Ergonomics

Workplace injuries cost employers and their insurance companies hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

The number of work-related accident and injury claims reported in 2004 (the last date for which records were available) totaled 36,699, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Workers’Compensation Division. As a result of those claims, employers reported lost wages of almost $238 million. That does not include the costs incurred for medical bills or payments for partial or temporary disability.

While it is not clear what percentage of the accidents are related to poor ergonomics, there can be no question that the amount could be reduced early on by employing some common-sense, preventative measures. And if accidents or injuries have already occurred, proper ergonomics can help reduce the chance for reinjury at a later date.

The type of injuries seen most often by ThedaCare at Work are tendonitis, usually in the hand or elbow, related to repetitive motion and low back or hip pain most frequently caused by people sitting in their chairs improperly and for too long.

“It’s recommended that if you are in a job where you’re at your desk for more than an hour or two at a time that you get up periodically — at least once an hour, if not more — to stretch your body, says Emmy Kiecker, an occupational therapist specializing in ergonomics at ThedaCare at Work. “That has actually been shown to increase productivity because you’re not as tired as you would be if you were just sitting there non-stop working.”

She says it’s also important to have your keyboard properly adjusted and to make sure your chair feels comfortable and also adjusted properly for your individual body.

“Look at your keyboard height and adjust it according to the chair height.”

Bob Andersen, president of Emmons Business Interiors, says preventing carpal tunnel syndrome is the No. 1 concern of employees when it comes to workplace injuries.

“They’re also concerned about having a better work environment so employees have less down time,” he says. “Better lighting and monitor arms to help prevent eyestrain are common needs.”

They’re common needs because eye strain is a common problem. According to a federal study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, nearly 90 percent of people working on computers three or more hours per day suffer from some form of eye strain.

Ergonomic eyewear aiding a person’s focal point helps alleviate those problems, because the way images appear on a screen versus on paper is a lot different, says Jay Wolter, president of Huser Ergonomics, De Pere.

“What the glasses do is give the wearer two focal points: their screen and their work,” he says. “If you’re looking at a screen versus paper, for example, your eyes have to focus a lot more than if you were reading the paper. The ergonomic eyewear helps your eyes so they don’t have to focus so much so it relieves a lot of strain on your eyes.”

There are plenty of things an employer can do ergonomically to help protect employees’ health. It’s in their best interest to do so, Andersen says, because a Workers’ Compensation claim is far more costly than a keyboard, chair or other preventive measure. But he cautions that while the principles of ergonomics are the same, every person is different, making ergonomics a subjective need in some cases.

“That’s why OSHA voted down having the chair standards that they’d passed out in California. It was supposed to be adjustable arms and adjustable backs, but they could not come up with a standardized chair for everybody,” Andersen says.

Eric Blankenheim of Blankenheim Services, LLC agrees that just having something ergonomic does not automatically prevent injuries and claims, or even lawsuits from happening. Employers must ensure that equipment properly fits their workers and that they’re using it correctly, he says.

“Many times I’ll see companies spending a lot of money on equipment, but never really training the individuals how to use the equipment correctly,” Blankenheim says. “Something might be a good fit for one worker, but a horrible fit for somebody else.”

He suggests employers consider general ergonomic guidelines, then take them one step further as they relate to each individual employee.

As a side note, Blankenheim says when an employee is injured, employers face issues on a couple different levels: one is under Workers Compensation; the other comes under the guidelines of the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The ADA protects people from discrimination if they have a disability,” he says. “The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act is different and in many ways more stringent with employers than the federal ADA is. A lot of companies in Wisconsin think if they comply with the ADA they’re set, but Wisconsin has its own law that has a different set of conditions.

“For example, under the ADA it’s usually not necessary to restructure a job for someone who has suffered an injury. But under the state’s Fair Employment Act, if somebody cannot do aspects of their job, the court may decide it is reasonable for the company to actually restructure that position and move job duties to other people,” he says. “And that wouldn’t matter if they’re hurt on the job or not.”

By Cheryl Hentz

Copyrighted material, reprinted with permission of MARKETPLACE MAGAZINE, (920) 729-7608

ERGONOMIC TIPS

Ergonomics is the complete relationship between you and your working environment. It goes beyond the adjustability of your furniture.

Keep monitor and keyboard centered in front of you

• The monitor should be at least one arm length in front of you. Position the top of the monitor 2 to 3 inches above seated level.

• You should be able to view the screen without tilting or turning your head.

Maintain good posture when working

• Sit back fully in your chair to take advantage of seating contours and lumbar support.

• Support the natural curvature of your spine.

• Adjust your chair height to keep your knees equal to or lower than your hips while allowing your feet to rest fully on the floor.

• Keep your elbows in a slightly open angle with wrists in a neutral position.

• Flex your wrists no more than slightly up, down or sideways.

• Relax your hands when utilizing your mouse.

• Movement should originate from your shoulder and elbow.

Documents should be placed in line with keyboard and monitor

• Use a document holder whenever possible.

Take frequent, short breaks

• Movement stimulates blood flow, which keeps nutrients moving through your muscles to cleanse them and therefore reduce the possibility of soreness.

• Give your eyes a rest by closing them for a minute or two.

Keyboard tilt

• The keyboard tilt can help you attain the correct arm position.

• A negative tilt (front of keyboard higher than the back) helps when working in an upright sitting position.

• If you recline — a positive tilt (front of keyboard lower than the back) may be necessary.

Key lightly

• The average user keys four times harder than necessary.

Reduce glare

• Avoid placing your monitor near bright lights and windows. If there is not another option, use an optical glass glare filter.

Source: Emmons Business Interiors

Copyrighted material, reprinted with permission of MARKETPLACE MAGAZINE, (920) 729-7608