After a long day at the office do you go home with nagging aches and pains? Perhaps you get a kink in your neck or experience lower back pain. Maybe you feel twinges of pain in your wrist from the repetitive stress of using a computer mouse. Do you phone in sick when things get too painful? If so, the company you work for may want to consider creating a better, more ergonomically-designed office environment.
More employers are becoming aware of how office environments, with their emphasis on sedentary computer work, contribute to increased absenteeism due to injuries, such as tendonitis and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), which include chronic back and shoulder pain. In fact, 42% of employees in Ontario have missed work due to MSD, according to the Workplace and Insurance Board of Ontario.
The field of office ergonomics focuses on the process of matching furniture (i.e. chairs, workstations, equipment and tools) with the specific requirements of individual workers. This can involve rearranging existing work spaces and/or upgrading them with the latest in professionally – designed ergonomic products. A comfortable work environment helps people avoid the irritations and stress that can lead to back and neck pain, eye strain, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches and other ailments.
Helen Stergiou, owner of The Office Shop in Markham, says she has clients, “who simply ask us to help make their employees ‘more comfortable’. They may not be fully aware of the choices available to them, in which case we try to educate them on the many ergonomic products that are out there for offices.”
And there are many choices, with such brand name manufacturers as Humanscale, Workrite Ergonomics, Balt Inc., The Human Solution, Ergogenesis and Global Total Office, a Canadian company in a field largely dominated by American firms. Many of these manufacturers hire a Certified Professional Ergonomist as a consultant or bring them on staff permanently, like Lucy Hart at Global Total Office.
Hart is a member of the Association of Canadian Ergonomists, which has 750 members across Canada. She has contributed to the revision of the Canadian Standards Association’s guidelines on office ergonomics, and she chairs an ergonomics subcommittee for the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association of North America. “My main responsibility is to ensure that ergonomic design is properly applied to create healthier workplaces,” she says. “I offer my advice and guidance from the design and development stage right through to sales and marketing – the entire product lifecycle.”
Hart was instrumental in the design of Global’s Tritek Ergo-Select office chair, which can be customized to suit each individual. You can choose from three different sizes for the seat, backrest, and tilting mechanism. It also comes with “memory foam” that moulds to the shape of a person’s spine and an adjustable lever that increases or decreases the size of a lumbar support built into the backrest. She was also heavily involved in the creation of the company’s line of ObusForme computer accessories, which include keyboard supports, a monitor arm that swivels 360 degrees, and a footrest that relieves strain on the lower back and legs.
There are hundreds of office ergonomic products to choose from, and it’s a good idea to consult with a specialist before you buy. Here are some interesting examples of the many and varied products available:
Swivel Posture Kneeling Chair
Conceived by Scandinavian medical professionals, this chair by BackSaver allows people who are at the computer for long periods of time to kneel, which relieves back, neck and shoulder stress.
IOS Task Light
With three distinct ball-and-socket joints, this task light from Details rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to shine light where you need it most while you’re working.
Goldtouch Adjustable Ergonomic Split Keyboard
Unlike traditional keyboards, this one is split in two and helps computer users reduce the fatigue associated with typing on a regular keyboard. The design helps keep hands in more of a “handshake” position, which reduces pressure on the wrists.
Evoluent Vertical Mouse 2
This looks much like a regular mouse turned sideways. The tracking roller is located on the side and you still use your index finger to manipulate it, but the mouse keeps your hand in a more relaxed handshake position that eliminates forearm twisting. It’s marketed as the only mouse of its type to be approved for staff use at the University of California at Berkeley, chosen by a team of medical doctors, physical therapists, ergonomists and administrators there.
ObusForme CustomAIR Backrest Support
This is a similar idea to Global Total Office’s built-in adjustable lumbar support, except it’s for a stand-alone backrest. It features a built-in inflatable lumbar pad, along with a pump and deflation valve located within easy reach just behind the backrest.
The Foot Machine
This footrest, offered by Humanscale, contains ball bearings that create a gentle rocking motion, much the same as a rocking chair, to relieve strain on the lower back.
Duraflex Keyboard
Here’s a keyboard that’s ideal for laptop users. Created from durable silicon, it can be rolled up and carried anywhere. The concave keypad minimizes wrist strain and it’s completely waterproof.
ErgoRest Forearm Support
This product has a comfortable leather forearm support pad attached to an aluminum arm that clamps to the edge of a desk. Completely adjustable, it helps alleviate pressure on the Median nerve; the primary cause of repetitive stress injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Keep in mind that office ergonomics is not merely about buying products – it’s an entire process. You should know the specific characteristics of the people who will be using the products (i.e. body size, gender, height, whether they are right or left-handed), and understand their work environment and the tasks they perform.
For a better understanding of office ergonomics, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has produced a pocket guide called, appropriately, Office Ergonomics. It contains recommendations for safe work practices and identifies the basic elements of office ergonomics (it’s available on the CCOHS’s website at www.ccohs.ca). For more on ergonomists, check out the Association of Canadian Ergonomists website at www.ace-ergocanada.ca.
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