Ergonomics

Definition of Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of workers' interactions with their working environment. The word 'ergonomics' is derived from the Greek term ergos, meaning work, and nomos, meaning laws. This study tries to improve the work surroundings to keep the workers comfortable, injury-free, and, therefore, more productive. Certain ergonomic aspects of work environments influence workers' productivity, health, and frequency of abcences.

Aspects that affect the productivity of workers:

 * Temperature
 * Lighting
 * Air Quality
 * Furniture
 * Equipment

Posture

 * 1) The monitor of your computer should be set at a height so that your neck should be straight.
 * 2) Your elbows should be at about 90 degrees, with the arms hanging naturally at the sides.
 * 3) Keep your hands in line with the forearms so your wrists are straight, not bending up, down, or to either side.
 * 4) Thighs should be roughly parallel to the floor, with your feet flat on the floor. Your legs should not be dangling.
 * 5) Your chair chould be fully adjustable. It should have a well-formed lumbar (lower back) support to help maintain the lumbar curve.
 * 6) There should be enough space to use the mouse. Use a wrist rest or armrest so that your wrist is straight and your arm muscles are not overworked.
 * 7) Use an adjustable document holder to hold source documents at the same height, angle, and distance as the monitor.

Bad Ergonomics
Recently, our world has been stricken by bad ergonomics. Office workers, students, teachers, home computer users, and mostly everybody who experienced bad ergonomics will experience stiffness in joints and soreness in eyes. This is due to:
 * Bad posture when sitting down
 * Bad computer positioning
 * Too high or too low room temperature
 * Bad lighting conditions
 * Horrible air quality/circulation
 * Big difference between table height and chair height

Effects of bad Ergonomics

 * Joint aches


 * Back aches


 * Dizziness


 * Headaches


 * Neck cramp


 * Stiffness in mucles


 * Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSIs)


 * Carpal Tunnel Syndrome


 * Eyestrain


 * Fatigue


 * Allergies


 * Poor circulation

Taking breaks
When working for long periods of time, it is a good idea to take a break for up to 5-10 minutes to relieve tension. Slouching or leaning back from time to time can be helpful in relieving stress. Furthermore, do some stretches while taking your breaks to loosen your muscles. If possible, vary your tasks during the day to break up repetitive motions and routines.

Aspects that can be improved in a working environment

 * Temperature
 * Proper air circulation
 * Cleanliness
 * Lighting and colour of workrooms

Furniture

 * Chairs should be adjustable and have a firm back to support the arch on the back. The seat should also be padded to provide good circulation throughout the body.
 * Tables and desks should provide enough space for people to work without bumping into one another. There should also be enough legroom to avoid muscle and circulation problems in the legs. THe tables should be smooth and rounded to avoid injury.
 * Medium and light coloured surfaces help ease eyestrain when reading. Work surfaces should have a matte (not shiny) finish to reduce glare.

Computer hardware

 * Monitors should be about head height, low brightness, and flat screens to avoid eye or neck strain. Workers should look away once in awhile when working long hours in front of the monitor.
 * Keyboard should be placed at elbow height and the elbows should be 90 degrees when working in order to prevent strain on the wrists.