A well-designed chair is a critical component of a safe and productive workstation. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) describes a good chair as providing “necessary support to the back, legs, buttocks, and arms, while reducing exposures to awkward postures, contact stress, and forceful exertions.” They reinforce that the ... Read More »
Anthropometry is the study of the sizes and proportions of the human body. The data collected in this field is used in the manufacturing and design of ergonomic tools and equipment. One of the most common applications of anthropometric data is the determination of where to place items in the ... Read More »
You finally convinced your boss to get you an ergonomic chair for your workstation. It arrived two weeks ago and you’ve already noticed how much better you feel at the end of the day. The new chair allows you to focus on your work for longer periods and your back ... Read More »
We’ve all experienced aches and pain after sitting at our computers for long periods. You know the drill . . . you’re working on a project that’s due tomorrow. You’re focused and making great progress. The next thing you know, several hours have passed and you’ve been working in the ... Read More »
We’ve all heard that standing while working is better than sitting in reducing our risk for certain medical conditions including obesity and cardiac disease. However, a common question that we receive is the difference in calories burned between the two positions. There are three factors that determine how many calories ... Read More »
Back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions among office workers. You might be fortunate enough to use a sit to stand desk, but working for several hours can still cause problems. Whether you’re sitting or standing, the muscles in your back and legs can become tight causing ... Read More »
You’ve read the articles and heard the news stories about the dangers of prolonged sitting while working. As I mentioned in a previous article, James Levine, M.D., Ph.D., an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic, has linked prolonged sitting with obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and many other conditions. In fact, ... Read More »
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), US employers pay almost $1 billion per week for direct workers’ compensation costs. Direct costs include workers’ compensation payments, medical expenses, and legal service fees. There are also indirect costs including implementation of corrective measures, accident investigation, lost productivity, training replacement ... Read More »
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 24 percent of employed Americans did some or all of their work at home in 2015. This is a five percent increase over the last decade and the trend should continue as technology allows us to be more location independent. Working ... Read More »
Ergonomically designed tools and equipment have dramatically improved the way we work and our ability to avoid injury. We all know that these products can reduce strain and improve posture. However, like home exercise equipment, proper and consistent use is the key to achieving the benefits. Just purchasing ergonomic products ... Read More »
