There has been, and continues to be, a misconception about office workers. As the majority of their day is sitting down at a workstation, it is viewed as a “cushy office job” that does not pose any health risk to an individual. However, the reality is that working 8 to 9 hours at a desk does not mean that an office worker isn’t vulnerable to hazards like an industrial worker on an assembly line. Whether an immediate injury or something that has developed over a period of time, office workers can be just as prone to musculoskeletal disorders, discomfort or other injuries. Working in awkward positions over a long period of time or exposure to hazards and risks can cause these injuries and some can even be long term.
Our ergonomic consultants have conducted many ergonomic assessments in office environments where poor workstation set up, lighting that is too bright or too dim, cramped work spaces and poor furniture are just a few things that have resulted in ergonomic risks. The following is a short list of disorders that an ergonomist or health and safety nurse may observe:
- severe carpal tunnel syndrome (one client must sleep with wrist splints);
- risk of obesity – sedentary job, lifestyle and poor nutrition
- neck and shoulder pain
- back pain – mild to severe
- pain in legs and hips
- risk to health due to exposure to harsh chemicals such as cleaning fluids or allergic reactions to these chemicals or even food products.
So what solutions would an ergonomist suggest for some of these injuries? The following are a few ideas that might be recommended. However, keep in mind that having a professional come to your site is the best option to addressing your staff’s needs.
- Ensure staff are taking breaks, getting up from their desk for scheduled breaks or some light movement and stretching, to reduce the risks associated with static sitting. It may be tempting to just plow through lunch to get an assignment done but taking a short break could actually boost productivity.
- When typing or using the mouse, make sure office staff maintain a neutral wrist position (flat and parallel to the work surface) and preferably not resting on a hard surface.
- Reduce reaches by having the individual sit closer to the desk or moving the keyboard and mouse closer to the individual .
- Make sure the chair is suited for their size – fully adjustable chairs are recommended with the proper seat pan size and make sure it has lumbar support. Make sure it’s adjusted properly so they are sitting and working comfortably.
- If working at a fixed height workstation that is too high for his or her feet to touch the ground, discourage staff from tucking their feet under the seat and rest them on the base. Among other things, this can block proper circulation in the legs. If you can’t lower the workstation, get them a foot rest.
- Educate your employees on living healthy at home and at work. Provide brown bag sessions on health related topics as well as workstation set up, hazard recognition, proper disposal of hazardous products, dealing with stress, and even basic first aid and emergency evacuation procedures
Therefore, when considering an ergonomic intervention plan, remember to include any office staff in addition to industrial workers at your site. Having office and administration staff working in comfort and reducing risk of injury is just as important to the health of your organization as those who do heavy manual labour.