What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics, also called Human Engineering, is the science of how workers interact with their work environment. Proper ergonomics means designing objects in the workplace – such as chairs and tools – that provide a correct match between the human body, work-related tasks and work tools, to give safety and comfort and reduce stress and injuries from overuse, bad posture and repeated tasks.
Computer Health Hazards
Signs of a health problem can occur in the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck or back, including numbness, burning or tingling of the fingers, soreness, pain or swelling, tightness or stiffness, and weakness or coldness. The main risks include:
- Musculoskeletal Problems: general aches and pain up to upper limb disorders, back and neck pain, tension and headaches.
- Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI): occurs when muscle groups are forced through repetitive, high-impact or low-impact actions, such as typing at a keyboard.
- Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS): any eyestrain condition related to display screen use, with symptoms including headaches, blurred vision and dry, irritated eyes.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): pressure on the median nerve through the wrist’s carpal tunnel, producing numbness, shooting pain, and inability to grasp objects.
Problems and Remedies for Visual Display Unit (VDU) Users
| Problem | Possible Remedy |
|---|---|
| Eyestrain from glare and reflection | Avoid a brightly lit VDU area, don’t look directly at windows or bright lights, use an anti-glare filter. |
| Stress from boredom and slow response time | Vary your activity. |
| Posture fatigue | Use adjustable chairs and a comfortable, relaxed keying position. |
| Screen flicker | Service your equipment regularly to correct errors. |
| Unsatisfactory working environment (space, ventilation, light, heat, noise) | Ensure adequate space and fresh air circulation, and use a sound-proofed environment. |
Safety Precautions
- Set up equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and switch off and disconnect the computer once you stop working.
- Ensure sufficient light in the working room, and fit devices and CD-ROMs correctly.
- Look away from the screen periodically to focus on a distant object and avoid eye strain.
- Adjust the position of the screen, keyboard, mouse and documents so you can sit comfortably; keep your forearm roughly horizontal and elbows level with the keyboard; use a foot rest if your feet don’t reach the floor; use a document holder when typing from a manuscript.
- Alternate work tasks, stretch regularly, and avoid gripping the mouse too tightly.
- Your chair should support the back, be height-adjustable, and be 18 to 30 inches from the screen.
- Your desk should have sufficient leg room, be height adjustable, be at least 900mm deep, and have rounded corners.
Note: for electrical safety, do not add too many extension cables to your existing electrical sockets.
