Computer Ergonomics
Published on Dec 17, 2015
Why should I care about computer ergonomic workstations
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Tech Comm & Journalism=
keyboarding
In the media production fields such as technical communication and journalism, some of us may end up in jobs where we are keyboarding or mousing...
Keyboarding for hours
...for more than seven hours a day. Jobs that include video editing, creating digital slide shows, and web site creation...
Photo by larskflem
Keyboard-intensive jobs
Ergonomic setup!
...are all keyboard-intensive tasks. There was a recent study...
Photo by Snap Man
Journal of Occupational Medicine & Toxicology
- Cumulative keyboard strokes
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
...published in the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology that concluded there is a possible connection between cumulative exposure to keyboard strokes and the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Photo by 'PixelPlacebo'
Risk Factors
- Being female
- Overuse of hands
- High BMI
- Age
- Water retention
We are all at risk for it, but not all of us carry the same risk.
Photo by 'PixelPlacebo'
25%
of administrative professionals have history of CTS
In the previous study, 25% of administrative professionals reported a history of carpal tunnel syndrome. Their mean years of keyboarding were 7.5 hours a day for 16 years. So if you do end up with serious CTS...
Photo by barron
Untitled Slide
...the surgery on your wrists leaves scars like this. The recovery time is several weeks; time you can't use your hands and may need help for every daily task. Don't wait until your symptoms are bad enough to need surgery to care about computer ergonomics!
Photo by daveparker
Born on the computer?
About those cumulative keyboard strokes...If you were born in the 1990s, you pretty much grew up on computers.
Photo by Paul Mayne
Cumulative keyboard strokes add up
So by the time you're in your mid-40s, you'll have more cumulative keyboard strokes than people born before the 1970s.
Photo by zakwitnij
2 nurses to support
1,300 workers
I'm lucky enough to work at a large facility where ergonomics and workplace safety are a priority. We have two nurses on staff who perform ergonomic reviews on workstations. During orientation, we are warned about the danger signs to look for regarding CTS.
Pain?
The nurse told us that it is an emergency the moment you experience pain when you try to lift a coffee cup. One day that happened to me.
Photo by eva101
Ergonomic choices
Keyboard styles, mouse styles, chairs
So I tried changing my position; tried different keyboards and mice. I asked the nurse for an ergonomic review.
Avoid these positions
You'll want to keep your back as straight as possible, with your elbows and knees at ninety degree angles.
Photo by joelogon
Choose your mouse
You'll want to find a mouse that works for you. It should help you reduce arching motions with the fingers, and keep the wrist in a neutral position.
Photo by shawncampbell
There are many more models of mice than you thought
These are trackball mice for righties. I'm a lefty, so I went shopping for a specially designed ergonomic left-handed mouse. It helped a lot!
Photo by rdmarsh
Workstation for a lefty; needs adjustments
Here I am with a mouse at either side of an articulating keyboard tray. An ergonomic specialist examined this photo of me and advised a negative tilt on the keyboard tray to reduce wrist arching, and to raise it up so the elbow is at more of a 90 degree angle. These two suggestions have nearly eliminated the pain!
