Ergonomic Workspaces

InvestigateErgonomic Problem Areas in the OfficeThe employee who has a health problem due to poor ergonomics works in an office location. This employee is a secretary of a marketing company. They would mainly pick up phone calls, typing out letters, maintaining files, managing budgets, and bookkeeping; maintain websites, making travel arrangements, and organizing conferences and meetings. They must sit at the desk and use the computer for long hours with not much movement besides filling and picking up phone calls. Since we have just made our business public we have been getting a lot more phone calls, many more meetings, and she must work long hours to complete her tasks. Some problems she is facing is the amount of daily stress due to the work load. Since she is sitting at the desks for the majority of the time her she is also starting to have back pain. Due to the amount of time spend on the computer her neck sometimes hurts and her eyes get tired often.Principles of Ergonomics AssociatedSince the worker is in an office environment the principals involved are: Working in neutral position Keep everything in reach Working at proper heights Maintain comfortable environment Move exercise and stretch

Benefits to ProductivityPracticing proper ergonomic working habits can not only increase productivity, but also generally help improve ones attitude. Reducing an employees stress and fatigue can help refresh our staff with a brighter mood- which comes in quite helpful since these specific workers need to demonstrate a positive attitude to our customers at all times. Happier employees can also improve the quality of work. Office Desks (MALM Ikea)To solve our problem, we will hire 2 extra employees which will help take off the current workload of our secretary and will be installing new chairs, desks, lighting, computers and the environment. The new chairs and desks will be adjustable so the worker will be working in a neutral comfortable position without needing to bend their back over at uncomfortable heights. We have made our lighting adjustable with a knob so she can change the lighting to reduce the strain on the eyes. We will buy a new computer screen monitor which the screen can be tilted so it is comfortable for the neck. A mouse pad with a rest will also be provided so the wrist will be comfortable. With a new an more comfortable environment, our workers will feel less stressed, especially since that the workload has been split.

Products Needed and LocationsIkea is a great place to buy decoration to make the office more fitting. http://ergocentricstore.com/ is the best place for us to buy chairs, tables, keyboards, mouses and monitors because they are specifically in the industry to provide ergonomic items. Since ergonomic itemsa re much more exspensive, the newly designed offices budget will be $7000.

DesignLayout and Floor-plan Programs

Floor planersProgram nameProsCons

Ikea office planner Very realistic 3d models Many options to choose from Preloaded templates to use Easy to use Has a ghost product to take the place of an item that ikea doesnt have which can also be easily adjustable. Can only be saved on one computer Takes a little longer to delete objects in the room

Floorplanner.com Can change the size of the room easily

Birds eye view Must sign up with email to use

Homestyler.com Can delete items really easily Takes a long time to load Birds eye view makes it hard to see what the program actually looks like

Spreadsheet ProgramsProgram nameProsCons

Microsoft excel Is easy to use, but has lots of features which you can learn Easy to format Very versatile When switching back and forth between different versions of excel some of the formatting is weird.

Google spreadhsheet Is on the internet free needs a google account not as many functions as excel.

Word Processing ProgramsProgram nameProsCons

Microsoft excel Is easy to use, but has lots of features which you can learn Easy to format Very versatile When switching back and forth between different versions of excel some of the formatting is weird.

Google spreadhsheet Is on the internet free needs a google account not as many functions as excel.

Overall ConclusionIn conclusion, Ikea Office planner will be used for the layout of the office. It has a wide variety of furniture/structures that are adjustable, functions are easy to understand, and designs are easy to save. For the budget outline, Microsoft Excel will be used. Excel is a great program that is capable of doing many, many functions without putting excess effort. Excel is also easy to print with, and creates usable graphs as well. Lastly, Microsoft word will be used for the financial proposal for the bank. PlanFloor plan 1. Decide office layoutEstimated time for completion: 1 houra. i. Bottom Left: TV Areaii. Bottom Rigth: Lounge area iii. Bottom & Middle: Extra spaceiv. Top-Centre: Work area

2. List items used in planEstimated time for completion: 30 minutes

3. Enter Items and format graphEstimated time for completion: 10 minutes

4. Include some information about each item (i.e. dimensions, colour, material)Estimated time for completion: 15 minutes

5. Enter and format costsEstimated time for completion: 1 class perioda. Enter original price and multiply accordingly per employeeb. Add the total for each item and add for sub-total c. Add tax (13% HST) to sub-totald. Final Cost

6. Create a Pie GraphEstimated time for completion: 5 minutes7. Create title page: Conservative Theme on Microsoft WordEstimated time for completion: 5 minutes

8. Request SummaryEstimated time for completion: one class periodGo over: Ergonomic problems encountered Importance of ergonomics Desired solutions and their benefits

9. Business OverviewEstimated time for completion: 30 minutes Purpose Describe service10. Structure HierarchyEstimated time for completion: 30 minutes Create diagram/flow chart on Smart Ideas program Write explanation alongside in proposal

11. ProfitabilityEstimated time for completion: 1 hour Overall business success Success of each line

12. Financial Outline Estimated time for completion: 4 hoursa. Reason for Renovationsi. Highlight and explain ergonomic problemsii. Improve workers productivity, efficiency, and overall moodb. Solutions to be Implementedi. Summarize renovationsii. Summarize desired furniture c. Benefits of Productivityi. Explain how ergonomics can enhance productivityii. Research effects of ergonomicsd. Insert Floorplani. Labelii. 2D e. Highlight budget and insert graphi. Use values and totals from budget outline ii. Insert graph from budget outline13. ConclusionEstimated time for completion: 30 minutes

14. Create table of contentsEstimated time for completion: 20 minutesBibliography: http://ergonomics.about.com/od/office/a/Benefits-of-a-Standing-Desk.htm http://mashable.com/2013/10/31/free-word-processors/ http://store.benjaminmoore.com/storefront/shop-by-product/interior-paints/regal-select-interior-paint/prodPRM40.html http://www.askergoworks.com/news/97/4-Benefits-of-Ergonomic-Footrests.aspx http://www.atwork.ca/products/KP1460P_KPErgoIIIPlus http://www.examiner.com/article/the-best-and-worst-colors-to-paint-your-office http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/fellowes-fellowes-keyboard-palm-wrist-support-9182801-9182801/10176789.aspx?path=8bc07e2bfecbd2c97df624e8495df1c7en02 http://www.geekdesk.com/default.asp?contentID=622 http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/00175132/ http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/00231604/ http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10119838/ http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10139191/ http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/30214151/#/00214157 http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/40231621/ http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/80209072/ http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/80234076/ http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/90209420/ http://www.overstock.com/Office-Supplies/Universal-Plexi-glass-Cubicle-Wall-Extender-12-inch/7280055/product.html http://www.staples.ca/en/SteelSeries-Kana-Optical-Mouse-White/product_472620_2-CA_1_20001 http://www.thehumansolution.com/3m-adjustable-foot-rest-fr330.html