| Things to look for: |
Possible solutions, depending on further
analysis: |
| Prolonged hunched or elevated
shoulder while holding the phone |
Telephone headset
Speakerphone |
| Elbows splayed out (shoulder
abduction) |
Lower work surface
Lower chair armrests
Bring chair armrests in closer
Awareness and habit training |
| Raised or tensed shoulders |
Habit or tension training
Lower work surface or keyboard
Lower chair armrests
Raise chair, if foot contact with
the floor can be maintained |
| Twisting the head to the side |
Bring viewed item closer to
centerline of view |
| Elbow flexed for long periods
using the telephone |
Telephone headset
Speakerphone |
| Elbow or forearm resting for long
periods on hard or sharp work surface, chair armrests |
Pad or round surfaces, corners,
and armrests
Replace armrests
Telephone headset
Habit training |
| Wrists bent to the sides when
using side keys |
Habit training
Keyboard with more accessible
keys or split keyboard design |
| Wrists bent back (extended) or
forward (flexed) for prolonged periods |
Habit training
Wrist rest
Lower, raise, or change slope
of the keyboard |
| Wrists or palms resting for long
periods on hard or sharp keyboard or work surfaces |
Habit training
Wrist rest
Padded or rounded surfaces, corners |
| Hands held actively over the
keyboard during keying pauses |
Habit training
Wrist or forearm rest |
| Rapid, sustained, or prolonged
keying |
Greater work variety
Aggressive break schedule
Reduce overtime |
| Forceful keying, key pounding |
Habit training
Light-touch keyboard |
| Significant amounts of hand
stapling, punching, lifting, opening mail, or other forceful exertions, especially
combined with awkward postures |
Mechanical aids, such as electric
stapler or punch
Reduce size of lifted loads
Bring heavy loads close to
the body, at a medium height
Substitute sliding (work surface)
or wheeling (floor)
Sharpen letter openers |
| Prolonged mouse use |
Greater work variety
Aggressive break schedule
Alternate hands
Alternative pointer devices
Arm support, including small table
Mouse close to body
(extended keyboard tray)
Learn keystroke substitutes for
menus |
| Prolonged sitting, especially in
only one posture |
Greater work variety
Aggressive break schedule
Chair that supports posture change,
through movement, size,
or easy adjustability
Habit training
Move phone to the other side
of the office to force standing,
or suggest standing when
on phone
Check chair fit
Monitor in-out mechanism
Sit-stand work surface |
| Lumbar back area not supported |
Lumbar cushion
Backrest height and tilt
Check chair fit, especially
backrest/lumbar height |
| Feet dangling, not well supported,
or a posture which seems to put pressure on the backs of the thighs |
Lower chair
Lower work surface
Habit training
Foot rest (last resort) |
| Chair backrest not used for long
periods |
Check chair fit, especially seat
pan
depth and height
Check leg room
Check monitor distance
Habit training |
| Twisted torso |
Rearrange work
Provide more knee space
U-shaped work surface layout
Swivel chair |
| Frequent or prolonged leaning or
reaching |
Rearrange work
Mouse pad wrist or forearm rest
Bring mouse and keyboard
closer to body |
| Working with one or both arms
"reaching" toward a mouse or keyboard |
Bring keyboard closer to body
Mouse pad wrist or forearm rest
Bring mouse closer to keyboard |
| Light sources that can be seen by
the worker |
Cover or shield light sources
Rearrange work arena
Lower other viewed objects
to lower field of view |
| Reflected glare on the screen |
Shield light sources
Shade screen
Glare screen
Move monitor so light enter from
side angle, not back
Lower light levels
Move light sources |
| Too much contrast between screen
and surroundings or document; worker feels relief when bright areas are shielded |
Lower ambient light levels
Turn off or dim task lights
Change screen polarity to
black on white |
| Very bright ambient lighting
(above 500 lux or 50 fc) or shadowed areas caused by over-illumination |
Lower ambient light levels to
200-500 lux (20-50 fc) |
| Monitor closer than approximately
40 cm (16") |
Push monitor back
Habit training for reclining
Computer glasses
Bring keyboard forward, possibly
with a keyboard tray |
| Different viewed objects (screen,
documents) at different distances from the eyes |
Use document stand or
otherwise equalize distances
to within about 10 cm (4") |
| Screen or documents not oriented
perpendicular to the line of sight |
Change monitor, document stand
angle |
| Prolonged near focusing throughout
the day with few far-focusing opportunities |
Habit training
Rearrange space to provide view
Introduce glazing |
| Monitor image dim, fuzzy,
flickers, small, or otherwise difficult to read |
Upgrade monitor
Use software to enlarge image |
| Shiny, low-contrast, or
small-print documents |
Improve lighting on documents if
documents cannot be changed |
| Forward position of the head
(peering) or squinting |
Check for monitor image quality
problems or monitor distance
Suggest consultation with vision
specialist |
| Eyestrain complaints |
Check all aspects of visual
environment
Suggest consultation with vision
specialist |
| Neck extended backwards, head
tilted back, even slightly |
Remove CPU from under monitor
Remove tilt-swivel base from
monitor (leave ventilation space)
Check for bifocals and suggest
full-frame "computer glasses"
prescription |
| Neck flexed (downward) |
Raise document or monitor to a
comfortable height
Adjust posture
Habit retraining
Check glasses for inadequate
prescription |
Pacific Employers Advisors to
Management 
* Office Ergonomics #2 *