Ergonomics in the Library

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Ergonomics in the Library

• Chris Hamrick, MS, CPE
• Ergonomics Technical Advisor
• Ohio BWC, Division of Safety Hygiene

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Introduction to Ergonomics
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Working Definition
Job Demands
Worker Capabilities
A Balance for Optimization
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Why Ergonomics?
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Win/Win
Production Quality Compliance Compensation Costs
Healthy Workforce Careers/Employment Safety
Working Conditions
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Acute Vs. Cumulative Disorders

• Acute
• Result From a one time event
• Cumulative
• Result from events over a period of time.
  However, a specific event may have been the last
  straw upon a previously weakened system and thus
  given the appearance that the problem is acute
  rather than chronic. Stephen Konz. Work Design
  Industrial Ergonomics, Third edition. 1990

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Cumulative Trauma Disorders(CTDs)
Term assigned to identify a group of injuries
that classically result from long-term and
repeated wear and tear on the musculoskeletal
system.

• CUMULATIVE indicates injuries that develop
  gradually over time, and result from many
  repeated stresses on a particular body part.
• TRAUMA signifies bodily insult or injury from
  mechanical stresses.
• DISORDERS describes the adverse health effects
  that arise from chronic exposure to repeated
  trauma.

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Injuries at Work and Their Costs
Direct Costs (billions )
Source The 2002 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety
Index Note Total does not add to 100 due to
unlisted causes
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Injuries/Illnesses to Librarians
Source Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders
(CTDs)
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Common Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Bicipital Tenosynovitis
Radial Nerve
Lateral Epicondylitis
Median Nerve
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Ulnar Nerve
Gaylon Tunnel Syndrome
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Low Back Disorders
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Spinal Column
Cervical Vertebrae
L Lumbar S Sacrum
L1
Thoracic Vertebrae
L2
L3
L4
L5
S1
Lumbar Vertebrae
S2
S3
S4
S5
Sacrum
Coccyx
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Structure of the Spine
Disc
Facet Joint
Soft Center
Outer Ring
Nerve Root
Vertebrae
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CTD Risk Factors

• Awkward Postures
• Forceful Exertions
• Repetition
• Duration
• Contact Stresses
• Vibration
• Cold Temperatures

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Computer Workstation Ergonomics
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Common Problems

• concerns with computer use
• visual discomfort
• physical discomfort
• radiation (Electro Magnetic Frequency - EMF)

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Visual Discomfort

• complaints
• eye strain
• headaches
• dry eyes, itching or burning eyes

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Effects of Monitor Viewing

• Dryer eyes, due to
• Lower blink rates
• 22 blinks/min under relaxed conditions
• 10 blinks/min reading a book on a table
• 7 blinks/min reading text on a VDT
• Exposed surface of the eye to air
• 2.2 cm2 under relaxed conditions
• 1.2 cm2 reading a book on a table
• 2.3 cm2 reading text on a VDT
• Dry office environment
• Air vents

(SOURCE Tsubota and Nakamori, New Eng J Med,
328, 524, 1993)
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Window Problems
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Window Problems
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Visual Discomfort

• intervention measures
• reduce eye muscle fatigue
• improve monitor position

top character line at or below horizontal eye
level
adjust monitor tilt
to minimize glare
18 to 30 horizontal distance between
monitor and eyes
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Visual Discomfort

• intervention measures
• reduce eye muscle fatigue

use correct lighting level for the task performed
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Visual Discomfort

• intervention measures
• reduce eye muscle fatigue
• minimize glare

use indirect lighting
shield against direct lighting
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Visual Discomfort

• intervention measures
• reduce eye muscle fatigue
• minimize glare

GLARE SCREENS (use as last resort)
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Visual Discomfort

• intervention measures
• correct vision problems
• regular eye exams - special lenses
• compensate for physical environment
• blink often (gt18 blinks per min) or use eye drops
  to prevent dry eyes
• check air flow from ventilation system

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• complaints
• neck/shoulder discomfort
• lower back pain
• hand/wrist pain

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• intervention measures
• engineering controls
• furnish ergonomically-designed work stations and
  accessories
• provide training on furniture adjustment

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• chair
• desirable features

-5 to 30 (0 - vertical) backrest tilt
adjustment
6 to 10 above seat, 12 wide, and 6 to 9
high lumbar support dimensions
-5 to 10 (0 - horizontal) seat tilt adjustment
15 to 17 seat depth adjustment
15-21 seat height adjustment
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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• chair
• desirable features

arm rests (optional) - must provide height
and lateral adjustments
firm cushion at least 18 wide
waterfall front edge
adjustment mechanisms readily accessible and easy
to use
five-point base
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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• desk (fixed)
• at least 29 high
• at least 30 deep
• appropriate width
• separate keyboard support desirable
• rounded front edges
• easy access to cabinets

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• keyboard holders
• desirable features

fore-aft and lateral adjustments
large enough for both mouse and keyboard
sturdy counterbalance mechanism
allows for 5 height adjustment above and below
desk
allows for 15 tilt in either direction
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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• mouse
• locate next to keyboard
• within 3 to 4 of the keyboard
• trackball vs. traditional
• trackball - tendency to only use fingers
• traditional - tendency for more wrist deviations

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• monitor stands / support surfaces
• desirable features

monitor stands
provides height adjustment
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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• foot rests
• desirable features

slope from 0 to 25
large non-slip surface (at least 20 x 12)
up to 9 in height adjustment
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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• document holders
• desirable features

height and tilt adjustment
pivoting line guide
must accommodate various paper sizes
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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• telephone headsets
• better option than telephone shoulder rests
• cordless models preferred

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• wrist rests
• use to rest the base of palm, not the wrist
• firm cushion or gel-type

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• improve working posture
• monitor / document holder placement

align primary focus point directly in front of
user
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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• improve working posture
• other office tools
• easy access/reach
• organize desk
• fine tune equipment set up
• use accessories

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

• improve working posture
• proper furniture and equipment adjustment
• ask for training
• adjustments are interrelated
• required changes may be subtle

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Good Seated Posture for VDT Use
Head/Neck - vertical and forward facing
Screen position - top at or below eye level -
18 - 30 from eyes
Shoulder - relaxed position
Wrists - neutral w/ forearms
Elbows - close to body
Back - good lumbar support keep upright
adjust chair height (adjust back height also,
if separate adjustment is available)
Legs - at least 90
Feet - properly supported on floor or footrest
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Materials Handling
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Basic Lifting Concepts

• Get help
• use material handling equipment whenever possible
• two-person lifting

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Basic Lifting Concepts

• plan your move

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Basic Lifting Concepts

• keep all loads close to the body
• minimize lifting belowknee height and
  aboveshoulder height - ideally, lift between
  knuckle and elbow heights

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Basic Lifting Concepts

• do NOT jerk as you lift
• do NOT twist - pivot with your feet, not with
  your body

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Sit-Stand Workstations
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Situations

• In the following situations
• What are risk factors?
• What is good?
• What could be done to improve?

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Safety Hygiene Services

• Library
• Video library
• Ohio Safety Congress Expo

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Safety Hygiene services

• Training center (Ohio Center for Occupational
  Safety and Health)
• Ergonomics Process
• Office Ergonomics (classroom and online)
• Basic Ergonomics
• Applied Ergonomics (3-day course)

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Safety Hygiene services

• Consulting services
• Safety
• Industrial Hygiene
• Ergonomics

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Communicating with Safety Hygiene

• Phone 1-800-OHIOBWC (options 2, 2)
• Web www.ohiobwc.com
• E-mail safety_at_bwc.state.oh.us

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Questions?