BPK 180W - 7 Office Ergonomics 1-1

Office Ergonomics Overview

  • Presenter: Anne-Kristina Arnold

  • Course Code: SFU BPK180W

Ergonomics Issues in the Office

  • Increased Number of Office Workers: Growth leading to higher ergonomic concerns.

  • Aging Workforce: Older employees may have different ergonomic needs.

  • Task Specificity: More focused roles can lead to repetitive strain injuries.

  • Rising Injuries: Increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders due to poor ergonomics.

  • Heightened Stress Levels: Stress may be linked to physical workspace and workload.

  • Changing Nature of Work: Evolution of job roles and remote work challenges.

  • Work from Home Trends: New ergonomic challenges emerge in home environments.

Ergonomic Risk Factors

Input-Output Model

  • Input: Physical, Environmental, Personal, Organizational Factors.

  • Process: Task steps and description of errors.

  • Output: Consequences and remedies for errors noted in tasks.

Person Factors

  • Previous Injuries

  • Working with Discomfort

  • Ergonomics Knowledge

  • Awareness and Experience

  • Age, Smoking, and Body Mass Index (BMI)

  • Handedness and Dominant Eye

  • Activity Level

Process Considerations

Repetition Factors

  • Significant repetition: Single motion performed more than 50% of the time.

  • Short cycle times (less than 30 seconds) increase potential for injury.

Awkward Postures

  • Hand Postures:

    • Wrist flexion >45 degrees

    • Wrist extension >30 degrees

    • Ulnar deviation >15 degrees

    • Radial deviation >10 degrees

Postural Considerations

Shoulder and Neck Postures

  • Awkward Shoulder Postures:

    • Forward flexion >60 degrees

    • Abduction >60 degrees

  • Awkward Neck Postures:

    • Flexion, extension, and twisting of the neck.

Forces and Stresses

Static Forces

  • Hand:

    • 4Kg power, 1Kg pinch, 15% MVC

  • Shoulder:

    • 15% MVC

Contact Stress

  • Mechanical Stress:

    • Stress applied through contact with surfaces.

Seating Considerations

  • Inappropriate Seating Usage:

    • Using adequate seating incorrectly is a common issue.

  • Importance of Adjustable Seating:

    • Features like height adjustable neckroll, backrest, armrest angles, and seat tilt are crucial for proper ergonomics.

Active Workstations

  • Standing/Active Workstations Issues:

    • No seated opportunities can lead to fatigue.

    • Lack of task consideration when standing might result in ergonomic oversights.

Environmental Factors

Lighting, Temperature, and Noise

  • Lighting:

    • Considerations include too much or too little light, glare types, and color schemes.

  • Temperature:

    • Managing comfortable thermal conditions is vital.

  • Noise:

    • Open-plan offices can introduce distractions.

Psychosocial Stress Factors

  • Job Control:

    • Lack of control over job pace and infrequent breaks can increase stress.

  • Performance Monitoring:

    • Excessive performance monitoring leads to dissatisfaction.

  • Task Variety:

    • Monotonous tasks contribute to ergonomic and psychological stress.