Lori Anne Page Case Study #1 BUS 2302

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BUS 2302, CASE STUDY #1: COMPUTER ERGONOMICS
INTRODUCTION
Good attention to ergonomics in the workplace is very important to our overall health
and well-being. In general terms, those who study the field of ergonomics look at
human interaction with the man-made objects in their environment (TechTerms).
Ultimately, the goal of ergonomics is to create an environment that is well-suited to a
users physical needs (TechTerms).
It is prudent to practice good ergonomics in the
workplace, as it is an important component of a
workers overall health and safety while on the job.
Since poor attention to ergonomics can cause
problems for workers and employees, the Ontario
Ministry of Labour offers an entire list of
publications and guidelines on its website on the
topic of ergonomics in the workplace, at
www.labour.gov.on.ca. According to the Ministry
and many others, bad ergonomics can lead to what
are known as musculoskeletal injuries or disorders.
The specific areas affected by musculoskeletal injuries can be seen in the image to the
above-right. These types of injuries happen because as the Ministry states, we use our
muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints to lift, carry, sit, stand, walk, move and work in a
variety of ways. However, sometimes these tasks or the way we do them can put too
much demand on our bodies, causing pain and discomfort (Ont. Min. of Labour).
The Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), whose website can be
found at www.wsib.on.ca, is another excellent source of information on safe and healthy
workplace behavior. The WSIB specifically advises implementing good ergonomics to
prevent a variety of muscle and joint related discomfort. WSIB suggests to employers
and employees to put in place good ergonomic principles to avoid awkward body
positions, overextended and awkward reaches, repetitive or heavy bending, twisting,
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reaching, lifting, lowering, pushing and pulling, [and] sustained or static exertions
(WSIB).

These assertions could be applied to every type of workplace and workstation possible.
However, for the purposes of this assignment, the focus will be on computer
workstations. In relation to the Ministry of Labours assertion, the website ergonomics-
info.com reports that 95% of an employees time is spent at their desk, in front of their
computer, which is why practicing good computer ergonomics is crucial to preventing
discomfort and injury

A simple search of computer ergonomics on Google, quickly revealed that the most
common types of injuries of this nature are; Repetitive Strain Injuries to the head, neck,
joints and back, which are caused from repetitive motions (Canadian Physical Therapy
Association); Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which can lead to debilitating pain in the hands
and wrists from damage to nerves in the wrist (Mayo Clinic); as well as visual fatigue
and headaches (Padgett Business Services). These types of injuries are no less
damaging to workplace productivity than accidents on the job.
Musculoskeletal injuries account for up to 34% of lost workdays; carpal tunnel syndrome
alone is the cause of 15% of these injuries and 42% of carpal tunnel incidents cost in
excess of 30 sick days per worker (ergonomics-info.com). Statistics Canada (StatsCan)
reports injuries involving the hand and lower-back were the most frequently occurring
injuries (StatsCan). For white-collar workers (i.e.: office workers), injury to the lower
back was most common. Overall, StatsCan found that sprains and strains were more
among office workers, comparative to other professions (StatsCan). It is clear that an
ergonomically sound workstation design and practice good work habits are vital to a
persons health and safety in the workplace as well as their overall well-being
WORKSTATION EVALUATION
The workstation that I chose to examine for the purposes of this assignment is my own.
My desk is located in the basement of my house. I have a laptop computer, with which I
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use a USB mouse. Since my desk is not very long, I have placed a small table beside it
to hold textbooks, notebooks and other school-related materials. My chair is a black
executive chair that sits on a four-wheel
base and is able to rotate 360 degrees. I
spend anywhere from one to four hours at
a time at my desk each day, primarily for
studying and doing homework.
Excellent guidelines for designing and
evaluating the ergonomics of a workstation
can be found online at the University of
Pennsylvanias (UPenn) Environmental Health & Radiation Safety department website
and also on the Ontario Ministry of Labour website. I have elected to use information
from these two sources when evaluating my own workstation. In some instances, I did
find areas that require improvement, and others that do not need any upgrading as they
are fine as is.
The categories I examined are discussed in the following paragraphs;
Laptop & Peripherals;
When using a laptop computer, the Ministry of Labour suggests tilting the screen at 110-
150 degree angle. My screen is tilted at approximately 95 degrees. I have tried tilting it
back further, but this causes more problems for me than it solves. The most
comfortable angle for me is between 90 and 100 degrees. The Ministry also advises
the purchase of a separate keyboard and/or mouse. While I do have a separate mouse,
I do not have a separate keyboard. The mouse is useful to me, as I do not enjoy using
the computers track pad. In my specific situation, purchasing another keyboard is
unnecessary and impractical. If I had wanted to have a separate keyboard, I would
have bought a stand-alone, tower-style computer. As a student, I do need to have a
personal computer to bring with me to class on occasion. A traditional machine is not
suitable for my individual needs. I have not had any issues using a laptop as my
primary computer. There is no need for improvement in this category. SCORE: 10/10
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Seating;
To me, this is the most important element to a safe and comfortable workstation. As I
have lingering pain from a back injury, I am acutely aware of chairs and their suitability.
A bad chair can quite frankly, lead to a world of hurt in my case. This is why I was
particularly careful when choosing a chair for my
workstation. Every workplace safety resource I examined
advised similar rules for seating at computer workstations
that the chair in question has good head, neck and lumbar
(lower back) support and be on a five-wheel base. As you
can see from the photo in the top right corner of this page,
my chair meets these requirements. Although not seen in
this photo, I have a plastic mat on the area just in front of
my desk where my chair normally sits, so that I can move
around more easily the carpeted floor. I really do enjoy this
chair and find it be extremely comfortable. There is no need for improvement in this
category. SCORE: 10/10
Placement of Documents;
As noted on the UPenn website, improper
placement of documents can cause
awkward viewing angles which in turn can
lead to awkward postures. This is the one
area where my workstation requires the
most improvement. As can be seen from
this photo to the above right, and the larger
photo of my desk at the beginning of this
section, my papers and books are to the left of my computer. I am forever turning my
head, and thus my neck to left of my laptop when working with documents and books.
Both UPenn and the Ministry of Labour advise the purchase of a document holder which
will enable safer viewing angles. SCORE: 4/10
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Lighting:
Having good lighting conditions at ones workstation is always a major safety issue. If a
worker cannot see what they are doing, accidents and thus injuries can and will occur.
Paper-based work is very common when it comes to office and/or computer tasks.
Excessive lighting can cause glare, which in turn, as the Ministry of Labour states can
cause [the] eyes try to adapt to these large differences and visual fatigue and
discomfort may result. In addition, the computer operator may adopt a poor posture
while trying to reduce the glare by changing his or her orientation to the screen. This
may result in neck and back pain (Ont. Min. of Labour). Not only do poor lighting
conditions put strain on the eyes, it can also strain muscles and joints when a person
attempts to compensate.
In the basement where my desk is located, the overhead
lighting is very good. I do not have problems with glare. The
basement was renovated in 2010 and new pot lighting was
installed in the ceiling at that time. There are a total of 20
small-sized lights in the basement ceiling, and brightness can
be adjusted via a set of three dimmer switches. Many of the
light bulbs were recently replaced, as they had begun to burn
out. The ceiling is very uneven, due to the household
ventilation and water pipes. My desk lies partially under an area
where there are no lights, as the vent system is directly under the drywall. I do have
problems with shadows falling on my work at times. To deal with this issue, I have a
small desk lamp. There are some difficulties with this arrangement though; my little
lamp sits on the top left corner of my desk. If I need to use it, I must reach to get it. The
switch for the lamp hangs just below the lamp itself, again requiring me to reach to grab
it. The light itself is very bright, but it is very small. I may have to seek out a larger
lamp, perhaps a floor lamp instead of a desk lamp. SCORE: 8/10
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Wrist Support:
Since Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is an injury to the wrist, ensuring that a computer
workstation is equipped with good wrist support is crucial. UPenn points out that resting
ones wrist on the desktop leads to bent wrist postures and advises the use of a wrist
rest to minimize this. The Ministry of Labour advises the same, and adds that when
working at a computer, workers should not
grip their mouse too tightly and move the
mouse using the shoulder muscles as
opposed to those in the wrist, as it better
distributes muscular demands and reduces
wrist movements and static loading (Ont.
Min. of Labour). In my situation, I do have a
tendency to bend my wrists while typing, and
often find my right hand, which I use to hold my mouse, at an awkward angle. I do feel
mild discomfort on occasion. Improvements here would likely come in the form of the
suggested wrist rest and a more wrist-friendly mouse pad. The mouse that I use is
already ergonomically designed and my hand fits comfortably over it. SCORE: 8/10
Work-Rest Routine
A good work-rest routine is also a vital component to proper workplace ergonomics
When one spends too long of a period sitting at their desk, physical and visual
discomfort can occur, in addition to mental fatigue. As the Ministry of Labour points out,
spending too long in even the safest posture, can take a toll. It does not matter how
well ones workstation has been designed (Ont. Min. of Labour). Sit too long at it, and
there is bound to be discomfort. To prevent this from occurring, the Ministry
recommends frequent short breaks, rather than extended breaks after extended work
periods (Ont. Min. of Labour). Stepping away from the computer for short periods of
time is the most effective work-rest method.
As I have a back injury, sitting for too long causes me some degree of pain, even in my
very good chair. I also have a habit of studying just a little too intensely at times, and
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become extremely frustrated when dealing with difficult subjects. For lack of better
words, my brain refuses to think any longer in these instances, thus causing mental
fatigue. I have lots of room for improvement in this area, as I have yet to find the right
work-rest balance for my study time. SCORE: 8/10
SUMMARY OF NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS
Factor Score (out of 10) Cost
Laptop & Peripherals 10 $0.00
Seating 10 $0.00
Placement of Documents 4 $69.95
Lighting 8 $173.87
Wrist Support 8 $83.83
Work-Rest Routine 8 $0.00
TOTAL (out of 60) 48
TOTAL (% out of 60) 80%
TOTAL: Cost $327.65
TOTAL: Monthly Payment $14.37
Laptop &
Peripherals
Seating
Placement of
Documents
Lighting
Wrist Support
Work-Rest
Routine
Reference:
www.staples.ca. Staples
Canada. Retrieved June
4, 2012
Note: this is a combined
total. Selected wrist
rest cost, $44.19 and
select wrist rest
mousepad, $39.64

In examining my personal computer workstation, I found that no improvements were
needed in the Laptop and Peripherals category, or in the Seating category. The areas
that require improvement are; Placement of Documents, Lighting, Wrist Support and
Work-Rest Routine. While it is solely up to me to adjust my work-rest balance, I chose
to find improvements in the other categories on the Staples Canada website. Staples is
a leading office/business supply retailer, and I trust the name. I have previously
purchased many items from Staples, including the chair discussed in this assignment.
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After examining my personal home workstation, I was happy to find out that it needs
little improvement. I use my desk primarily for schoolwork, and planned for it before
beginning classes. I already had the desk (purchased in 2009), and the chair and
laptop computer were purchased earlier this year, in February. Thankfully, I found that
little else had to be done to improve my workstation.
The areas that do require improvement, although small, are nevertheless important. By
making the needed improvements, I will be able to use my workstation more
comfortably and efficiently. The cost of these improvements is relatively low, and
therefore would not put much strain on my household budget.

















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REFERENCES
Canadian Physical Therapy Association. Healthy computer habits: tips for you and your
family. Retrieved on June 2, 2012 from
http://www.physiotherapy.ca/PublicUploads/222460ComputerErgonomics.pdf
Ergonomics-Info. (2012). Ergonomics in the workplace. Retrieved June 2, 2012 from
http://www.ergonomics-info.com/ergonomics-in-the-workplace.html
Mayo Clinic. (2012). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Retrieved June 4 2012 from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/DS00326
Ontario Ministry of Labour. (2012). Musculoskeletal Disorders / Ergonomics. Retrieved
June 4, 2012 from http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/topics/pains.php
Ontario Ministry of Labour. (2012). Computer Ergonomics: Workstation Layout and
Lighting- Health and Safety Guidelines. Retrieved June 2, 2012 from
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/comp_erg/index.php
Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) Fact
Sheet. Retrieved June 4 2012 from
http://www.wsib.on.ca/files/Content/Fact%20Sheet_English5160A/5160A_Musc
oskeletal_Disorders.pdf
Padgett Business Services. (2012). Rest breaks for computer operators. Retrieved on
June 2,2012 from http://www.padgettlondon.com/smallbizresources/articles/rest
breaks for-computer-operators/
Statistics Canada. (2007). Work injuries: findings. Retrieved June 5 from
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2006007/article/injuries
blessures/4149017-eng.htm#a5
TechTerms.com. (2012). Ergonomics. Retrieved on June 2, 2012 from
http://www.techterms.com/definition/ergonomics
University of Pennsylvania- Environmental Health and Radiation Safety. (2012).
Problems and Solutions. Retrieved June 2, 2012 from
http://www.ehrs.upenn.edu/programs/occupat/ergo/computer/solutions.html
IMAGES
Bad posture Retrieved June 5 2012 from
http://ergonomics.about.com/od/office/ss/computer_setup.htm
All other images from personal collection of Lori Anne Page
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COSTS
www.staples.ca. Staples Canada. Retrieved June 4, 2012