Work station design

Tool selection and design

Office safety improvement
Video display terminals(VDTS) safety
Back injury reduction and prevention
Manual material handling improvement
Cumulative trauma disorder(CTD) reduction
 Workplace design has a profound impact on the
productivity of workers. Making the best use of space
through optimum placement of equipment, integrating
the human factor into workplace design, and effectively
aligning the workplace into the surrounding
environment are important aspects of ergonomics.

An ergonomically designed work area eliminates or

reduces the MSD (musculoskeletal disorders)
 SIZE

SHAPE
 Weight of the tool
Material
Shape
Texture
Length
 5 STEPS
1. Understand Office Ergonomics
2. Understand Ergonomic Injuries
3. Identify Your Ergonomic Challenges
4. Set Up Your Workstation
5. Select the Right Equipment
 EFFECTS
In the wake of the expanding use of VDTs, concerns have been expressed about their
potential health effects. Complaints include excessive fatigue, eye strain and
irritation, blurred vision, headaches, stress, and neck, back, arm, and muscle pain.

Radiation
Another issue of concern for the VDT operator is whether the emissions from radiation,
such as X-ray or electromagnetic fields in the radiofrequency and extreme low
frequency ranges, pose a health risk. Some workers, including pregnant women, are
concerned that their health could be affected by electromagnetic fields emitted from
VDTs. The threat from X-ray exposures is largely discounted because of the very low
emission levels. The radio frequency and extreme low-frequency electromagnetic fields
are still at issue despite the low emission levels. To date, however, there is no conclusive
evidence that the low levels of radiation emitted from VDTs pose a health risk to VDT
operators. Some workplace designs, however, have incorporated changes -- such as
increasing the distance between the operator and the terminal and between work stations
-- to reduce potential exposures to electromagnetic fields.
 Recognize the 5 Leading
Back Injury Risk Factors:
1. Poor posture
2. Poor physical condition
3. Improper body mechanics
4. Incorrect lifting
5. Jobs that require high
energy
 Recognizing the importance of proper manual material handling is a
critical step in the job improvement process. There are many types of
manual material handling tasks in industry, such as lifting raw materials
and finished products, pushing carts and carrying boxes. These tasks
represent a continuum of ergonomic exposure from low risk to high
risk.

The most common body part affected by manual material handling is

the back, which often suffers strains, sprains, herniated discs, joint
inflammation and dislocation.

Determining Which Jobs to Improve

Previous musculoskeletal disorders
Operator discomfort
Ergonomic risk based on force, frequency, posture and duration
 A cumulative trauma disorder, also known as CTD, is defined as
the excessive wear and tear on tendons, muscles and sensitive
nerve tissue caused by continuous use over an extended period of
time. CTDs can develop from improper work positioning,
repetition or force.

The three main risk factors found in computer workstation

environments that can lead to CTDs are:

Awkward posture and position such as bent wrists, elbows held

away from the body, outstretched arms or slumped shoulders
Repetitive action from typing, keying and sorting operations
Use of excessive force when typing