APA3131 - 2.1 - Office Ergonomics

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Neutral Posture

Position minimizing strain on body structures.

Workstation Evaluation

Systematic assessment of ergonomic setup.

OHCOW Guidelines

Standards for workplace ergonomics and safety.

Ergonomic Chair

Chair adjustable for individual user dimensions.

Seat Pan Depth

Space between knee and chair front (~5-7cm).

Thigh Position

Thighs should be parallel to the ground.

Chair Height Adjustment

Thighs parallel, feet flat for proper posture.

Backrest Adjustment

Supports lumbar curve, maintains upright position. Should lock in upright position or allow slight tilt (90-110 at the hip)

Armrest Height

Should be below resting elbow for comfort. Shoulders relaxed, does not interfere with tasks.

Lumbar Support

Supports lower back, prevents strain in ligs, musc, and tendons during use. Promotes lordotic curve

Input Devices

Tools like keyboard and mouse affecting posture.

Monitor Position

Should be at eye level to reduce strain.

Work Surface Height

Should align with chair for ergonomic use.

Discomfort Survey

Tool to assess user pain and discomfort. (lists body parts and gets user to rater pain on scale of 1-10, then asks follow up questions on worst rating)

Lighting Considerations

Proper lighting reduces glare and eye strain.

Workflow Analysis

Evaluation of tasks and breaks for efficiency.

Typical Postures

Common positions during work affecting ergonomics.

Seat Pan Position

Seat pan should touch back of the knee.

Thigh Position

Thighs must be parallel to the ground.

Hip Angle

Maintain a 110-degree hip angle.

Armrest Height

Armrests should be higher than work surface.

Footrest Position

Feet must be flat on a footrest.

Keyboard Height

Adjust height for neutral wrist posture.

Keyboard Level

slightly below elbow level, forearms parallel to the ground

Keyboard Proximity

Keep close to body minimize reaching.

Keyboard Tilt

Use flat or slight negative tilt for wrists.

Keyboard Flip Legs

Do not extend.

Non-Adjustable Tray

Reduces height but limits user accommodation/reduces thigh clearance

Adjustable Tray

Allows height and angle adjustment for comfort. Accomodates mouse + keyboard at same height

Mouse Level

Mouse should be at the same level as keyboard.

Mouse Alignment

Mouse must be in line with shoulder.

Monitor Height

Top should be at eye level. Adjust height with adjustable monitor/monitor risers/arms.

Monitor Viewing Angle

Display should be between 0-60 degrees.

Monitor Distance

Monitor should be 40-75 cm away (arms length)

Laptop Usage

Laptops without external devices hinder posture, prevents user from adhering to neutral posture recommendations.

Work Surface Height

Should be at elbow height when seated/standing.

Sit-to-Stand Desks

Mix of sitting and standing can be beneficial.

Work Surface Layout

Organize items by frequency of use (envelope), provide space for all ext equipment, allow user to move through multiple postures

Document Ramps

Prevent excessive neck flexion due to flat documents.

Soft Tissue Compression

Pressure from surfaces affects soft tissue health.

Environmental issues

Factors like lighting, temperature, and noise affecting comfort.

Psychosocial issues

Work pace, workload, and stress impacting employee well-being.

Keyboard level

Keyboard should align with elbow height for comfort.

Mouse height

Mouse should match keyboard height for ergonomic use.

ROSA

Rapid Office Strain Assessment for ergonomic risk evaluation.

ROSA strengths

Provides quick risk quantification and recommendations, considers duration, based on CSA Z412 guidelines.

ROSA limitations

Ignores dual monitors and modern office aspects, as well as does not fully explain variation in worker discomfort.

CSA Z412

Guidelines for office ergonomics in Canada.

Goniometer

Tool for measuring angles in ergonomic assessments.

Anthropometrics

Study of human body measurements for ergonomic design.

Professional report

Document detailing ergonomic evaluation and recommendations.

knee angle

90-130 deg

ankle angle

100-120 deg

workspace envelope: primary zone

Frequently used items, elbow to fingertip distances

workspace envelope: secondary zone

less frequently used items, arm’s length distance

workspace envelope: Tertiary zone

rarely used items, greater than arm’s length distance

docking stations

For laptops, encourage the use of a separate keyboard+ mouse, Allow the monitor height to be adjusted

Multiple monitors: Two monitors and one used more frequently

User centred in front of primary monitor

Two monitors, equal usage

Centred between

Three monitors

• User centred

phones + tablets

• Avoid static awkward postures, maintain neutral

posture

• Use hands-free options when possible

• Alternate hands holding the device

• Alternate between thumbs and fingers for typing, use

voice input

• Place tablets on angled stands to avoid prolonged

gripping