This is also exciting for the rest of us as EWI Works is now the only ergonomic consulting company who employs five full time certified ergonomists. This means that our clients can be sure that our consultants are providing services that meet the highest quality in standards.

There is a long process involved in becoming certified - as you may have read in one of our previous blogs. So this is a great honor for both Willms and the rest of the gang at EWI!

Congratulations Kirsten!

Here are the recommendations that our ergonomist made:

Investigate the feasibility of modifications to the control panel to enable greater adjustability and subsequently minimize awkward postures. The following design goals are recommended:

1.  
   1. Minimize forward and above shoulder reach for frequently-used controls
   2. Minimize leaning forward in the seat; enable Operators to sit back in the chair in a neutral, supported posture.
   3. Improve clearance beneath the panel and support for the legs and feet when seated.

 To achieve these design goals, the following options may be considered:

1.  
   1. Investigate the feasibility of repositioning frequently used controls toward the bottom of the panel. If no further changes are made to the panel arm, this would minimally help to reduce some of the awkward postures associated with reaching for the controls.
   2. In combination with the above recommendation, investigate the feasibility of installing a mechanism to enable height adjustability within the control panel to better accommodate the range of statures with the Operators. In particular, height adjustability would enable Operators to position the panel to minimize above shoulder reaching and to improve clearance beneath the panel for the legs when seated.
   3. Investigate the feasibility of reducing the size of the control panel, including height, width and depth. The size of the panel, and in particular the depth, presently limits the effectiveness of the above recommendations. For example, the depth of the panel will limit the amount of clearance a worker has to put his/her legs under the panel regardless of the height that the panel is set at. Tilting the panel into an upright position is not recommended since it may potentially introduce concerns associated with pressing and operating the controls, as well as impairing line of sight to the surrounding machinery.

 Once a final decision is made on the above options, EWI always offers to assist in providing specific design criteria.  In this case, we recommend a follow up consultation to assist with the specifics in the positioning of the panel, based on worker anthropometry and the nature of the tasks.

 In addition to modifications of the control panel, the following were also suggested:

1.  
   1. Reduce requirement to look at bars moving downstream from the control panel. The ergonomist suggested using a computer monitor instead to reduce having to peer over the panel and producing an awkward posture.
   2. Rotation of workers every 4 hours if standing to use panel. In this case, the company does already have shift rotation in place.
   3. Ergonomic training for the employees - the ergo training should teach the workers how to reduce risks through taking micro breaks, perform work break stretches and adapt proper body positions when working, learn to identify MSI symptoms and report them to a supervisor.

The client is involved in steel production. At the workstation requiring an assessment, cooled bars of steel are cut as they arrive along a conveyor where the Operator uses a control panel to manually operate the  shear. The control panel consists of several manually operated controls used for every cut and is suspended by a semi-fixed overhead hoist and boom. During operation, the Operator needs to be able to watch the upstream conveyor, as well as downstream after the cut is made. Operators may choose to either sit or stand, or both, throughout their turn at the panel.

The operators are rotated every four hours at this station. Over this time, our ergonomist noted the following awkward postures that were deemed moderate risks for MSIs:

• Excessive reaches
• Bent/tilted head and neck
• Leaning forward or sideways
• Twisting the back

These risks are mainly caused by both the panel design and the Operators’ work practices. The following is an excerpt from the ergonomist’s report to describe the causes of the risks:

• Panel design: The panel is semi-fixed and can be turned and swivelled left to right but cannot adjust in height or angle to accommodate a variety of employee statures. As a result, the controls near the top of the panel tend to be at a reach, especially when in a seated posture. This reach is increased further due to the inability to adjust the height of the panel. Workers are generally unable to position the chair with the legs under the panel, due to the overall size of the panel, which is 30″ (H) by 30″ (W) by 13″ (D). The depth particularly creates an inability to position the legs underneath the panel when seated. Therefore, the Operators must sit further away, leading to an increased reach as well.
  • The Operator needs to be able to look into the shear to examine the bars. Depending on the location of the panel relative to the Operator’s position, the Operator may be tilting their head/neck to the side to view around the panel. The panel itself is large and not adjustable and impedes view of the shear (upstream and downstream) from a seated position.
  • The Operators also needed to turn to look far upstream on the conveyor to examine the bars prior to arriving to the shear. The Operators have to stand semi-perched on a footstool to raise themselves higher to gain a better view.
• Position of controls on the panel: Controls used most often are positioned near the top of the panel, which leads to frequent reaching.

 Next time, I’ll discuss some of the recommendations the EWI ergonomist made to help reduce the risks for MSIs.

• 1. weight - heavier than a hand held
• 2. portability - bigger than an iPod or other similar device - smaller than a laptop.
• 3. viewing angle - needs to be held up or propped up. This can either cause strain on the hands and arms to hold it at an angle where the screen can be viewed properly or requires a poor sitting posture where the neck is bent, causing strain. Apple’s answer was a dock - which leads to a portability issue in itself.
• 4. typing - difficult to input data without the Apple keyboard attachment

While the above issues seem to be the most common complaint on a lot of blogs and product reviews, one must keep in mind that a product’s benefits depends on what you are using it for. Laptops, for example, are still not a replacement for a regular computer that comes equipped with a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse. Working an 8 hour day on a regular laptop will also result in discomfort to the user.

So what is the actual intention of the iPad? Certainly, it isn’t meant to replace the laptop or a computer. It’s a handy device but has Apple claimed that it is the answer to bulky laptops or non-portable computers when typing an office report or college essay? It’s intention, maybe the fault of Apple marketing and advertising or perhaps it’s target market’s comprehension of what the iPad is meant to do,  is a little misunderstood.

Let’s look at the actual functions of the iPad. Apple does not say “perfect for working on office projects while you are on a plane to Mexico.” The direct quote from the website says “The best way to experience the web, email, photos, and video. Hands down.” The iPad is a larger version of the iTouch or iPhone - and I would rather check my email on the iPad’s larger screen than on my teeny iPhone screen! It really isn’t any different than holding a large hardcover book. Another use is one that our very own Linda Miller came up with - it can easily replace the clipboard and paper when making notes or filling in a check sheet when conducting an assessment and then transferring it to your computer workstation.

If your intent is to replace your laptop or home computer, you best buy the accessories to make it more ergonomically sound. It will need the docking station for reading a book or even reviewing reports. It could also use a separate keyboard if you plan on actually typing your Philosophy 101 final essay in Starbucks. Remember, even a laptop isn’t meant for prolonged use without using peripherals.

Cognition is how we think or process information. When we review (or are supposed to review) the safety card on an airplane that provides instructions in case of an emergency, we read the simple text, look at the pictures and process that information so we know what to do. The pilots process information through prior learning, practice, and experience so they know where the controls are and how to fly the plane. The field of cognitive ergonomics studies how the majority of people perceive their environment, process information and make decisions to plan a course of action. It also studies the processes involved in learning and memory.

How can cognitive ergonomics assist in injury prevention and workplace hazards? It examines the fit between human cognitive abilities/limitations and the machine, task or environment. This area of ergonomics assists in the placement of controls at a factory control system or an airplane’s cockpit, based on how a human being processes information (for example), to aid in the prevention of operator error. So it’s safe to say that this area of ergonomics plays a very important role in our safety as well as the safety of the worker!

But cognitive ergonomics is also in our everyday lives as manufacturers try to improve on their products and make them more user friendly (therefore reducing a lot of angry customers). A good example of poor product design is the shower in my bathroom of my new condo. The faucet has a typical handle that you turn for hot and cold. But I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the shower. By accident, I discovered that you had to pull down on the spout opening - resulting in a water soaked head while trying to clean the tub. To me, that wasn’t common sense. An ergonomic consultant with a strong understanding of how the average person would logically come to the conclusion of how to operate a shower would have indicated this to the designer of the product!

So next time you sit down to play a Wii game or try to figure out how to turn on your gas fireplace, remember that it’s cognitive ergonomics may have made your life a little easier and safer! And if you think your company could benefit from a ergonomic advice from one of our consultants like Kirsten, call us at 780-436-0024.

Next up, more of an understanding of cognitive ergonomics and some humorous examples of poor design!

Before recommending a product, it’s important to understand the tasks that the client performs at work. The position entails daytime shift work where she is required to be at her desk for the majority of her workday as her tasks are computer and phone-based. Additionally, she cannot be away from her desk longer than one hour per day, however she is allowed a half hour lunch break and two fifteen minute breaks during her shift.  While the cable company’s technicians are on the road, they call in to the client when installing internet and cable television equipment to provide her with information regarding their location, equipment serial numbers, and other relevant information.  The client then enters this information into a database to activate the equipment and service. 

Obviously, because the position involves a lot of sitting, the client needs some type of intervention that will allow her to stay working at her job with reduced discomfort. One of the products that she reports has been helping her a great deal is the use of a coccyx cut-out pillow at home. The pillow is designed to take the pressure off the tailbone area when sitting, which otherwise can be quite painful. As it has been found that individuals with similar injuries who use a chair with a coccyx cut-out benefit both short and long term, this was recommended for the client.  While it would be easy to think that any regular pillow might do the trick, the coccyx cut-out is preferred because regular pillows are thicker, slide around, and raise the person higher than the chair is designed for. This ends up resulting in improper placement of the back support features of a chair.

Further recommendations for the client regarding the chair with the coccyx cut-out were the ability to have an adjustable seat height, backrest angle, seat pan angle, seat slider, lumbar support height, and height adjustable armrests.

As always, we highly recommend that the client has an opportunity to trial the chair before it gets purchased. Many times a manufacturer will allow a product to be tested first so it’s worth asking.

If you have any employees who may be returning to work after an injury, you may want to make sure that their workstation will accommodate that injury instead of further aggravating it - leading to more time off needed. Give us a call to arrange an assessment or just ask advice at 780-436-0024 or email us at info@ewiworks.com.

MSDs are injuries or disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs. Some of the signs of MSDs include tingling or numbness, joint swelling, a decrease in grip strength, aching muscles or fatigue. These type of injuries are not the kind that happen suddenly, such as dropping a 40lb box on your foot. They develop over a period of time where there is repeated exposure to a risk, such as a worker in a wash bay holding a pressure washer for an hour or more every day in their job. However, like an injury caused by a single traumatic event, MSDs can lead to time off work for possible surgery and recovery or lost production time and costs that can escalate due to worker injury claims.

The problem with MSDs caused by hand tools is that they often get overlooked since the injury is not immediate. Fortunately, armed with a little bit of knowledge on the risks for injury, these type of injuries can be prevented. Here are some of the causes of MSDs due to hand tool use:

• Awkward postures can be caused by using a tool that doesn’t properly fit the area you are working in.
  • Sometimes you might need to use a pinch grip if the work area is too small, putting extra strain on the fingers.
  • At times, a tool that is too long for a small work area requires greater force.
• Excessive temperatures can cause you to grip a tool tighter, creating greater pressure and strain on your hands.
• Working for prolonged periods of time with vibration tools (such as a jackhammer) reduces the blood circulation in the hands.
• Tools with sharp edges that press into the hand or tools that are too short with the end pressing into the hand causes stress on the soft tissues.

There are easy solutions to these risks. There are many hand tools available that are designed to reduce the risk of injury. So now it’s time to go through your toolbox, toss out the ones that are causing you discomfort and go to your local hardware store with these points in mind:

• The tool should never feel awkward or uncomfortable.
• The tool size should be appropriate for your hand size.
• Make sure it is the proper size or is adjustable to suit the size of the work area.
• Softer, rubber-like texture around the handles help increase your grip so less force is needed, minimizing the pressure on the hand.
• The grip span of a tool, such as pliers, should not be too wide when open or too narrow when closed.
• Avoid tools that have a sharp edge in the grip area.
• Tools that are already angled means you don’t have to bend your wrist, which is awkward.
• Make sure the tool handle is long enough so it doesn’t press into your palm.
• Wear gloves when working in cold environments or to reduce vibration.

EWI Works can help you find more information on hand tool selection. Contact us at 780-436-0024 or by email at info@ewiworks.com.

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of qualified ergonomic consulting firms, here are a few points to consider to ensure there’s a perfect match:

Employees vs. Independent Contractors

 The majority of organizations in need of ergonomic services have a corporate structure with employed staff, not contractors. Therefore, who would most understand both your business and employees’ needs, a firm with independent contractors or one who has employed staff like yours?

• A consulting firm that utilizes contractors does not necessarily need to initiate their own workplace safety practices or hold insurance for their workers since they are independent contractors. Therefore, they would not understand the issues and costs of organizations that do.
• A consulting firm with employees has a dedicated work force to fully commit to a project. Independent contractors may have other clients with deadlines to be met. Therefore, a firm who relies on independent contractors also relies on their schedule.
• A consulting firm utilizing independent contractors has less supervision or control over a contractor’s work. Employees, on the other hand, generally have an office where their work can be monitored and resources or discussions with co-workers and peers are readily available.
• Firms with contractors are at risk of being investigated by government if they misrepresent employees as contractors. This can cause further disruption in client projects. Furthermore, if contractors are deemed employees, back taxes, interest and penalties are owed. In this case, bank accounts could be frozen and a firm’s operations could potentially cease altogether, along with the services they are providing for you.

The firm’s values regarding employees

• Does the consulting firm practice in-house what they preach offsite?
  • Does the firm genuinely care about the well-being of their staff?
  • Is this firm’s staff equipped with proper fitting ergonomic chairs and desks? Are their workstations set up properly?
• Employees who are treated with respect and have support from their employers tend to stay with their firm longer. They also care about the growth and reputation of the firm. Who would you rather deal with - several changing faces on your project or develop a long term relationship with a consultant?
  • Is there a high turn-over in staff?

Remember that there is more to selecting the right ergonomic firm than just professional qualifications and related experience. In order for a firm to deliver the ergonomic interventions you need, it needs to be walking on the same path as you!

At the individual level, EWI Works offers an audit or full assessment, depending upon the complexity of the individual’s concern.  The Office Ergonomics Individual Audit is typically used in situations where an individual has access to the majority of equipment they require, but needs help to ensure it is set up correctly.  The person being assessed has questions on general setup, and may be experiencing low levels of discomfort that does not affect their overall function and ability to perform their work activities.  The time onsite is approximately 30 to 40 minutes.  The report format focuses on recommendations for both equipment and work practice changes.  Follow-up in the audit is conducted by telephone at no cost at three months.  If a follow-up is needed in person, it will be charged out at cost. 

The Office Ergonomics Individual Assessment is considered a more thorough evaluation of the employee’s workstation and tasks. The assessment is typically recommended for complex return to work situations as well as situations where an employee is experiencing regular discomfort that requires medical intervention or affects his/her ability to perform the job effectively. The purpose of the assessment is to identify and understand potential causes of discomfort, recommend solutions and follow up with the organization to minimize on-going concerns. The report does not include medical information. Assessments are typically 60 minutes in length onsite.  A detailed report is sent out that outlines:  furniture, equipment and work practice changes that are recommended for implementation.  A follow up visit is included in the cost of an assessment conducted by an EWI Works consultant and is completed once changes have been implemented to ensure these changes are effective.  An assessment provided by an EWI Works consultant also includes access to our online office ergonomics course to help the employee understand some of the causes of discomfort and what they can do at work or at home to help reduce this discomfort through stretches, breaks or adjusting their workstation properly.

If you feel discomfort at work or if you have a staff member that is working with discomfort, give EWI Works a call at 780-436-0024. We would be more than happy to help you define what it is that you need and some of the options that are available. We also offer courses in both industrial and office ergonomics for organizations or public courses to define and understand the basics of ergonomics. The courses, taught by EWI Works’ CCPE certified ergonomists, are offered through the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Education as well as the University of Calgary’s Continuing Education. Soon, EWI Works will be offering public courses in ergonomics on a periodic basis throughout the year based on interest and demand.

To provide some background, the position involves responding to and managing client requests for home collections. The computer and telephone were used frequently and simultaneously. As well, the Coordinator works with hard copy documents. While on the phone, hand written notes are recorded and referenced. This results in the Coordinator often switching between typing and using the mouse and using the desk surface.

The workstations are dedicated to specific employees so the set up can be customized for each individual. However, this may change in the future and workstations may become shared desks by all Home Collections employees.

Issue 1:

The keyboard platform consists of a separate mouse platform positioned below the keyboard level. This is too low, leading to awkward hand, wrist and shoulder postures when using the mouse. This concern is related to the design of the keyboard platform, not the height or position.

Short Term Solution:

During the assessment, a hard notebook of approximate 1.5cm thickness was placed on the mouse platform to raise the height of the mouse surface flush with the keyboard surface. As well, the overall height of the platform was raised to approximately elbow height to minimize awkward postures.

Long Term Solution:

The client should replace the keyboard and mouse platform with a single, rectangular surface that supports both the mouse and keyboard. A sample product is shown in the recommendations page. Note: the current mechanism and arm are appropriate; only the platform surface is recommended for replacement. The product that the Ergonomist suggested was the ISE Value Keyboard Package.

Issue 2:

Coordinators switch between using the desk surface and typing or using the mouse frequently. Because a keyboard platform is used for this task, the Coordinator is frequently pushing themselves in or out from the desk; or they tend to reach or lean over the keyboard platform, which is an awkward position.

Short Term Solution:

The client should consider purchasing a document holder that can extend over the keyboard platform. The purpose of this product is to enable the workers to remain in one position with the keyboard extended and instead move the work (i.e. documents in/out, closer to them, as needed). The Flex Desk, which can be found through Ergo Canada, was a recommendation.

These products should help alleviate some discomfort felt by the Coordinators. However, EWI always recommends that an organization conduct a trial of the recommended products and solutions to evaluate effectiveness.