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Office

Ergonomics
Handbook
At Knoll, our commitment to accessible, thoughtful design, coupled with leading
edge technology, has resulted in a portfolio of ergonomic products, including
office seating, monitors and keyboard supports, lighting and adjustable work
tables. These ergonomic products form the building blocks of a workplace that
facilitates productivity and comfort with equal effect a workplace that enables
people to perform their tasks safely, happily and efficiently.
The benefits of an ergonomically sound workplace are manifold. An organization
that incorporates ergonomic products into the workplace stands to enjoy reduced
health hazards and discomfort among associates, leading to a healthier workforce
with fewer health care costs. Ergonomically sound workplaces also often
experience fewer cases of absenteeism and lower turnover rates. All of this
helps workers to be more efficient and productive making ergonomics a sound
investment from any angle.
Knoll puts these benefits comfortably within the reach of organizations and
individuals alike with a variety of ergonomic products that enable users to
adjust themselves and the tools around them according to their own size, shape
and work style.
Use this guide to shape an effective health and safety program in your workplace.
Work, Design and Technology.

Contents
04 What Is Ergonomics?
06 What Are Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)?
07 What Causes MSDs?
08 Prevention of MSDs
10 What Is Ergonomic Design?
12 How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace?
17 What Are the Benefits of Applying Ergonomics in the Workplace?
18 Endnotes
19 Glossary
Office Ergonomics Handbook
Information in this book is used under license from Comprehensive Loss Management, Inc. and written in collaboration with, and for use by, Knoll, Inc.
2005 Comprehensive Loss Management, Inc.

04 What Is Ergonomics?
What Is Ergonomics?
Beginning with the popular use of personal computers in the
early 1980s and continuing today with innovations in input
devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell
phones, technology has revolutionized most jobs and created
endless possibilities for new ones.
While doing these jobs may require only small amounts of
physical activity, we bring our whole bodies to work. In order for
us to work as efficiently as possible, we must accommodate our
bodies by providing a safe, comfortable workplace.
Its a way of looking at the designs of tasks, tools, equipment
and workplace layouts and the overall organization of work to fit
the job to the person, rather than the person to the job. By
understanding ergonomics and how to analyze and adapt
work to avoid ergonomic health hazards we can all work in
ways that decrease daily discomfort and the risk of on-the-job
injury while increasing productivity and reducing the costs
associated with workplace injuries.
The benefits of implementing ergonomics in the workplace
would seem to be common sense. Unfortunately, ergonomic
improvements are often viewed only as expenses: what they
cost to put in place. Instead, they should be seen as invest-
ments by realizing the financial return they bring in terms of
improved productivity, decreased absenteeism and turnover
and lowered insurance and workers compensation costs.
To bring about that shift in thinking, two points must be
understood:
Making ergonomic improvements is effective in increasing
productivity and preventing workplace injuries.
Simple changes can have immediate and far-reaching results.
Consider, for instance, the return on investment that comes
from providing an ergonomically correct chair, which is generally
considered the easiest and most cost-effective fix.
How much will having a good chair improve a workers daily
productivity?
While figures vary, most ergonomic improvements are thought
to increase worker productivity by 10% to 20%.
1
Given that the
average worker is productive about 5 hours of his or her
workday, or 300 minutes, that comes to an increase of 30 to 60
minutes. With even just a 5% increase in productivity, thats
15 minutes a day, or 1 hour and 15 minutes a week.
2
And what about the initial investment? The Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that an average
ergonomics program costs $150 to $400 per worker a year.
For a small business of, say, 20 employees, thats an annual
investment of as little as $3,000.
3
Finally, consider the results of a 2001 survey of executives,
who reported receiving a $3 return for every $1 they invested
in workplace safety.
4
OSHA has estimated that an effective
health and safety program can save $4 to $6 for every $1
invested.
5
Such investments in safety are generally considered
cost effective. Thus, applying ergonomics is just good business.
Thats the philosophy underlying the
science of ergonomics, which seeks to
adapt tasks and tools to fit the person.
What Is Ergonomics? 05
What can happen when the needs and diversity of the human
body are not addressed? Typically, there is a dramatic increase
in injuries caused by repetitive motion and stress, which are
called Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Thats the situation
facing many businesses today.
Consider the following information from the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics:
MSDs now account for 33% of all injuries and illnesses that
make people miss work. In 2003, 435,180 cases of MSDs
were reported among workers from all occupations, making
this the most prevalent type of workplace injury or illness.
6
The incidence of MSDs is particularly high among office
workers. Of the 435,180 cases in 2003, 39,350 reports,
or nearly 40%, were injuries and illnesses reported for this
occupational group.
7
Among the office workers who reported MSDs in 2003,
the median number of days away from work was 10,
compared to 8 for other types of injuries/illnesses.
8
The
resulting conclusion is that not only are MSDs increasingly
common, but they make people miss more days of work
than other types of injuries and illnesses.
People with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, an inflammation of
tendons in the wrist due to repeated stress and one of the
most common disorders among office workers, missed an
average of 30 workdays per year three times as many
days as workers who reported other MSDs.
9
In addition to absenteeism, there is also the problem of
presenteeism: when employees show up for work but perform
at less than full capacity because of illness or other medical
conditions. Among the chief health-related conditions affecting
workers productivity are MSDs. Research by the Institute for
Health and Productivity Management found MSDs to be the
number-one health reason for absenteeism and the number-two
reason for presenteeism.
10
The effects of presenteeism are more difficult to measure than
those of absenteeism because these workers are, in fact, on the
job. They tend to work at a slower pace, however, and to make
more mistakes and otherwise do lower-quality work.
Researchers estimate that in terms of lost productivity, the
effects of presenteeism are 7.5 times greater than those of
absenteeism,
11
and according to the Harvard Business Review,
costs American businesses $150 billion a year.
12
Other direct costs include insurance coverage, workers
compensation and covering for absent employees. The indirect
costs include losing experienced staff and having to recruit
and train new staff. There is also the potential for legal costs
stemming from employee lawsuits and government fines, both
of which can run into the millions of dollars.
Consider these figures on costs:
MSDs cost U.S. businesses up to $60 billion a year.
13
An estimated $15 to $20 billion of that cost is for workers
compensation.
14
About $1 out of every $3 spent on workers
comp goes for an MSD-related claim.
15
The average lifetime cost of treating someone with Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome, including medical bills and lost work time,
is estimated at $30,000.
16
We must consider the lifetime costs of treating workers with
MSDs because these are chronic conditions. That is, they
develop gradually and get worse over time. That means that
many people working today have yet to be diagnosed.
Moreover, those who have been diagnosed will need ongoing
care because MSDs can result in permanent disabilities and
continued cost implications.
One more factor makes the future outlook for MSDs even more
serious: People are living longer and thus working longer. In
2000, almost 11% of the workforce was over 55 years old; the
number of workers in this category will double in the coming
years with the baby-boom generation.
17
In order to provide for
their workers health and well-being, employers must consider
not only the normal effects of aging but also the effects of years
of working in poor conditions.
Lost productivity is certainly one of
the greatest direct costs of MSDs.

06 What Are Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)?
What Are Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)?
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are characterized by
wear and tear on tendons, muscles, joints and sensitive nerve
tissue and are caused by repetitive use over an extended period
of time. MSDs may include muscle strains and tears, ligament
sprains, joint and tendon inflammation, pinched nerves and spinal
disc degeneration.
What these conditions have in common is that they are cumulative
and occur gradually over time. Fatigue and discomfort can result
whenever force or pressure is placed on the body or the same
movement is performed repeatedly over a long period of time.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
(CTS)
Raynauds Phenomenon
Trigger Finger
Rotator Cuff Syndrome
Epicondylitis
Tendonitis of the rotator cuff
inside the shoulder
Tendonitis of the elbow
Swelling in the carpal tunnel inside
the wrist, which places pressure
on the median nerve and tendons
Increased sensitivity of the hand
to cold
Catching and pain that occurs
with movement of the finger
Hand and Wrist MSDs
The most common conditions include these:
Arm and Shoulder MSDs
The arms and shoulders are most often affected by tendonitis,
which is inflammation of the tendons, or the tissues that connect
the muscles to the bones. Common types include the following:
Herniated spinal disc
Sciatica
Tension Neck Syndrome
Protrusion of the spinal disc, potentially
placing pressure on a nerve
Pressure on the sciatic nerve in the
low-back and buttocks area that
results in pain running down the leg
Tightening of the muscles in the neck,
causing pain
Lower-back and Neck MSDs
Pain in the lower back or neck may indicate any of these conditions:
The common signs and symptoms of MSDs are as follow:
Pain
Numbness
Tingling
Burning
Cramping
Stiffness
These signs and symptoms are less common:
Decreased range of motion
Deformity
Decreased grip strength
Loss of muscle function
In general, any of these signs and symptoms may be
worse at night or even first noticed at night.
What Causes MSDs? 07
What Causes MSDs?
In office work environments, these major
risk factors can lead to MSDs:
Awkward Postures and Positions
Working in awkward postures and positions can put added
demands on your wrists, hands, arms, shoulders and back.
Here are some examples of awkward postures and positions
found in office work:
Bending your wrists
Holding your elbows away from your body
Stretching your arms out
Sitting or standing with your back rounded or your
shoulders slumped forward
Making long reaches for materials
In addition to potentially causing MSDs, working in awkward
postures and positions can lead to fatigue during the workday,
causing drops in productivity and efficiency.
Force
Injuries due to force are usually associated with industrial and
manufacturing jobs. However, such injuries also occur in office
work as a result of performing tasks like these:
Holding a pen or pencil in a pinch grip
Using excessive force when moving equipment or supplies
Hitting the keys harder than necessary while doing
data entry or typing
Clicking on a mouse harder than necessary
Tasks such as these can put excessive force on your hands and wrists,
causing fatigue and if done for long periods of time MSDs.
Repetition
The more you repeat the same movement using the same
position during the workday, the greater the chance that you
will develop an MSD. Here are some examples of office jobs
with high repetition:
Data entry and typing
Sorting
Filing
These jobs are performed with the same movements and hand
positions and repeated many times during the workday.
Keep in mind, however, that repetition itself is not necessarily
harmful. The problem lies in the frequency of the task and
combining it with awkward postures and high levels of force.
Poor Working Posture

08 Prevention of MSDs
Prevention of MSDs
How can MSDs be prevented?
How you move and use your body while performing work
activities will determine how healthy and comfortable you feel on
the job. To ensure that everyone feels as healthy and comfortable
as possible, workplaces, equipment and tasks should be reviewed
according to the principles of ergonomics. Doing so is the most
effective way to prevent the development of MSDs.
This means keeping your joints in their strongest, most stable
and least stressful positions while you work.
For example, if you spend a good part of your workday at a
computer, pay attention to how you position your arms and wrists.
To reduce muscle strain on your upper body, keep your elbows
close to your body and your shoulders down and relaxed. And as
much as possible, work with your forearms, wrists and hands
relaxed and in a neutral position.
One of the basic principles of ergonomics
is to use good body positions that keep
you working in neutral.
Also think about your posture. When you sit or stand, try to
maintain the normal slight inward curve in your lower back.
Keeping your lower back in this position helps align your neck,
head and shoulders and also reduces the stress to your lower
back. In addition, aligning your head over your shoulders
reduces the strain on your neck and improves blood flow to
your upper body.
Finally, be sure to give your body a rest by taking a series of
short breaks, or microbreaks, throughout the workday. The
human body is designed to move, so holding one position or
performing one task for a long time increases the stress on
muscles and joints. Taking breaks will help minimize muscle
fatigue and the tightness that results.

Awkward Postures and Positions
Poor posture and position can put added strain on your
wrists, hands, arms, shoulders, back and neck.
Proper Postures and Positions
Proper ergonomic posture keeps your body in a neutral position.
No or minimal bend at wrists
Head, neck, back, elbows
and knees properly aligned
Back rounded and shoulders
slumped forward
Elbows away from body
Feet flat on floor
Prevention of MSDs? 09
Bent wrists
10 What is Ergonomic Design?
What Is Ergonomic Design?
Ergonomic Design
To keep your body working in neutral, you should adjust your
workstation to your body, rather than adjust your body to your
workstation. These adjustments are made possible through
ergonomic design: the practice of designing workplaces,
machines and tasks to match the capabilities and limitations
of the human body.
Employees come in all shapes and sizes, yet most work
using the same office equipment and furniture. The following
elements of the work environment should be adjusted to fit
each individual employee:
Chairs
Keyboards and mice
Computer monitors
Document holders
Work habits
Visual comfort
Ergonomic Principles
Each of the following sections provides general guidelines on
how to apply ergonomic principles in the office workplace. Keep
in mind, however, that these guidelines only provide a starting
point. You should make adjustments as needed to ensure your
comfort in your specific work setting. That means its essential
for you to understand basic ergonomic principles and to know
how to adjust your furniture and equipment.
The goal is to create a workplace in
which employees can work in neutral,
minimizing wear and tear on their bodies.
Padded Arm and Wrist Rests
to reduce arm and shoulder
discomfort during pauses in typing
Keyboard Platform
Should be placed at elbow
height, parallel to floor or
in a slight negative tilt
Adjustable Monitor
Top of monitor should
be placed at eye level
to allow proper head
and neck position.
Screen should be free
of glare and should tilt
and pivot
Seating
A good chair has
proper lumbar support
Adjustable Desk
and Furniture
allows for proper
body alignment
Working in Neutral
Task Lights
should be positioned
to reduce glare
What Is Ergonomic Design? 11
12 How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace?
How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied
in the Workplace?
Ergonomists recommend four basic working postures: standing plus
three seated positions, including rearward tilt, upright and forward
tilt.
18
Given the amount of time most office workers spend sitting,
The ideal chair for a workstation can be easily adjusted from a
seated position. In most situations, your chair should be adjusted
to recline about 10 to 25 degrees. This position is similar to how
you would sit while driving a car.
When youre leaning over your work surface for instance,
reading or writing on papers that are flat on your desk your chair
should be adjusted to tilt slightly forward so it will support your
lower back. Adjusting your chair to tilt slightly forward can also
provide a good change in posture, if you have been sitting
for a long time.
Make sure you sit against the back of the chair. The chairs
backrest should provide lumbar support so that it fits the contour
of your lower back.
Adjust the chairs seat height in relationship to the height of your
desk or workstation. For most office tasks, including working at a
computer, the desk surface should be slightly below elbow level
when your arms are resting comfortably at your sides and your
elbows are bent at a 90 degree angle. Raise or lower the seat of
the chair as needed so that your arms are in this position.
In adjusting the seat height of the chair, also consider the position
of your legs and feet. Your thighs should be nearly parallel to the
floor, and your feet should be resting flat on the floor. If your feet
cannot reach the floor, use a footrest that allows your heels to be
lower than your toes. Also consider using a height-adjustable
desk to achieve the correct posture for desk work.
The front edge of the seat should be rounded (called a waterfall
front) so it doesnt press into the backs of your knees. If the chair
has armrests, they should also be well rounded. They should not
be so high as to force your shoulders upward or so wide as to
force your elbows away from your body.
The chair should also be stable; a five-star base is preferred.
And the chair should be mobile, swiveling easily and rolling
smoothly on casters.
Finally, the cushions of the chair should be covered with durable
yet breathable upholstery material, such as a mesh-type fabric.
Keep in mind that no chair not even one thats fully adjustable
will be ergonomically appropriate if its not used correctly.
Again, be sure that you know how to adjust your chair to
fit your own needs.
Also remember that no single position is appropriate for extended
periods of time. In addition to alternating among the various
seated positions, be sure to stand periodically to reduce the
pressure on your back and to improve your circulation. Having
a height-adjustable desk can encourage you to alternate
positions throughout the day.
Chairs
having a good chair is crucial to their
on-the-job comfort and productivity.
Waterfall Edge Back Recline Arm Adjustment Seat Depth Adjustment Seat Height Adjustment
How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace? 13
When you work at a keyboard, typewriter or calculator, make
sure that you hold your wrists and hands in a neutral position.
Your fingers should rest flat or level on the work surface in order
to keep your wrists working in neutral and to allow your muscles
to work more efficiently.
Using a wrist support or palm rest can help you relax your
arms and keep your wrists straight while working at a keyboard
or mouse. The support or rest should be level with the keys
on the keyboard.
Its best to use the wrist or palm rest while you are taking a
break for instance, looking at the monitor to review what you
have keyed in. You should keep your hands and wrists hovering
over the keys while you are actually typing.
Another important ergonomic consideration is how to position
the keyboard in relation to the monitor. The keyboard should be
positioned directly in front of you, and in most office situations, it
should be aligned with the monitor. Avoid situations in which you
have to turn your head or bend your neck repeatedly to look at
the monitor and see what you have typed or keyed in.
If you work extensively with a mouse, position the mouse and
mouse pad next to the keyboard and on the same plane.
Doing so will keep your wrist straight and help you avoid
making long reaches.
In using both a mouse and a keyboard, be gentle! Use
controlled, even strokes to prevent wear and tear on your
hands as well as your equipment.
The first ergonomic consideration for a keyboard and mouse is
height. This depends on the height of the work surface your
keyboard rests on and the height of your chair. Ideally, the
keyboard and mouse should be about 1 inch below the
bottom of your elbow.
As mentioned earlier, you should adjust your chair in relation to
the height of your work surface. When seated in a comfortable
position, your arms should rest at your sides, forming
approximately a 90 degree angle at each elbow. Your forearms,
wrists and hands should be relaxed and aligned.
You can ensure good alignment by positioning your keyboard at
a negative tilt, or having the front of the keyboard lower than the
back (where the space bar is). Having the keyboard in this tilted
position lets you straighten your wrists, hands and fingers for
improved comfort.
Be careful not to create too much of a tilt, however. If the back
of the keyboard is too high, you will bend your wrists forward to
reach the keys, which will be counterproductive. Also make sure
that the mouse remains on a flat surface.
Keyboards and Mice
An adjustable keyboard tray or arm
allows changing the height and angle of the
keyboard and mouse to suit individual needs.
Having a height-adjustable desk can help you make
the needed adjustments to ensure good posture.
Proper position
Wrists and hands should be aligned in a neutral position while typing.
Poor position
Typing with bent wrists can cause strain and discomfort.
14 How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace?
Computer Monitors
If you use a laptop as your primary computer and have it
sitting on a desk, you need to make several adjustments:
Attach a separate keyboard and mouse to the laptop, and
put them on an external tray system that you can position at
the appropriate height.
Put the laptop itself on a stand, so you can raise the screen
to the correct level.
Tilt the screen to the best possible position to avoid glare.
Regardless of what type of monitor you use, you should position
it to the correct level and distance. To maintain correct posture
and proper head and neck position while seated at a computer,
the top of the monitor screen should be at or just below your
eye level. In addition, the monitor should be positioned about an
arms reach from your face.
Note that this is the correct distance for most people. You
should adjust the position of your monitor as needed for
comfortable viewing and focus. For instance, if you wear bifocals
and look at the screen through your lower lenses, lower your
monitor as much as possible and sit further back.
As mentioned earlier, its also important to consider how the
computer monitor and keyboard are positioned. In most office
settings, the monitor should be aligned with the keyboard. Avoid
setups in which you have to turn your head or bend your neck
repeatedly to look at the monitor. The use of a monitor arm will
allow you greater flexibility in positioning.
Whatever type of monitor you use, be sure to adjust the controls for
brightness, contrast and the like as needed for comfortable viewing.
Keeping the monitor clean will also improve your visual comfort.
Several types of computer monitors can be found in office work-
places today, including cathode ray tubes (CRTs), flat-panel
monitors and laptop computer screens. You should tailor the
guidelines that follow according to your specific type of monitor
and workstation setup.
A CRT has the general size, shape and weight of a traditional
box-type television. That means that this type of monitor requires
a lot of room on your desktop, particularly depth (that is, from
front to back). A true computer desk is designed to accommo-
date this depth, especially for a large monitor. A CRT-type moni-
tor is also heavy, which means the surface it sits on must be
sturdy. Given its weight, a CRT (especially a large one) can be
difficult to position using an arm, platform or other support. For
the same reason, this type of monitor isnt very portable.
Many of the issues involved in positioning a CRT-type monitor
can be eliminated by using a flat-panel monitor. This type of
monitor is only an inch or so deep, regardless of the size of the
actual screen, and so it is very lightweight. Given these features,
you can mount and position a flat-panel monitor in a variety of
ways using a stand, arm or other support. The result is that you
have more freedom to individualize the height, distance and tilt of
your monitor.
Many workers today have a laptop as their primary computer,
in and out of the office.
Most critical is the fact that having the monitor and keyboard so
close together makes it impossible to work in the proper posture.
Another problem is the small size of the keyboard and mouse,
which encourages the use of bad hand and wrist positions.
While a laptop is very portable, it poses
a range of ergonomic difficulties.

How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied in the Workplace? 15
Document Holders
Working efficiently doesnt necessarily mean working continuously
on one task. In fact, an employee who focuses solely on one big
project until its been completed may not be as efficient as one
who alternates tasks and takes breaks periodically to provide his
or her mind and body with a needed break.
To work efficiently, the human body needs to change positions and
move throughout the day. As described earlier, its good to alternate
among the three recommended sitting positions and also to stand
from time to time. Know how to adjust your equipment to allow for
alternating positions. Your concentration will increase and your
fatigue both mental and physical will decrease if you spread out
or break up tasks whenever possible.
Your goal should be to do frequent but mild stretches within a
pain-free range. Doing so will not only reduce the muscle fatigue
that comes from doing repetitive tasks and holding awkward
positions but will likely improve your productivity, as well.
Also practice these good work habits to reduce stress
and fatigue:
Keep your elbows at your sides or use an armrest or wrist
rest for support. (Make sure the arm or wrist rest is adjusted
appropriately for your body size.)
If you use the phone frequently or for prolonged periods of
time, use a telephone headset.
Position work equipment and materials so that the most
frequently used items are within a comfortable arms reach
and the less used items are farther away.
Using a copyholder while working at a keyboard can help
reduce eye motion and discomfort and allow you to maintain
proper neck posture. However, the copyholder must be
positioned correctly to prevent neck and eye strain.
Specifically, the copyholder should be placed directly next to the
monitor on either side. The copyholder should also be posi-
tioned at the same height and distance from your face as the
monitor about an arms reach. Again, make whatever adjust-
ments are needed for your own comfortable viewing and focus.
Work Habits
One way of breaking up and spreading
out work is to take regular stretch breaks
throughout the day.
Using a laptop as a primary computer can cause ergonomic difficulties
including neck, shoulder and back strain and cramped hand positions.
Using a laptop with a laptop stand and external keyboard and keyboard
support allows users to work in an ergonomically correct position.
16 How Can Ergonomic Principles Be Applied?
Visual comfort plays a major role in your ability to complete job
tasks. This means that lighting must be considered when
designing a work area according to ergonomic principles. There
should be enough light to allow you to read documents, but this
does not necessarily mean bright light. The goal is to prevent or
reduce glare.
There are two types of glare:
Direct glare is caused by intensely bright light sources shining
directly into the eyes, such as the sun coming in the window
and bright light fixtures shining down from the ceiling.
Reflected glare includes bright spots that are caused when
light reflects on a computer monitor or work surface and into
the eyes.
To improve visual comfort and reduce glare, use any of
these measures:
Provide indirect lighting.
Place good diffusers on overhead lights.
Lower the general level of light in the work area, and provide
task lighting for each workstation (that is, lights directed on
specific work, such as documents).
Add shades to windows.
Also avoid using bright overhead lighting, which can cause shad-
ows along with direct and reflected glare.
Control glare on computer monitors using any of the
following methods:
Position the desk so that light sources (such as windows) are
perpendicular to the monitor, rather than directly behind you
or the monitor.
Tilt or move the monitor so that it doesnt reflect light sources.
Install blinds on windows near monitors.
Adjust the controls for brightness and contrast on the monitor.
Use a nonglare filter to cover the screen on the computer
monitor, and keep both the filter and the monitor clean.
Lower the level of area light.
A second factor that affects visual comfort is dryness.
If your eyes feel dry at work, it may be that the airflow from the
ventilation system is blowing on you. Correct this problem by
redirecting the airflow or moving your desk. Your eyes might also
become dry if you tend to stare at your computer monitor while
working something many people do. Try to blink more
frequently and look away from your monitor from time to time.
If you wear glasses, you should consider one additional factor for
visual comfort: Your prescription may need to be adjusted so its
correct for the distances involved in doing your job. For instance,
if you work at a computer, you should be able to read whats on
the monitor without tilting your head forward or backward.
This may be a particular problem if you wear bifocals. In general,
lower your monitor as much as possible. To ensure comfort and
reading ability, you may need to consult an eye doctor that spe-
cializes in treating people who work at computers. Consider
having a special pair of glasses made just for work.
Consult your eye doctor about any problems youre having with
your eyes, including dryness and strain. Be sure to describe the
specific nature of the work you do and the environment in which
you do it. Doing so will not only help your doctor understand
what may be causing your problems, but it will also help him or
her treat them appropriately.
Remember, too, that your vision will change as you age and that
you will likely have to have your prescription adjusted from time to
time. Problems with eye dryness also tend to increase with age.
Visual Comfort
The correct positioning of a task light helps to avoid glare.

What Are the Benefits of Applying Ergonomics in the Workplace? 17
What Are the Benefits of Applying Ergonomics
in the Workplace?
To achieve these gains, people throughout the organization
must be committed to making ergonomic improvements. At the
employee level, workers need to understand their responsibility
in using equipment correctly, in stretching and taking breaks
throughout the day and in reporting any problems they
experience. At the management level, its essential to commit
the resources for making improvements and to communicate
the importance of ergonomics to everyone in the organization.
Ergonomics must be embraced as a principle of good business
operation, and making improvements must be viewed as an
ongoing process.
Applying ergonomic principles in the workplace has
two clear benefits:
To prevent injuries
To increase productivity
Making ergonomic improvements will reduce the risks for MSDs
and eliminate or at least decrease their incidence in the
workplace. In addition to safeguarding workers health and
well-being, making ergonomic improvements will also decrease
employee absenteeism and turnover and lower insurance and
workers compensation costs. As noted earlier, even small
improvements can bring about significant, measurable results.
as much as a 6 to 1 return on investment, according to some
sources. Thus, making this investment in safety clearly cost
effective. Applying ergonomics is just good business.
Making ergonomic improvements will
also contribute to noticeable gains in
workers productivity

18 Endnotes
Endnotes
1 E. Grandjean in I. Chong, The economics of ergonomics:
Whats missing from office ergonomics is a way to calculate
the financial benefits, Active Input Solutions (2001). Available
online at www.activeinput.com/econo.html.
2 M. F. Schneider, Why ergonomics can no longer be
ignored, Office Administration and Automation, 46
(July 1985): 7, pp. 2629.
3 M. Fletcher, Ergo injury prevention programs reap big sav-
ings: BI Workers Compensation Conference, Business
Insurance, November 5, 2001, p. 54.
4 Ergo programs, claims validation cut costs: Workers
Compensation and Disability Management Conference,
Business Insurance, November 10, 2003, p. 46.
5 Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Draft
Proposed Ergonomics Protection Standard, Chapter V,
Preliminary Quantitative Risk Assessment, Chapter VII,
Summary of the Economic Analysis and Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis, March 1995.
6 J. L. Nash, Report: Repetitive motion injuries are still no. 1
workplace injury, Occupational Hazards. Available online at
www.occupational hazards.com/articles/13173. April 1,
2005.
7 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table
11, Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses
with days away from work involving musculoskeletal
disorders by selected worker and case characteristics,
2003. Available online at www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/case/
ostb1377.pdf. March 30, 2005.
8 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Table 11.
9 L. Kovach, Take breaks, or your body could suffer the con-
sequences, San Diego Business Journal, 25 (September
20, 2004): 38, pp. 2122.
10 P. C. Pilette, Presenteeism and productivity: Two reasons `
employee assistance programs make good business cents,
Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association, 8
(Spring 2005): 1, pp. 1214.
11 K. Dixon, Weighing the costs of presenteeism: CEOs may
be burning out their work forces, Chief Executive (U.S.),
June 2005, p. 22.
12 P. Hemp, Presenteeism: At work but out of it, Harvard
Business Review, 82 (October 1, 2004): 10, pp. 4958.
13 K. Sarkis, Ergonomics viewed as sound investment,
Occupational Hazards, 62 (July 2000): 7, p. 16.
14 J. W. Kochaniec, Ergonomics efforts viewed as sound
investment, Business Insurance, May 8, 2000, p. 36.
15 Sarkis.
16 Technology: Do the math, Risk and Insurance, 15 (June
2004): 7, pp. 5253.
17 U. Wright, Demographics of the aging American workforce,
ErgoSolutions Magazine [Special Report], October 2004, pp.
1620.
18 Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers
Association (BIFMA), Standards, Ergonomic Guidelines G1-
2002, p. 12.
Glossary 19
Glossary
Awkward postures and positions: Working in ways that place
increased demands on the body, such as overreaching and
twisting.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): Swelling of the carpal tunnel
inside the wrist, which places pressure on the median nerve and
tendons.
Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs): Injuries that occur over
time because of repeated trauma or exposure to a specific body
part, such as the back, hand, wrist and forearm. Generally con-
sidered synonymous with Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
see definition below.
Ergonomic design: The practice of designing workplaces,
machines and tasks to match the capabilities and limitations of
the human body.
Ergonomics: The science that seeks to adapt tasks and tools
to fit the person.
Force: Requiring the muscles and joints to worker harder or to
exert more effort.
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs): A group of conditions
characterized by wear and tear on tendons, muscles, joints and
sensitive nerve tissues and caused by repetitive use over an
extended period of time. May include muscle strains and tears,
ligament sprains, joint and tendon inflammation, pinched nerves
and spinal disc degeneration.
Repetition: Doing the same movement repeatedly or frequently.
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) or Repetitive Motion Injuries
(RMIs): Damage to tendons, nerves and other soft tissues that
is caused by the repeated performance of a limited number of
physical movements. Generally considered synonymous with
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) see definition above.
Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons, which are the tissues
that connect the muscles to the bones.
Working in neutral: Keeping the joints in their strongest, most
stable and least stressful positions while performing work activities.

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