office ergonomics calculator - workplace safety … · designing the working environment to ensure...

Office Ergonomics CalculatorPresented by Chelsie Baizana, B.Sc, M.Sc

Trevor Schell, M.Sc, CCPE

Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. Prevention Through Intervention

Defining Ergonomics

“The Science of studying people at work, and then designing the working environment to ensure that

they can be safe, healthy, effective and comfortable”.

GOAL IS TO fit the job to the worker NOT TO fit the worker to the job


Your Chair – The Base

5 casters (more stable) Casters within circumference of seat pan Use hard casters for soft floors (carpet) Use soft casters for hard floors (tile)


Your Chair – The Seat Pan

Rounded front edge (waterfall) Reduce chance of contact stress at the back of the knees and thighs

Adjustable seat slope Forward or backward tilt

Adjustable seat pan depth


Your Chair – The Fist Test



Buttock-to-Popliteal Length: Buttock-to-popliteal length is measured as the

horizontal distance from the back of the buttock to the back of the knee

This value defines the maximum seat depth for a chair to ensure that pressure on the underside of the thigh is not excessive


Your Chair – Seat Height

Measure the vertical distance from the floor to the underside of the knee

Front of knees level or slightly below the top of the chair


Your Chair – Seat Height


Your Chair – Armrests

Allows shoulders to relax Supports arm weight Relieves neck tension

Adjustable Width adjustability option Height Slide forward and backward

Can be changed/removed


Your Chair - Summary

Always choose comfort and function over aesthetics Purchase adjustable equipment


Keyboard Trays

Want elbow joint at 90° with shoulders relaxed

Some may feel more comfortable with elbow joint greater than 90°

Keep arms close to body


Average Desk Height = 75cm

Men Anthropometric Data – Seated Elbow Height

Women Anthropometric Data – Seated Elbow Height

No Keyboard Tray?


Keyboard Trays to Avoid


Keyboard Trays to Avoid

Tray with slide-out platform for the mouse: tray is unsteady, and causes user to lean on the right hip

Rail keyboard trays: are not adjustable in height or angle

Small keyboard trays: no space for the mouse, which causes user to place the mouse on the desk


Ideal Keyboard Trays

Sturdy surface Angle and height

adjustability 65 cm in width


Wrist Rest

Improves wrist angle while typing and reduces pressure point on wrists


Screen Height - AVOID

When the monitor is too low, the neck is flexed

When the monitor to too high, the neck is extended

When the monitor is not directly in front of the user, the neck is twisted


Screen Height - Ideal

The monitor should be: Directly in front of user Situated at seated eye level Arm’s length away from user


Office Ergonomics Calculator!

www.ohcow.on.ca/ergotools


Office Ergonomics Calculator


Use your ID!

Send your ID to an Ergonomist

Send your ID to your JHSC

Send your ID to Purchasing

Send your ID to Supervisor


Tool for workers• Easy to use

• 7% error rate

Joint Health and Safety Committees• Reduces assessment costs for average workers

Professionals • In the field - can be used on smartphone, tablet, or desktop

• Add ideal measurements to ergonomic reports

Purchasing• Cost reduction associated with purchasing the wrong equipment

Benefits


Limitations

Promotes static postures• Postural variety is key!

Some anatomical structures are difficult to measure• Human error in measurements

It’s a tool, not an assessment!• Does not address medical conditions

• Does not address workspace layout

• More tailored solutions may be required

No recommendations provided• Assumes you have proper equipment


For More Information Contact your Local

OHCOW Clinic

1-877-817-0336

www.ohcow.on.ca

• HAMILTON• OTTAWA• SARNIA-LAMBTON • SUDBURY

• THUNDER BAY• TORONTO• WINDSOR

http://www.ohcow.on.ca/

office ergonomics calculator - workplace safety … · designing the working environment to ensure...

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