4/5/18. Office Ergonomics Top 10 Things You Should Know. About us -- MSDSonline

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1 Office Ergonomics Top 10 Things You Should Know Gene Kay, MS CPE Director of Ergonomics, VelocityEHS Office Ergonomics: Top 10 Things You Should Know Learn about the top 10 things employees and employers should know and often get wrong about ergonomics. About us -- MSDSonline Chemical Management Incident Management Air, Water & Waste monitoring Ergonomic Programs & Consulting Services 12,000 clients -- 8 Million users 1

2 About Ergonomics Fitting the job to the worker Because one-size does not fit all Ergonomic Risk Factors Awkward posture Static posture Repetition No rest Force Vibration Cold We Do This Because - A better fit means Productivity - Quality Fewer Injuries (MSDs) Less Cost Compliance reasons Wellness Employee Engagement It s the Right Thing to Do 2

3 The top 10 things employees and employers should know and often get wrong about office ergonomics 1. You aren t promoting your program 2. Ergonomics is Economics build your case 3. You re not sustainable write standards 4. You are not effectively using your resources 5. You are spending too much on Ergo gadgets 6. You are not fully using the equipment you have 7. Your people don t know how to sit 8. Your people have their monitors too high 9. Your people don t know how to type 10.Your people don t move enough Promote Your Program #1 - You are not promoting your program enough Promote Your Program Create or subscribe to ergo resources Office-ergo.com, Cornell ergonomics, VelocityEHS Ergo Cornell University Ergonomics Web Make it easy to find your resources , Web site, Office location 3

4 Promote Your Program Get invited to events Steady stream of communication Let employees know you ve got their back Cast a big shadow Periodic Ergo tips Share success stories Team up with IT/technologies Distribute Ergo Info w new computers Build Your Business Case #2 - You haven t prepared your ROI business case Build Your Business Case -- MSDs Ergonomics-related injuries (MSDs) and (CTDs) are a common and costly problem with employees who spend long periods of time in office or laboratory work environments. OSHA statistics indicate that MSD-related workers comp expenses cost businesses $15 and $20 billion each year. Institute of Medicine estimates the total economic burden resulting from workplace MSDs including both the loss of work and compensation costs to be as high as $54 billion annually. 4

5 Build Your Business Case -- MSDs Direct - Medical & Pharmacy Costs Indirect Costs Decreased productivity Lost time Short-Term Disability Long-Term Disability Off-Site Travel for Care Turnover Overtime Replacement Training Temporary Staffing Administrative Costs Insurance Costs Build Your Business Case MSD Costs OSHA Safety Pays Cost Estimator Injury Type Direct Cost Indirect Cost Total Cost Carpal Tunnel $ 30,000 $ 33,000 $ 63,000 All Other Cumulative Injury, NOC $ 40,043 $ 44,047 $ 84,090 US Dept. of Labor - OSHA Safety Pays Build Your Business Case Incident Rate Average Office Ergo Incidence Rate 1.7 Injuries Annually PER 100 Workers * *Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 5

6 Build Your Business Case MSD Costs Estimate Your Cost: Headcount X Incident rate X Claim cost Your Ergonomics Risk Profile Employee Count 500 BLS MSD Incident Rate 1.7 / 100 Employees Estimated MSDs for Employee # 8.5 OSHA Estimated Cost Per Claim $ 60, Estimated MSD Risk $ 510, Build Your Business Case -- MSDs Without Ergo Program 50% Reduction 50% Without Ergo Progam 80% Reduction 80% With Ergo Program With Ergo Program Build Your Business Case ROI & Turnover With Ergo Program 78% Improvement Without Ergo Progam 87% Reduction 87% Without Ergo With Ergo Program 6

7 See Puget Sound HFES web site> Build Your Business Case Estimate Claims & Cost Reductions with an Effective Ergo Program: Your Ergonomics Risk Profile Em p l oyee Count 500 BLS MSD Incident Rate 1.7 / 100 Employees Estimated MSDs for Employee # 8.5 OSHA Estimated Cost Per Claim $ 60, Est imat ed MSD Risk $ 510, VelocityEHS Ergonomics Benefits 50% Reduction in Claims* % Reduction in Cost / Claim* $ 12, Updated Risk Profile $ 51, Est imat ed Reduct ion in Risk $ 459, No Ergo Program Effective Ergo Program 20 Create & Publish Written Program Standards #3 - You don t have written policy documents 7

8 Create & Publish Written Program Standards Ergonomics Standard Workplace Furniture & Equipment Requirements Chair Work Surface Ergonomic Accessories & Equipment Laptop Computer Use Responsibilities Good Better Best Not Acceptable Create & Publish Written Program Standards Ergonomics Standard Ergonomic Training and Evaluation Issue escalation Ergo consultations Medical Management of MSDs Specialty products & accommodations Hotel cube usage Virtual Office/ Home Working Create & Publish Written Program Standards Write standards for these audiences: Employees & Managers What services or assistance is available How to get that assistance Facilities & Purchasing Equipment standards Alternative equipment 8

9 Use Your Staff More Effectively #4 - You aren t using your ergo staff effectively Use Your Staff More Effectively Traditional methods (expert ergonomics) for providing ergonomics services are not working Sending experts for basic training, injury surveillance and assistance is expensive, not scalable, and has other shortcomings. Use Your Staff More Effectively Traditional Service Delivery -- Challenges Staffing Distance Time Buy-in Retention Costs Lost Productivity Costs: Lost productivity prior to consult, Time off during, etc. Claims Costs: $60,000 - $82,000 per claim* *OSHA Safety Pay$ web site Time Costs: Staff Ergonomist- $30 to $60/hr. Consultants- $150 to $200 + travel 9

10 Use Your Staff More Effectively Instead, Let employees Pull services as needed Self-help Services 70% Remote Help 20% On-site Help 10% The Rule Use Your Staff More Effectively Self-help Services Answer The Common Questions What To Do How To Do It Where to Get Help For Chair Adjustments For Keyboard Adjustments For Monitor Adjustments Ordering Supplies Getting Assistance Use Your Staff More Effectively Address Issues Based on Risk Self-Corrective Advice Virtual Ergo Coaching On-site Consultation INENSITY OF MITIGATION 10% High 20% Moderate Risk 70% Low Risk RISK 10

11 Don t Over-buy Ergo Gadgets #5 - You are spending too much on ergo gadgets Not everyone needs all of the latest ergo items Don t Over-buy Ergo Gadgets Not everyone needs ergo input devices Don t Over-buy Ergo Gadgets Most people don t need monitor risers 11

12 Don t Over-buy Ergo Gadgets A Ball is NOT a chair Make Full Use of The Equipment You Have #6 - You are not fully using the equipment you have Learn adjustments and get a good fit with what you ve got Make Full Use of The Equipment You Have 12

13 Your People Don t Know How to Sit #7 Your employees are sitting wrong Your People Don t Know How to Sit Which is the correct way to sit? A B C D E F ISO (1998) ANSI/HFS

14 Do you sit this way? Image (c) Ergoweb.com Lumbar Disc Pressure VS Seated Posture Your People Don t Know How to Sit Which is the correct way to sit? A B C D E F 14

15 Your People Don t Know How to Sit The Best Posture Is the Next Posture! OSHA Reference Postures Reclined Sitting Upright Sitting Thighs Declined Standing Your People All Have the Monitor Too High #8 Your employees don t have the monitor set right Conventional Wisdom: Monitor Placement 1. Place Monitor Eye-Level degree Gaze Angle 3. Place Monitor Away Keep Neck Upright & Neutral 15

16 How s Conventional Wisdom working? 60-70% of all users report Eye Strain & Neck Pain Problems With High Monitor Position Monitor Head-height Ear-eye line, -11 deg Yes Neck is Neutral But We Have Eye Strain And We have Dry Eyes Good for the Neck Bad for the Eyes Monitor Too Close Monitor Too High: Eye Strain from Convergence Near Viewing = Tense Eye Muscles Hard to Converge Resting Point; 45 (horizontal), 35 (downward gaze 30 deg) 16

17 Monitor Too Close: Eye Strain from Accommodation Near Viewing = Tense Ciliary Muscles Near Viewing Resting Point; 30 (young), More w/ age Monitor Too High: Eye Strain from Dry Eyes Monitor Too High: Eyes Open WIDE Partial Blink Eyes dry out Lower Monitor: Eyes Relax Full Blink Moist Eyes Monitor Recommendation: Use the Normal Reading Position 17

18 ISO Monitor Placement Guidelines Max Upper Limit Optimal Position Your People Don t Know how to Key or Mouse #9 Your employees don t know how to type NY times computer training, Your People Don t Know how to Key or Mouse Too much mousing Bending wrist to side Bending up/down Tense fingers 18

19 4/5/18 Your People Don t Know how to Key or Mouse 1. Maintain Neutral Wrists 2. Never rest wrists while keying 3. Use the whole arm to move 4. Keep fingers curled 5. Use strong fingers 6. Use light touch 7. Use comfortable pace 8. Take frequent breaks 9. Keep fingernails short 10.Stretch frequently E. Pascarelli, Repetitive Strain Injury Your People Don t Move Enough #10 Your employees don t move enough Your People Don t Move Enough 19

20 Your People Don t Move Enough Active offices Central printer Standing meetings Walking meetings Standing stations One up/ Two down stair use Your People Don t Move Enough Your People Don t Move Enough Your next posture is your best posture : Every 20 minutes, Stand for 8 minutes, then walk & move for 2 minutes A 2-minute break is good for your waist 20

21 In summary You need to: 1. Promote your program 2. Build your business case 3. Write program standards 4. Use staff more efficiently 5. Don t buy gadgets 6. Learn to use existing equipment 7. Lean back 8. Lower your monitor 9. Rest your hands 10. Move more Thank you for attending! Gene Kay, Director of Ergonomics VelocityEHS gkay@ehs.com 21

22 References and Resources See for download References and Resources OSHA Safety Pays s/ Puget Sound HFES (search Ergonomics ) Ergonomics Info Graphic download Office Ergonomics ROI 6 Essentials for Large Employers Detailed self-help resources for the office worker 22