I wrote in the past about the “walking while working” movement composed of a small but growing group of people abandoning their desks for a healthier alternative– a workstation jerry-rigged to a tread mill.Â
You just may be able to get a treadmill-workstation at your local office supply store sooner than you think. Steelcase recently unveiled [...]
Archive for the 'Occupational Safety' Category
Steelcase Treadmill Workstation — Office of the Future?
Published by October 29th, 2007 in Chairs and Furniture, Human Computer Interaction, Occupational Safety, Office Ergonomics, Product Design and Uncategorized. 9 CommentsEating At Your Desk: A Guilty Pleasure
Published by August 9th, 2007 in Occupational Safety, Office Ergonomics and Uncategorized. 11 CommentsJudging by how often I see my coworkers do this (and yes, I do it too), and the plethora of images I found on Flickr when entering the tags “lunch” and “desk,” eating at one’s desk is a common occurrence in offices everywhere.
The days of hanging out in the break room or lounge are over. [...]
Ergonomics is all about equipment
Published by July 10th, 2007 in Chairs and Furniture, Occupational Safety, Office Ergonomics, Product Reviews and Uncategorized. 9 CommentsI’m not putting that title down lightly. Check this study out.
EXEC Summary: proper ergonomic training is not enough to gain significant improvements in employee standards of working or general productivity.
Now check this article.
EXEC Summary: posture affects productivity and general body pain. (tell me something I don’t know)
Going [...]
Ergonomics Economics: Prevention is a Good Investment
Published by June 5th, 2007 in Occupational Safety, Office Ergonomics and Uncategorized. 0 CommentsA post from Ergonomics Economics sound eerily similar to the climate change debate to me. Basically, industry tries to save money by ignoring problems until they reach crisis state. Whether it is the atmosphere or the human body, the same rules apply. It makes more financial sense to invest in prevention rather than waiting until [...]
Easy Desktop Yoga: Relieve Stress and Prevent Workplace Injuries
Published by May 22nd, 2007 in Occupational Safety, Office Ergonomics, Stretches and Exercizes, Uncategorized and Videos. 9 CommentsEasyDesktopYoga has some great videos for simple stretches and exercises you can do right at your desk. This is a great way to take a break and relax, which can prevent injuries and workday stress.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFrQxkqgv3U]
[tags]office yoga, workplace stretches[/tags]
Fingers Walk 16 Miles a Day; Where do They Go?
Published by May 16th, 2007 in Keyboards and Mice, Occupational Safety, Office Ergonomics and Uncategorized. 4 Comments Phil Haack the software programmer says:
At the end of an average eight-hour workday, the fingers have walked 16 miles over the keys and have expended energy equal to the lifting of 1 1/4 tons. -DataHand
It’s unbelievable to me that a company would pay a developer $60-$100k in salary, yet cripple him or her with terrible [...]
History of Ergonomics: Ergonomic Nightmares of the Past
Published by April 22nd, 2007 in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, History of Ergonomics, Occupational Safety and Uncategorized. 2 CommentsI came across a recent blog by English professor Michael Sheehan about the entries for “cramp” in a 1923 American dictionary. Some of the occupational injuries listed are pretty archaic, but is in an interesting glimpse at the changing nature of work and the evolution of economies and occupational safety.
For example, ‘telegrapher’s cramp’ is now [...]
Ergonomic Evaluation Man Saves the Day
Published by April 15th, 2007 in Humor, Occupational Safety, Office Ergonomics, Uncategorized and Videos. 3 Comments[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTzO75pHBHM]
‘A class project for Human Resource Management about ergonomics. A villain infiltrates a corporation and tries to make it ergonomically misfit. Ergonomic Evaluation Man saves the day!’
This video is hilarious and really well done. Sit back and relax in an ‘ergonomically correct position’ and enjoy this one!
Why The Mouse Causes RSI and How Keyboard Shortcuts Can Help
Published by April 3rd, 2007 in Human Computer Interaction, Keyboards and Mice, Occupational Safety, Office Ergonomics, Resources and Uncategorized. 84 CommentsFor several reasons, the mouse is the worst offender when it comes to computing injury. Repetitive Strain Injury occurs as a result of the cummulative effect of seemingly small actions carried out over a long period of time, eventually leading to unbearable strain on the muscles.
Many people develop RSI in their mouse hand. [...]
Frank Gilbreth: Pioneer of Occupational Ergonomics
Published by March 28th, 2007 in Ergonomics and Society, History of Ergonomics, Occupational Safety, Uncategorized and Videos. 2 CommentsFrank Gilbreth (1868-1924) was a pioneer of motion study and occupational ergonomics. He became interested in motion study during his first job as a brick layer, where he noticed that unnecessary motions were primarily responsible for making the job tiring and back breaking.
Gilbreth and his wife (Lillian Gilbreth) later went on to study the [...]