ergonomics & technology: the future€¦ · ergonomics & technology: the future ©2011...

JEROME J . CONGLETON, PHD, CPE, PE

Ergonomics & Technology: The Future

©2011 Jerome J. Congleton. PhD, CPE, PE

State of Today ’s Workforce

• 157.5 million persons worked in the US during 2008

• 73.1% of men of all men in the workforce work, 61.3% of women of all women in the workforce work

• Health stats• 67% of adults in the US are

overweight or obese

• Average time off/leave/absence• 5.3 million days lost in small

business in 2007• Small firms average

absenteeism – 6 days• Absenteeism from work costs

small business >$1 billion per yearoverweight or obese

• 23.6 million people—7.8% of the population—have diabetes.• Diagnosed: 17.9 million people • Undiagnosed: 5.7 million people

• 12% of adults in the US have diagnosed Heart Disease

• Over 30% of people under 55 suffer from high blood pressure

• 37.13% adults in the US have high cholesterol >= 200 mg/dL

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/CPS/American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery

year• National average is 8 days.• Small firm average is 6 days. • Medium firm average is 8 days. • Large firm average is 10 days. • Back pain and stress are the

biggest contributors

Top 10 Workforce Trends

• Incorporating innovation into the organizational DNA will be a key driver of future competitive advantage.

• Sustainable, healthy and green workplaces will be essential.

• Accelerated change and risks must be managed effectively with high performance agility.

• An organization that is committed

• Educated, skilled and experienced employees will be in demand.

• Aging of the population will impact productivity, knowledge and growth.

• ↑ in women in the U.S. workforce will change the policies, power and positioning of organizations. • An organization that is committed

to employee development, continual education and training.

• A new workforce culture to better understand transnational teams, online collaboration, globalization and business process transformation.

and positioning of organizations.

• A diversity savvy workforce will be required to understand and align with the diversity in the global marketplace.

• Finding, training and retaining high-tech skilled employees from a global talent pool will be the greatest challenge for every organization.

Source: Institute for Global Futures

Workforce (Generational)

• The civilian labor force is projected to ↑ by 12.8 million, or 8.5%, to 164.2 million over the 2006-2016 period.

• The primary working age

• Workers 55 and older are projected to ↑ from 16.8% to 22.7% of the labor force between 2006 and 2016.

• The aging of the baby • The primary working age group, between 25 and 54 years of age, is projected to ↓ from 68.4% of the labor force in 2006 to 64.6 % by 2016.

• The aging of the baby boom generation will cause not only an ↑ in the oldest age category but a ↓ in the percentage of younger workers.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2007

Profile of a Generational Workforce

• Currently there are four generations in the workforce:• Veterans:

• born between 1922 and • born between 1922 and 1945

• Baby Boomers: • born from 1946 to 1964

• Generation Xers: • born from 1965 to 1980

• Generation Yers: • born between 1981 and

2000K. Columbia, Addressing Generational Diversity, Special to Newspapers & Technology

Aging

• It is projected that in 2010 the population will grow to 40 million and by 2030 the 65+ population could grow to some 72 million Americans.

• The life expectancy of an individual who reaches the

• By 2030, more than 1/4th of the older population is expected to have an undergraduate degree.

individual who reaches the age of 65 will have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.7 years.

U.S. Bureau of Census, Current Population Survey (C PS), Annual Social and Economic Survey File, March 2006.

Obesity

• In 2005 approximately 1.6 billion adults were overweight and at least 400 million adults were obese around the world; while 20 million children under the age of 5 were overweight globally. A

• In 2006, 66% of Americans were overweight or obese.overweight or obese.

• Obesity became the number 2 killer of Americans with 400,000 deaths. It was second only to smoking at 450,000 deaths.A

• The number of morbidly obese adults in the U.S. exceeds four million and is continuing to grow more rapidly than any other weight category.

Source: World Health Report, 2002. World Health Organization (WHO). Accessed at: www.who.int/peh/burden/globalestim.htm WHERE TO FIND THE RIGHT STUFFM. Benden, “Stand to Lose, Weight Loss Secrets for Office Workers”, 2008, 8

Obesity

• In a report by The Conference Board it was found that obese employees cost U.S. private employers approximately $45 billion

• Obese worker will lose 13 times more days of work from work-related injury or illness than a non-obese worker; obese workers file twice the number of approximately $45 billion

annually in medical expenditures and loss.

twice the number of worker’s compensation claims and have seven times higher medical costs from those claims.

Source: Consumer Affairs. 2008. Obesity A More Costly Workplace Health Issue Than Smoking.M. Benden, “Stand to Lose, Weight Loss Secrets for Office Workers”, 2008, 91

Obesity and Technology Change the Office Worker and the Work

• Since 1960, computers have allowed increased task work without interruption to occur at the primary office workstation.primary office workstation.

• At the same time, the worker has become increasingly obese.

• Both factors are significant to the design and layout of office furniture. This chart shows the percentage of Obesity in

U.S. Adults vs. Time A

Source: M. Benden, “Stand to Lose, Weight Loss Secrets for Office Workers”, 2008, 10

Recent Obesity Trends

1960 2007 Change

Average Male Weight 166 lbs 191 lbs ↑↑↑↑ 14%

Average Female Weight 140 lbs 164 lbs ↑↑↑↑ 20%

Percentage of “overweight” adults in the United States

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1960 1971 1980 1990 2000

All Adults

Percentage of “overweight” adults in the United States

Definition of Ergonomics

Ergonomics: The study of the work to prevent and control injury and illness while improving wellness, injury and illness while improving wellness, productivity, quality, marketing, customer

service, delivery and reducing turnover and costs.

Anthropometric Design

Design for the RANGE

• Adjustable car seat – leg and arm length, seated eye • Adjustable car seat – leg and arm length, seated eye height

• Headset – (head diameter)• Wristwatch band – (wrist circumference)

Elbow

Rest HeightSafe

Lifting

Design for the RANGE

Rest Height

(Standing)LiftingHeight

Anthropometric Design

Design for the EXTREME

• Height - design clearance for tall people• Reach - design to be reached by short people

Design for the AVERAGE

• Public seating - designed to accommodate the median of the population in use

Anthropometric Demonstration

• Knuckle Height (Standing)• Elbow Rest Height (Standing)• Hand Length/Grip Span• Functional Reach• Functional Reach• Strength

• Hand Dynamometer Demonstration

Astronaut Sleeping in Zero -G Environment

Why Sit/Stand?

• Why Sit? • Less Fatigue

• Knee, hip back, ankle

• Stability• Data entry• Mousing

• Why Stand?• Cover Large Areas• Use Larger Forces• Promote Blood Flow and

Postural Changes•• Mousing

• Use of Foot Controls• Group communication –

meetings, etc.

• Better Respiration and Reaction Alertness

• Burn More Calories• Lower Pressure in Low

Back Discs by Up to 40%

Sitting & Standing

Stand/Sit Concept

By standing for 2 hours throughout an average workday, you can burn 280 extra calories. In one year, that converts to

roughly 20 pounds of weight loss. Results vary depending on body shape and metabolism.

�Raising desk heights from 30” to 40” and raising the chair to stool height allows users to easily and freely stand up to work periodically. �A keyboard tray and monitor arm are also essential if an electric height adjustable desk is not available. �Additionally, the extra 10” of storage under the 40” desk results in a 33% gain in cubic storage.

How to burn 280 Calories

• Stand for two hours or…

Gym & Home Activities Time Training Activities Time Daily Life Activities Time

Running: 6 mph 14.85 Bicycling, Stationary: Vigorous 14.1 Shoveling Snow: by hand 24.7

Bicycling: 12- 13.9 mph 18.55 Rowing, Stationary: Vigorous 17.45 Mowing Lawn: push, power 33

Running: 5 mph 18.55 Rowing, Stationary: Moderate 21.2 Gardening: general 33

Tennis: general 21.2 Aerobics: High Impact 21.2 Raking Lawn 37.1

Swimming: general 24.7 Bicycling, Stationary: Moderate 21.2 Housecleaning: general 42.4

Walk: 4 mph 33 Stair Step Machine: General 24.7

Walk: 3.5 mph 37.1 Aerobics: Low Impact 27

Calculating BMI

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Image:BMI.jpg

Obesity and BMI

• Clinical guidelines from the National Institutes of Health define overweight as a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 kg/m2, while obesity is defined as a BMI of 30kg/m2 or more. (NIH 1998)

Weight BMI

Acceptable Weight 18.5-24.9

Overweight 25-29.9

• 35% of US adults are overweight and 26% are obese. Obese

30-34.9

Severely Obese35-39.9

Morbidly Obese 40-49.9

Super Morbidly Obese

50 or more

Health Benefits of Standing

Health Benefits of Standing

Health Benefits of Standing

Sit-Stand Workstations

Today ’s Sit-Stand Workstations

• Productivity ↑ up to 17%• Figures reflect employees comfort or lack of discomfort• Figures reflect employees awareness of their own control over

their wellness

• Positive Employee Feedback• Appreciate the ability to adjust workstation to their specific needs• Enjoy the opportunity to stand

Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Proceedings, 1994

Today ’s Sit-Stand Workstations

• The workstations of today are adjusted to a standing position an average of 3.6 times/day

• 23% standing and 77% sitting• Discomfort ratings ↑ over 26%• Discomfort ratings ↑ over 26%• Work-related injury/illness ↓ by 28%• Lost-time ↓ by 82%• Associated costs ↓ by 95%

Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Proceedings, 1994

Facilities Benefits

• Benefits of the FIXED height 40” workstation• No power requirements• Much simpler construction• ↓ cost• More storage underneath• No cord damage or • No cord damage or

management issues• Faster install, simple

maintenance.• No pinch points from moving

parts• One simple keyboard

mechanism can cover the 5th-95th seated and standing heights.

Worker Benefits

� Major Ergo benefits including :� ↑ blood flow� ↑ respiration and alertness � ↓ risk of injury

� ↑ calorie burn to fight weight gain↓ in adverse postural changes from poor seating� ↓ in adverse postural changes from poor seating

� A workstation and work environment DESIGNED for computer users, not modified for computer users

� Significant cost ↓ over adjustable sit/stand stations� Design depths for easy viewing of a Flat Panel Monitor � ↓ Maintenance and Repair� ↑ Productivity� ↑ Collaboration and Interaction

Incorporating Wellness into Workplace Design

• Adjustable Table• Vertically adjustable

workstations allow the work surface to accommodate a range of accommodate a range of possible worker heights.

• Systems Furniture• Multiple workstations can

be set to differing heights

Incorporating Wellness into Workplace Design

• Sit/Stand• Fixed Height Workstation

• Raise desk height from 30”to 40”

• Keyboard Tray• Flat Panel Monitor Arm

• Stool• Raise the chair to stool

height• Easy transition to sitting

with stool height chair

• Foot Platform• Should rest solidly on floor

Incorporating Wellness into Workplace Design

• Flat Panel Monitor Arm • Should rest solidly on floor and should resist lateral motion (slipping)

• Have a surface with a high coefficient of friction

• Angle of the footrest platform should be adjustable

• Foot rest height should also be adjustable

• Chair Base & Platforms• Platform

• 10” in height• Durable surface

• Non-slip

• Base

Incorporating Wellness into Workplace Design

• Base• Reverse Break Casters

• 40 lbs and won’t move• Depth of foot platform• Weight capacity

• Base & Platform vs. Footring

Guidelines for Workstations

• Sit-Stand Workstation with Adjustable Keyboard Platform• Use of computer greater than 4

hours per day• Tied to work area by phone or

because all materials are within reach

• Monitor & Monitor Placement• What is of paramount interest is

the placement of the viewable area of the screen with regards to the user.

• The top of the screen should be approximately level with the

• Examples of work groups (not exclusive): Customer Service, Data Entry, Help Desk

• Adjustable Keyboard Platform• Use of computer ½ hour to 4

hours per day• Example of work groups (not

exclusive): Accounts Payable, Accounting functions, Support staff

approximately level with the user’s eye height, and about thirty two (32) inches from the user, resulting in an angle of approximately 20-25°down from from the user’s eye height to the the screen. A

A ANSI/HFES 100-1988

Guidelines for Chairs

� Seated greater than 2 hours per day• You should order a variety of sizes to meet the

varying needs of your workforce. The best situation is to let the individuals choose the most appropriate for them.appropriate for them.

Guidelines for Chairs

• Should include:• Adjustable seat pan height

• Accommodate a range of statures (5th percentile female to 95th percentile male)

• Adjustable seat pan depth•

• Lower back (lumbar) support• Assist in restoring some

degree of lumbar curvature, even when seated

• Upper back support• Helps reduce energy

expenditure required in • Accommodate a range of statures.• Shorter individuals prefer the

small seat pan• Average height individuals

prefer the medium seat pan (Neutral Posture only)

• Taller and larger individuals prefer the large seat pan

expenditure required in maintaining proper posture when seated

• Adjustable seat pan width• Allows comfortable seating

for a range of hip breadths and physical body weights

Guidelines for Chairs

• Arm support (armrests)• Allows for easier entry and

egress from chair• Allows for off-loading of arm

weight from the shoulder while working

• Casters

• Five (5) point base• Chairs with fewer than five

points (legs) on their base are less stable and prone to tipping

• Appropriate fabric upholstery• Should have some degree of • Casters

• Increase the mobility of the chair allowing easier access to objects not in immediate reach

• Allow for greater access to workstation without having to “lift and hop” chair into position at the workstation

• Should have some degree of elasticity that doesn’t place restrictions on cushioning qualities of foam

• Should be compatible with type of clothing worn by workers• Ex.: Cloud 9

• Knit• Breathable• Conform to seat

Sitting & Standing

Corporate/Facilities Cost Justification

Traditional Sit/Stand Corner Station in 6’x6’ cubicle

Stand or Sit station in 6’x6’cubicle

Component Cost

Electric Height Adjustable Desk with storage

$5000

Ergonomic Chair $600

Component Cost

Fixed height, 40” desk with storage

$3500

Ergonomic Stool $800

Energy consumption per employee for electric desk

$50/year

Total Cost $5,650 + $50/year

• Other Attributes:

• Filing and Overhead Storage

space = 12cu.ft

• Sustainability footprint to

produce – high

Energy consumption per employee for electric desk

$0/year

Total Cost $4,300

• Other Attributes:

• Filing and Overhead Storage

space = 16cu.ft

• Sustainability footprint to

produce - low

TOTAL SAVINGS = $1,350 per workstation

The Mobile Office

Mobile Devices

The Laptop

A true computing solution

Various Sizes and Weights

Mobile Office -Laptop Based Essentials

or

Mouse vs Trackpad

Basic Ergonomic Setup

Laptop with External Monitors

Tablets

Typing on a Tablet

• No tactile feedback• Only use if you do not • Only use if you do not

have a bluetooth keyboard and only for short quick typing situations

Tablet with bluetooth keyboard

For extensive typing use a bluetooth keyboard

Tablet Cases

Look for a case that Look for a case that includes a bluetooth keyboard

Extensive Typing

• Leaning forward• Leaning forward• Head tilted too far down• Arms are not supported

Extensive Typing

• Proper angle between torso and thighstorso and thighs

• Arms are supported• Head is still tilted too far

down

Extensive Typing

• Raise the tablet to the proper height using any proper height using any means necessary (portable tablet stand, books, bag, etc.)

• Use bluetooth keyboard

Keep the Tablet with in the Secondary Zone

Long Term Use

Smartphones

Smartphone & Typing

• Thumb typing BAD• Thumb typing BAD• Do not try to type a 10

page paper on a smartphone

Smartphone & Bluetooth Headset

• Use a headset.• Use a speaker phone.

Jerome J. Congleton, PhD, PE, CPE

Co-Director of the Ergonomics CenterProfessor of Ergonomics and Safety EngineeringStrength & Conditioning Performance CoachTexas A&M University System Health Science CenterSchool of Rural Public HealthSchool of Rural Public HealthMail Stop 1266College Station, TX 77843-1266

Office: (979) 845-5574Fax : (979) 845-0885

E-mail: ergo@tamu.eduWebsites: http://www.tamhsc.edu/