This document provides an introduction to office ergonomics. It discusses how to properly set up a work area with an ergonomic chair, monitor at eye level, adjustable keyboard and mouse holders. It emphasizes using neutral postures without twisting or reaching to avoid injury. Taking short breaks to stretch is recommended to prevent issues from repetition or long durations of the same tasks. Bad postures, awkward positions, and improper equipment placement can cause stress and should be avoided. Environmental factors like lighting, noise, and temperature are also addressed.

1. INTRODUCTION TO OFFICE
ERGONOMICS
Presented To:
Dr. A. Bharadwaj
Mech. Engg. Dept.
MNIT Jaipur
Presented By:
Kapil Jain
Gaurav Kumar
Ayush Mathur
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2. Review your Work Area
•We spend most of our day in our
work area.
•We don’t want our work area to
contribute to ergonomic problems
•Ergonomic Rule #1
Work Comfortably!
If most of our work is done in an office continue
If most of our work is done outside of an office continue
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3. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
Use a good CHAIR
Backrest is provides good lower back support
Arms adjustable
Front edge of seat pan
curves down
Height adjustable
Seat pan adjustable
horizontally and
tilts
On rollers
Five feet for base-most stable
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4. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
MONITOR HEIGHT

The position of our head and neck is very important

Place computer monitors
directly in front of us.

The right height is person
dependent- usually the top
of the screen at eye level
(or slightly below for those who
wear bifocals)

Raise the monitor if we
have to look down at it
The screen should be at least an arms length away
(If we can’t see at that distance, get special computer glasses)
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5. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
KEYBOARD STYLES
A variety of styles are available.
Choose one that is comfortable for us.
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6. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
KEYBOARD HOLDER
Keyboard holders should
Tilt
 Provide wrist rests (rest palms not wrist)


Provide space for a mouse
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7. Keyboard Trays
 Keyboard
tray with
adjustability (swivels
left and right, tilts
forward and back,
allows for mouse,
extends to different
heights and positions)
 Position so wrists are
in neutral posture
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8. Neutral Postures Include
Wrist posture
Wrists straight, not bent or twisted
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9. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
MOUSE HOLDERS
Mouse trays or mouse holders can bring a
mouse to a better position
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10. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
MOUSE STYLES
Choose a style comfortable for our hand and fingers
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11. Workplace Ergonomics
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12. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
WORK PLACEMENT

Position equipment so that our body is in a comfortable and
natural position most of the time while we are working.

Don’t place things so we have to reach, twist or bend continually

Place work at monitor height or place in path of monitor

Listen to our body. If we cannot focus or often feel tired or
uncomfortable, We are probably not working in a good position.

See what we can do to make our work more comfortable for us.
Disclaimer: Wait a minute! Though this position may look comfortable, it
is NOT a comfortable position to work in.
Imagine how our back would feel after typing a few pages in this position!
Do not equate comfortable leisure positions with comfortable work positions!
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13. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
Everyone needs a relaxed, neutral position
DO WHAT’S COMFORTABLE FOR OUR BODY!
Wrists straight
Forearms and thighs parallel to the
floor
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14. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
MOUSE POSITION

Mouse should be
close to the
keyboard and the
same height or
slightly higher
NO!
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15. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
Phone PLACEMENT
Should be different for right and left hander
We should not have to twist and reach across our body
every time we answer the phone.
Many people need to spend a lot of time on the phone, and must
often do other tasks at the same time
This creates a lot of stress
for neck and shoulder muscles
Consider a head set if we spend a lot of time on the phone,
especially if we do other tasks at the same time
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16. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
Document PLACEMENT
Place documents so that we don’t
need to bend our head to read while
on keyboard
Consider getting a document holder
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17. Ergonomic STRESSORS
Environmental conditions
Environmental conditions can
influence ergonomic stress.
 Lighting
 Noise
 Temperature
….even at a computer station!
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18. Ergonomic STRESSORS
LIGHTING & MONITOR GLARE

Lighting should be
indirect and adequate

Not too much light,
or it may cause a glare,
headaches and eye
fatigue

If there is a glare on our
eyes as we work, use
anti-glare screens on
computers, or adjustable
blinds at windows
Ideal is 35-50 foot candles
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19. Office Ergonomics-
The right equipment, the right place
GLARE SCREENS
19

20. Have to Consider the Whole
Working Space
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21. COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME
can be prevented
Accommodate our eyes


Use computer eyewear when appropriate
Placement of reference material
and monitor distance should be
comfortable for our eyes
Prevent constant glare


Keep monitor clean
Use:



indirect lighting
non-reflective walls and furniture
anti-glare screens
Exercise our eyes


Periodically focus on object 20 feet away
Blink eyes rapidly if they feel dry
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22. Ergonomic STRESSORS
Noise can be a STRESSOR
 If
our office is near a noise source, close
our door, or wear ear plugs
 Besides
causing ear damage, constant
noise can create extra muscle tension in
the body causing fatigue and making it
easier for ergonomic injuries to occur.
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23. Ergonomic STRESSORS
Temperature
 People
are more prone to ergonomic injuries
in cold environments. Muscles and other
tissues are more tense, because of decreased
circulation.
 Dress
appropriately
 Do
some warm up exercises, such as
stretching our hands, to loosen our finger
muscles before keyboarding.
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24. Ergonomic STRESSORS
FORCE can be a stressor
A
task can require a moderate amount of
force to be applied to very small muscles
 Examples:
Dragging and dropping with the mouse
 Gripping the sides of the mouse or phone tightly
 Pounding on the keyboard
 Grasping thick file folders
 Stapling or stamping
 Opening 3-ring binder
 Lifting heavy manuals with one hand

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25. Ergonomic STRESSORS
MECHANICAL CONTACT STRESS
A hard or sharp surface or object pressing
into the soft tissues, the tendons, nerves
and blood vessels.
 Examples:
Resting wrists on the desk edge while typing or
using mouse
 Leaning elbows on hard chair or armrests or work
surfaces
 Sitting in chair that places pressure on the backs of
the thighs

25

26. Ergonomic STRESSORS
Noise can be a STRESSOR
 If
we work near a constant noise
source, such as generators or
fans, close your door, or wear ear
plugs.
 Besides
causing ear damage,
constant noise can create extra
muscle tension in the body causing
fatigue and making it easier for
ergonomic injuries to occur.
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27. Ergonomic STRESSORS
Noise can be a STRESSOR

If we use equipment which makes loud noise, wear
ear plugs. EH&S can help us find some which are
comfortable and appropriate

Use of most power equipment, machinery, lawn
mowers, and blowers should require ear plugs.
x
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28. Solutions
Individual work routine and habit
Fortunately,
most STRESSORS can be minimized
or eliminated
by individual habits
and work routine.
The solution to most ergonomic
problems is to work comfortably
and avoid a few common
ergonomic pitfalls.
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29. Solutions
Avoid REPETITION
Performing the same or similar motions repeatedly for
extended periods without time for rest and recovery
can lead to discomfort or trauma.
Examples:







Keyboarding, mousing, and 10-keying
Flipping through files & paperwork
Extended reading or writing
Punching or stapling
Pruning or clipping
Painting
Hammering
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30. Solutions
AVOID LONG DURATION OF SAME TASK
 The
length of time spent at a task without
breaks, shifts in position, or stretches is more
important than the actual task.
 The
longer the uninterrupted duration of a
task, the more potential for discomfort or injury
Our bodies are designed to do work.
But the result on the body of doing a
repetitive task for 2 hours verses 6
hours straight is very different.
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31. Solutions
STRETCHES & BREAKS
 Static
positions are our enemy!
 Whenever
we think of it, change position
 Small
frequent stretches go a long way in
preventing MSD’s.
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32. Solutions
Avoid BAD POSTURES
Everyone has seen these….
Slouching over a computer
Propping a phone on shoulder
Bad postures are a primary cause of ergonomic injuries
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33. Solutions
Avoid AWKARD POSITIONS
Awkward positions bend the joints in a way that
they are more likely to become injured.
Examples:








Reaching up and over
Slouching or leaning forward in the chair
Leaning forward or bending over work
Holding heavy items in position
Lifting, pushing pulling
Turning head side to side to view the monitor
Cradling the phone between the ear and shoulder
Typing with bent wrists
AW
PO KW
SIT AR
IO D
NS
cre
ate
ST
RE
SS
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34. Evaluate this office
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35. High risk for wrist
 Monitor
Too close
 Height is good

 Keyboard
On table top (too
high)
 Wrist are extended

 Other

Cat?
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36. Evaluate this office
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37. HELP!!!
 Monitor

Not bad
 Keyboard
and
mouse
Way low
 Arm is extended out
 Worker slouched

 Risk
for wrist, arm,
neck and back
37

38. References



ERGONOMICS HAND BOOK, Fifth
Edition, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario
Workers Inc.
Office Ergonomics-Karl H.E. Kroemer
Research
Paper-Health
and
Performance
Consequences of Office Ergonomic Interventions
Among Computer Workers-Michelle M. Robertson
OFFICE
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39. Suggestion &
Comments…
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