ehs.columbia.edu ergo evaluate tool

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Symptoms Minor Moderate Severe

Descriptionof symptomseverity

Doesnt affect ability to doany activities. Symptomsare minor and are presentonly during an activity, notafter.

Symptoms are more persistent,causing one to alter onesbehavior and performance.Residual discomfort persistsafter activity is completed.

Unable to perform normal activdue to symptoms, which persisduring and after activities.

What actionsshould youtake?

Use this Self EvaluationTool as a guide to adjustyour workstation and makesure you are working in aneutral posture.

Employ the same actions as forMinorsymptoms. Seekergonomic evaluation via emailif symptoms persist afterchanges are made toworkstation and posture, orseek medical evaluation.

Employ the same actions as foModeratesymptoms. Report tSupervisor, complete an Incideand seek medical evaluation.Medical Center personnel ma

evaluated at the OccupationalService. All others should conttheir health provider.

Weakness of the hands: loss of grip strength,reduced motor control Muscle fatigue, burning, aching Muscle stiffness, pain, tenderness, numbness Stiff neck, shoulder tension, headaches Eye fatigue, blurred vision, impaired vision

These symptoms may become more pronounced thelonger the incorrect work practices continue.

Ergonomic Self-Evaluation ToolErgonomic Self-Evaluation Tool

Musculskeletal Symptoms:

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Workstation:DeskChairComputer monitor/ScreenKeyboardMouse/trackball/touchpad

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The ideal workstation should be large enough taccommodate the worker, allow the full range ofinvolved in performing tasks, and provide for necequipment and materials. A taller person may nadditional adjustment to raise the workstation; a

person may need a footrest.

Desk:

Ergonomic Desk Design:

Desktop should be high enough to comfortablyaccommodate ones legs under the desk Desk surface should have a matte finish to minimizeglare and reflections

Ergonomic Desk Organization:

Keep space under the desk uncluttered toaccommodate ones legs and allow for stretchin Organize desktop so that more frequently-use

are placed closer at hand to minimize reaching Position desk lamps to cast illumination of soumaterials w/o creating glare on the monitor or diillumination on the eyes Place the phone on the side of the non-domin

Ergonomic Work Habits/Practices:

If using a document holder, place on either side of the

monitor when working with printed source materials Feet should rest flat on the floor. A footrest may beused if, after adjusting the height of the chair to fit thedesk, the feet do not rest flat on the floor A headset may be used when a phone is usedfrequently throughout the day

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Chair:

The specific chair itself is less important than hoadjusted to suit the user, how the chair is used, anhabits of the user. Many chairs are designed for adjustable height.individuals with medical conditions, it is recommencheck if chair has adjustable back, armrests, and lsupport.

Chair Adjustment Procedure:

Adjust seat height so that feet rest flat on the floor Sit upright in the chair with the low back andshoulders touching the backrest Thighs should be parallel to the floor and knees atapproximately the same level as the hips

There should be 2-4 between the edge of the seatand the backs of the knees Adjust the backrest to support the natural inwardcurve of the lower back; it may be useful to use a rolledtowel, lumbar roll or cushion to support the lower back

Ergonomic Work Habits/Practices:

Dont remain in one static position for extended

time Do alternate between sitting tasks (e.g. computestanding tasks (e.g. filing, telephone use), and wal(e.g. faxing, retrieving items from printer) Do take small walking breaks during the day, asby your supervisor

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Computer Monitor/Screen




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Proper placement/positioning of the monitor:

Position monitor so that the top edge of the screen is ator just below eye level Position the monitor so that it is directly in front of theuser to avoid excessive twisting/stretching of the neck Place the monitor so that it is a comfortable viewing

distance (18-30) from the user Position the monitor at a 90 angle from windows toreduce glare Tilt monitor so that overhead lights do not create glareon the screen

Work habits/practices to prevent eyestrain and neck strain:

Keep the surface of the monitor clean to prevent blurriness; adjust the color/brightness for maximum eye If using a document holder, it should be placed at approx. the same height as the monitor to prevent abrfocus in moving from the source materials to the screen Periodically exercise the eyes by focusing eyes on distant objects Larger screens may require the user to sit further away from the screen and use a larger font size in ordfull advantage of the larger screen

Keyboard.

If the workstation is not set up properly, continuous computer work can expose soft tissues to r

which could result in ergonomic injuries to the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder.

Setting up the workstation keyboard:

Adjust your chair and posture for the least-stressfularm/wrist positioning Adjust your chair so that the arms are bent at the elbowat a 90 angle; the forearms should be parallel to the floor Adjust keyboard height and distance from the edge ofthe desk so that the shoulders can relax and allow arms torest at sides Adjust the slope of the keyboard so that the wrists areflat (i.e., in a neutral position) and not bent upward/back atall Place mouse (or trackball) adjacent to the keyboard and

at the same height as the keyboard




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Ergonomic work practices/habits:

A padded wrist rest placed before the keyboaonly for resting the wrists when no data is actuinput Press keys gently; do not bang on them or hodown for long periods Keep your shoulders, arms, hands and finger

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Mouse/trackball/touchpad . Proper placement is important. Placing the mouse/trackball too

low, or too far over to one side can cause wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder discomfort. Placindevice in your immediate reach zone offers natural comfort and maximum hand-eye coordinatiodrive the different pointing devices and choose the one that feels most naturally comfortable to

Mouse:

Using a mouse requires stability of the surface upon whichit is placed; if used on a keyboard tray, the tray should notwobble or tip Using a mouse withouta mousepad will help prevent hewrist from being tilted upward and causing strain

Trackball: a trackball has an exposed ball thmanipulated with the fingers. It requires the

different muscle and tendon groups than thowhen operating a mouse. Some trackball decause discomfort/injury to the area around thwhich stretches/reaches to maneuver the tra

Touchpads: allow users to move the cursor across thescreen by moving the fingers across a small screen. Theyhave no moving parts that can become clogged with dust,but they can lead to increased arm fatigue.

Neutral Posture. To understand the best way to set up a computer workstation, it is helpful to understand the cobody positioning. This is a comfortable working position in which your joints are naturally aligned. Working with tneutral position reduces stress and strain on the muscles, tendons, and skeletal system and reduces your risk ofmusculoskeletal disorder.

Neutral Posture. To understand the best way to set up a computer workstation, it is helpful to understandof neutral body positioning. This is a comfortable working position in which your joints are naturally alignewith the body in a neutral position reduces stress and strain on the muscles, tendons, and skeletal systemyour risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder.




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@2008 Columbia University Site De

Hands, wrists, and forearmsare straight, in line and roughlyparallel to the floor Head is level, or bent slightlyforward, forward facing, and inline with the torso Elbows stay in close to thebody and are bent between 90

120 Back is fully supported withappropriate lumbar (lowerback) support when sittingupright or leaning back slightly

Thighs and hips are supported by an upholstered seat and approximatelythe floor Knees are about the same height as the hips with the feet slightly forward

Feet are resting flat on the floor or on a footrest

Medical Evaluation: for any type of medical evaluation to be effective, aperson must play an active role in the process. Furnish your healthcareprovider with a full medical history, including any existing healthconditions and musculoskeletal injuries that may have contributed toyour symptoms. Your healthcare provider may ask you about any sportsor hobbies in which you might be involved. Discuss anything that mightbe relevant to your condition in order to determine what must bechanged.

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