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Posts Tagged ‘repetitive strain injury’
Nissan Powerlift has added to its line up of warehouse forklifts with the launch its latest reach truck, the RG Series.
Years in the making, the RG Series is the product of typical Nissan Forklift attention to detail.
The company claims numerous truck operators and logistics managers have been interviewed and scientific studies on ergonomics and repetitive-strain injuries have been performed as part of its development.
“Additionally, fine-tuning has been performed with a range of customers in the toughest applications,” the company says.
“As a result, the new Nissan Forklift RG Series offers industry-leading operator comfort and safety.
Ergo Journal regularly publish articles, tips and advice on how to arrange your office workstation in an attempt to raise awareness of basic workstation ergonomics and reduce the stresses we each face on a daily basis.
With laptop computers now firmly outstripping sales of desktop computers around the globe, additional consideration by individuals and employers should be given to workstation ergonomics if the laptop is going to be used for any reasonable amount of time in one place.
I use a laptop myself and make sure I practice what I preach by using a laptop stand to lift the screen height, a dedicated mini keyboard, wrist rest, ergonomic chair and so on as I predominantly use my laptop whilst at my desk in the office.
We recently discovered a highly insightful white paper published by Ergoton, specialists in display mounting technology. The white paper is based on academic research spanning 25 years on the subject of comfortable computing and is entitled: Comfortable Portable Computing: The ergonomic way.
Within any organisation, it tends to be the responsibility of the employer to ensure that employees are provided with the tools and education to carry out their jobs safely.
Working in a manufacturing or construction environment, it is often easy to see evidence of these assessments, high visibility jackets, signage, warning alarms and so on make it easier to appreciate the health and safety risks and considerations for employees and site visitors. But what about the health risks in less ‘dangerous’ working environments, such as the office?
Within any given office the dangers may be less obvious, no heavy machinery for example (vending machines, water coolers and photocopiers excluded) but the apparent calmness of the office does not mean that employees are not at risk from health issues.
What about Workstation ergonomics? Injuries such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) can potentially lead to long term illness and a loss in productivity yet can often be avoided.
One way to ensure that the tools and education are provided to employees to highlight and minimise risk at the workstation, or desk’ is to carry out a risk assessment on each employee and their workstation, and put in place any corrective actions should a risk be identified, thus creating a healthier, more productive working environment.
In a recent report published in the U.S. We are informed of how ‘Technology has brought huge advances in the power and capability of the machines which support us in our work. The human machine evolves at a somewhat slower pace. The result: workplaces which can at times resemble medieval torture chambers, at least as far as our necks, eyes and hands are concerned! The adaptation of machine to man is the concept of Ergonomics. Ergonomic products seek to enhance the interface between technology and the human form. Ergonomics attempts to identify the physical points of stress, and then minimize or eliminate that stress through superior design of workstations.
The economy of ergonomic improvements is reported in case studies in Swedish companies. Poor workplace ergonomics and related musculoskeletal problems were already known and had caused repeated sick-leave periods at the companies. Expenses associated with certain preventive activities were accounted for the financial effects. When costs were compared to gains, the improvements appeared to be highly profitable. (Kristina Kemmlert, Solna, Sweden)
There are still a lot of people who do not realize that the body pains they bear are often attributed to the bad ergonomics in the office. According to ergonomics, no matter how healthy a person is, once he or she is forced to work using office products with bad ergonomics, he or she can develop a world of medical problems such as upper and lower back pain, leg, hip, and neck pain, as well as severe headaches and migraines. (Tomer Harel, How Ergonomic Office Products can Improve your Life)’
We are often asked: What is ergonomics?
According to The International Ergonomics Association, ergonomics is defined as:
‘Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.’
Put simply, the science of designing and arranging products and the local environment to minimize the risk of injury and maximize productivity.
Poor ergonomics (or understanding of ergonomics) could lead to a Repetitive Strain Injury, which can be incredibly painful for the sufferer and can lead to loss of productivity to employers, it is therefore big business!
In this day and age of compensation claims for even the most minor strains and accidents it pays all employers to comply with Health and Safety regulations to cover themselves as well as their employees. The Health and Safety Executive regulations have, for a number of years now, made it a legal requirement for all employers to assess and reduce the risk to staff in the workplace.
Some employers, pressed for time as well as money, find this a problem. Whole work days are sometimes lost, venues need to be booked and paid for and transport provided. All this comes at the expense of the employer but surely cannot be as costly as the amount of sick days taken in the name of work related health problems.
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a commonly used term that can refer to a number of clinical conditions.
One of the most widely known is carpal tunnel syndrome, which tends to affect people who work with their hands a lot, such as carpenters, musicians, office workers, etc. There are any number of theories regarding the causes of RSI, including stress factors and psychosomatic illness. What is clear is that the disorder results from repetitive movement within a limited range which results in muscular tension and nerve impingement. Overwork can also be a factor, as well as poor ergonomics in the workplace.
There are no set-in-stone rules for office ergonomics, we’re all individuals and as a result, what constitutes an ergonomically correct workstation set up for one person, will not be suitable for the person on the next desk.
It’s important to set up your workstation to suit you, and ensure that you apply the same rules should you work from home, or the office hot-desk.
To reduce the risk of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and avoid any adverse health symptoms, aches, pains or strains you need to ensure that you arrange your workstation correctly. It only takes a minute to apply the basic principles, so there should be no excuse!
Ergo Journal has the following tips for helping you reduce the risk of computer related injuries, which may be attributed to workstation layout.
Contour Design specializes in the design and manufacture of unique and comfortable computer mice. The traditional computer mouse placed next to the keyboard requires the user to constantly stretch and reach outside the Optimal Work Zone which gradually over time can result in RSI injuries (repetitive strain injuries). As a lot of computers are supplied with a poorly designed but free of charge mouse, end users never get to experience what it means to work with equipment designed for humans rather than computers.