Ergonomics
Office Space Safety
There are more hazards associated with the 9-5 office job than meets the eye. I recently became a small business owner and my work week increased, as a result, so too did the hours I spent at parked in front of my computer. Working at a desk and behind a computer screen isn’t as safe or as comfortable as it seems. Sure there’s air condition and minimal (if any) physical labor but occupational hazards are on the rise as work weeks get longer and increase in hours. I can certainly attest to that as my hands, wrists, neck, spine and the muscles in my back all simultaneously turned against me. I couldn’t figure out why at first. I’m in my mid twenties and in fairly good health but I felt old and just about every bone in my body was aching. I was clueless and didn’t know what to do. I am a graphic and web designer and I need to sit at a computer in order to work but it wasn’t until I absolutely couldn’t sit because of the extreme discomfort that I realized it was the way I was sitting that was the problem.
Sitting causes back pain?
According to John J. Triano, DC, PhD.,”Sitting in an office chair for prolonged periods of time can definitely cause low back pain or worsen an existing back or neck problem. The main reason behind this is that sitting, in an office chair or in general, is a static posture that increases stress in the back, neck, shoulders, arms and legs, and in particular, can add large amounts of pressure to the back muscles and spinal discs.”
Also, The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) states that the profession of an Office Worker poses the highest risk of back pain (more than any other occupation!!). Tim Hutchful of the BCA stated, “It is assumed that those most at risk from back pain are the ones who have very physical jobs however, as this research has unveiled, whilst lifting and carrying are still common triggers for back pain, it is those with less physically demanding jobs and who are often seated for the majority of the day that could be most prone to back problems.” The same study conducted by the BCA revealed that 59% of the working population sits down all day at work (generally 8 hours or more) and nearly 50% of those who work refuse to leave their desks even during their lunch break.
Although sitting involves less muscular effort than such physically demanding occupations as construction or firefighting, sitting still requires the muscles to hold the torso, neck, head and shoulders in a fixed position causing pain and even fatigue. It is important to keep in mind that employees that can readily alternate sitting with other body positions may not be at risk for injury or discomfort when sitting at work. However, the same isn’t true for those who must sit for long periods with little room for deviation. A fixed working position squeezes the blood vessels in the muscles and reduces their blood supply. Furthermore, an insufficient blood supply has also been proven to accelerate fatigue and make muscles prone to injury. Back pain and other types of discomfort are common problems for those who sit in front of a computer screen all day, but as I scoured the web searching for solutions I’ve discovered that there are steps one can take to reduce and alleviate the contributing factors.
Ergonomics
Although it is important to recognize the user/operator/employee is a critical factor in the workplace and key in minimizing and preventing on-the-job injuries it is equally important to recognize that there are tools designed to help make the workplace a safer and more comfortable place. Designing the job and workplace to fit the worker is just one step in making the workplace as safe as possible.There are tons of ergonomic office equipment in the marketplace all designed to reduce the strain and impact of workplace tasks and increase workplace comfort and safety. From keyboards to office chairs, desks to computer mouses…the options are endless. But wait!!!
Before you run out and buy most expensive and state-of-the art equipment examine your workplace and work habits. Not only was I suffering from intense back pain, I was also forced into buying a wrist brace that I alternated from arm to arm since using both of my hands and wrists also became extremely uncomfortable. As a graphic and web designer it is important for me to have state-of-the-art equipment so I already had an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, a fancy flat screen monitor, task lighting and the like but the root of my pain and discomfort were my working habits. I wasn’t taking breaks (to walk around, rest my eyes or stretch my fingers or arms) and I wasn’t using a proper work chair (the proportions and angle of the chair I had were all wrong…I was using a chair that I stole from my patio set because it was cute and matched my decor. Definitely not the smartest move I ever made because the chair was not at all designed for intense usage and it was not at all comfortable. I added pillows and tried adjusting the angles but nothing ever worked). With the pressure I was putting on my back and the strain on my hands, wrists and elbows it was almost no wonder I became injured. What was a wonder was that all of it could have been avoided had I recognized the importance of operator applied ergonomics and workplace set-up and design.
