paid to the ergonomics of workstations, the placing of the mouse, the postures of the upper extremities and the handling of the mouse.” Occupational Medicine 53:443-451 (2003).
The impact of environment on health and comfort is even more evident as office work space continues shrinking. As reported by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) in June 2004, eight years of research by the organization shows that the average amount of square footage allotted to each worker in the United States has diminished by as much as 17% since 1994.
Ultimately, workers are being forced to adapt to progressively smaller workspaces. “The shrinking office is not a myth, but a reality, and a clear sign of the economic times,” said IFMA President and CEO David J. Brady. He added that “For the facility professional, balancing the needs of workers in shrinking space takes some additional creativity and ingenuity.”
2) Movement is critical. While the old school of thought suggested that certain fixed postures were ideal (i.e. the 90 degree theory), the overwhelming evidence today shows that fixed postures are inherently dangerous. According to Marvin Dainoff, Director of the Center for Ergonomic Research at Miami University of Ohio, “Any fixed posture, no matter how closely it approaches the optimal, will generate muscle fatigue. Therefore, it is important to build in flexibility to allow operators to shift positions easily.” While constant motion is obviously not the goal, frequent positional changes are vitally important to good health. As stated by the OSHA Federal Register, “Static contraction of the muscle can reduce blood flow. The consequent reduction in oxygen and nutrient supply and waste product clearance results in more rapid onset of fatigue and may predispose muscles and other tissues to injury [and] may result in chronic decrement in nerve function.”
