Internet Ergonomics

Major Benefits of Using Ergonomic Chairs

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There are many benefits that come with the use of ergonomic chairs that most people can well depend on. The main purpose of these chairs are to give you less discomfort on your legs, wrist, back, and neck, while sitting at a desk. These chairs are known for their good advantages.
These types of office chairs prioritize the position of the person. Your position is very important, especially if you are someone who spends all day sitting down. These ergonomic chairs have seats with comfortable cushions. All of the parts of your body that get tired easily, ergonomic chairs take care of them. The back rest that is featured on ergonomic chairs are very helpful to maintain the right angle while you are sitting at a desk. These chairs can help prevent things such as back aches, and many more. They help the spine as well as all parts of the back get some type of support. Even the head rest that are on these chairs help people to recline and rest their heads in the midst of their work. There are many beneficial adjustments that come with an ergonomic chair.They can be specially ordered online if you prefer that.

Tips on Ergonomics in the Workplace

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Work environments effect work performance. That is, if you are in any discomfort, it will distract you from the task you are being paid to do. For this reason many employers are getting on the band wagon for employee comfort. If your employer is not one of the enlightened, there are still some things you can do to increase comfort levels both at work and at home. There were good reasons we were told to sit straight at the table, and don’t slouch when we were children. These time tested simple habits have been given a new modern look and go by the name of ergonomics now, but these simple things are often overlooked when re-vamping work space.
1. When seated, sit with your back straight. Good back posture will help prevent backaches, headaches associated with working at a desk. Place computer screens at eye level to reduce neck tension and eye strain.
2. When standing, Stand with shoulders in alignment with hips and feet. When possible, equally distribute weight to prevent lower back pain when working standing up.
3. When work includes repetitive motion, take 30 seconds every 10 minutes and relax or stretch the affected muscle. This will reduce the chances of suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.You thought this was good? Brace yourself: America’s shame before the world

Workplace Ergonomics: How to Set Up Your Computer Workstation

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

With a growing number of people spending a majority of their workweek in front of a computer monitor, there has been a new focus on developing the proper safety protocols in this area to prevent some of the health risks associated with such a prolonged, rigid working situation. First off, it is important to keep in mind that ideal ergonomic design is individualized; however, these pointers can be used to accommodate anyone with a personal or a shared work space. Starting from the top, the computer monitor should be at or just below eye level. A document holder should be positioned near the monitor at the same height. Your neck should be aligned with your spine, and your shoulders should be relaxed. A headset is recommended for extended phone use. Your arms should be at your sides with your elbows bent at or slightly less than 90 degrees. Your hands should be as straight as possible while typing and in line with your forearms. Your chair should be supporting your lower back, and your feet should be resting flat on the floor or on a foot rest. Basically, listen to your body, take breaks when needed, and avoid undue stress.The information party rocks on: CNET’s top 3D monitors

Office Ergonomics – What’s Changing

admin — Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Supervisors everywhere are paying more attention to the science of ergonomics. Making workers happier, both physically and mentally, is good for productivity rates and job morale as well. Here are a few of the ways employers are trying hard to capitalize on the ergonomic properties of their office.
Fun Chairs – some offices are ditching the straight backed desk chair of the past and moving to cooler, more functional office furniture. Nowadays it’s not uncommon to find items like beanbag chairs or plush couches in a modern office.
Room to Roam – employers are realizing it’s important to let employees take a break and stretch their legs every now and then. All over the country, wireless internet providers are signing up new customers who want mobile Internet connections, and new offices are being built with walking space in mind.
Computer Accessories – software companies are making computer accessories more ergonomic than ever and office are jumping on items like hand-friendly mice and keyboards. Even things like computer screens are being made adjustable so each employee can be as comfortable as possible.

How Ergonomics Can Improve Health and Safety

admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Ergonomics is the science of adapting equipment to the human body. Correct design and proper posture during an activity can reduce an employee’s chance of repetitive stress industries. While most people thinking of ergonomics as applying to the design of office equipment, the science entails far more than just designing office environments. Engineers that design workspace layouts need to worry about the layout as well.

Insurance companies will go out of their way to prove an injury did not happen at work, but this is neither what can nor should occur. If a business wants to reduce the insurance premiums it pays and not worry about claims that come later, the business should worry about the health of its employees.

Designing ergonomics will also improve the overall safety of the work environment. Accidents that clearly occur on the job involve paying worker’s compensation. While all of the information is important, it does not tell you how the design can improve workplace safety.

Designing workplaces in the right way in the first place reduces the chance for accidents to occur on the job. Any business owner will agree that the best accident his business can suffer from is an accident that does not happen.

Ignorance of (Rohmert’s) law excuses no one

www.internetergonomics.com — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:37:59 +0000

From its inception, ergonomics was the study of the natural laws of work. Rohmert’s law describes one of those lawsalthough no one’s quite sure who Rohmert is. Simply put, the law states that the maximum force that an individual’s muscles can exert decreases exponentially from the time the exertion begins. Exponential decay is decrease at a rate proportional to its value, modeled by the equation N(t) N₀e(- ?t). Human factors and ergonomics researchers use this law to find the “maximum holding time” in a given situation.The force decays due to the way in which energy is supplied to the muscles. The human circulatory system continuously sends nutrients to muscles so that there is always a ready supply of energy. Any task requiring maximum force will use most of that energy all at once, which the circulatory system will then attempt to replenish. However, it cannot do so at a rate faster than that which the body is using.An extrapolation of Rohmert’s law is its inverse: the less force an individual exerts, the longer that force can be exerted. In a theoretical equilibrium situation (in which no force is being exerted), a person can hold that position for an infinite amount of time.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: What It Is

www.internetergonomics.com — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 19:23:46 +0000

It’s often a joke in office-related humor (“I’m going to get carpal tunnel syndrome going through all these reports”), but as is often the case, the joking hides a grim truth. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) does affect people all over the world, and once detected, the treatment can be quite invasive.CTS affects the median nerve travelling through the carpal tunnel (the passageway in the wrist that connects the forearm to the palm). Specifically, CTS refers to a compression of that nerve, which results in numbness and/or tingling in the fingers, pain in the wrists, and pain in the arm and shoulder. People afflicted with CTS also experience swelling of the hand, which seems to worsen at night. If left untreated, the muscles involved can atrophy.So what exactly causes CTS? There are some risk factors. Women are three times more likely to experience this particular neuropathy, which is believed to be due to the smaller size of the carpal tunnel in women. Other risk factors include arthritis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, obesity, and trauma. However, anything that exerts pressure on the tunnel can lead to CTS. Office humor suggests that many people believe repetitive tasks and posture (such as those experienced at work) can lead to CTS. A scientific review by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health did find that repetitive acts and postures were associated with CTS, but did not establish causation. Nonetheless, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued rules regarding cumulative trauma disorders of this type. The fact that CTS is most often found in the working population does suggest that it is somehow associated with the work areait’s just not quite clear how yet.It is believed that the use of ergonomic work equipment can help prevent CTS. This includes wrist rests and mouse pads, as well as keyboard alternatives like voice recognition that prevent continuous typing. It’s also believed that regular breaks and anti-inflammatory vitamins can contribute to CTS prevention.