الله الله بسم بسمالّرحيم الّرحيم الّرحمن الّرحمن

How we can prevent MSDs?

In laptop & desktop usersIn laptop & desktop users..

Using Ergonomics’ principles.

Science of fitting the job to the worker

Reduces exposure to MSD risk factors

Involves engineering and administrative controls

Ergonomics

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the discipline that matches the job to the worker

and product to the user.

Relation between pain and work experience

0102030405060708090

100

pain complaint

0-1year2years3years4years5yearsabove 5 years

Relation between pain and work’s hours

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

pain complaint

1 till 5 per day

5 till 10 per day

10 till 15 perday

Facilities percentage

Internet 90

E-mail 83

Word processing 76

Games 17

programming 14

The distribution of the pain perception reported by the respondents

Study in India

stress in 35% .

visual problems in 76% ,

musculoskeletal problems in 77.5%

Who’s At Risk?

Nearly everyone, but women report more incidents of discomfort

Low motivation

Poor workstation design

Office of Horrors

Workstation Ergonomics

.

Workstation Design

Chairs Monitors Keyboards Pointer/Mouse Wrist/Palm Support Document Holders Desks Telephones Footrests

                                                                           

Using monitorUsing monitor

Glare

Computer Monitor

Directly in front of you

Arm’s length away Proper height Documents placed

close to monitor

It is observed that

occurrence of visual

problem is related more to number of hours spent

gazing at the screen than

number of years

PreventionTask rotationGet a professional eye examinationControl the lights & the monitor

Enough light on documentsEliminate glare

Rearrange the workstation Anti-glare screen

Eye Strain

HorizontalHorizontal

Vertical

Correct glareCorrect glare

Appropriate BreaksAppropriate Breaks Breaks are not always rest periods

Balance work activities with worker “biorhythms”

Change position and tasks at least every two hours

Tasks must use different muscle groups and vary requirements for posture, pinch and grip

TemperatureTemperature

At 18.8 degrees Celsius workers typed 54 percent of the time and with a 25 percent error rate. When the temperature was raised 25 degrees Celsius the workers were typing 100 percent of the time and with a 10 percent error rate.

Low back painLow back pain

When these curves become either exaggerated or flattened, the spine increasingly depends on muscles, ligaments and soft tissue to maintain erect.

Ergonomic Chair: Seat Surface

Comfortable Slightly wider

than hips/thighs Proper length Adjustable height Adjustable tilt

Ergonomic Chair: Back and Armrest

Backrest Angle adjustable Adjustable lumbar support Armrest Broad and cushioned Supports shoulders,

elbows and wrists Adjustable height and side-to-side

Computer Workstation: Legs and Feet

Knees bent about 90 degrees

Thighs parallel to the floor Chair at comfortable

height Remove any obstructions

to your legs and feet

Ergonomic Risk Factors

1. Repetitive Motions 2. Forceful Exertions3. Awkward Postures4. Contact Stress

Common MSDs

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (wrist)

Tendinitis Tenosynovitis

(thumb) Cubital Tunnel

(elbow) Trigger Finger

Task Rotation & BreaksSome companies have actually installed software that “shuts down” the system for regular breaks

Other companies have organized or signaled breaks

These can be aggravating, as they interrupt a task in progress

Neutral Keyboard Position

Elbows close to the body

Wrists flat and in line with the forearms

Hands not angled up/down or turned in/out

No wrist rests when typing

Sample Keyboard and Mouse Trays

Adjustable Keyboard

Height adjustable In a tilting

keyboard tray Detachable from the

computer monitor Keystroke pressure

comfortable for the user

Using a Mouse

Control mouse movement from your elbow

Wrist straight and neutral

Locate mouse close to you with no reach

Float mouse – Do Not Grip the mouse

Laptop usersLaptop users

Laptop usersLaptop users

Laptop usersLaptop users

Laptop usersLaptop users

For students

Desks

Work Surface Depth Location of Frequently Used Devices Should be Located in

Repetitive Access Zone

              

                                              

Recommended Zones for Workplace Components

Telephones

Head sets can help avoid neck and shoulder strain for telephone use.

                                                

Ideal Office

Hand, Wrist, and Shoulder Stretches

Hand, Wrist, and Shoulder Stretches

•A proper understanding of ergonomics is critical.

•“Matches” is the key word. It means that ergonomics is process, not a product.

By : Mahdi salariMSc OT

20/11/2009Malaysia. Selangor