Features
Addresses a variety of environments including working within cars and at home Offers advice for creating suitable conditions to accommodate all workers Covers a wide range of input methods such as touch screens and voice recognition software Details the role played by psychosocial elements within the workplace Explores the risk assessment process from identification to management and reduction Includes coverage of current trends, such as wireless technology and laptops
Summary
Moving from theory into practical reality, ergonomics has come of age as a useful tool for generating safe, comfortable, and productive working environments. Tackling both the simple and complex aspects of a variety of workplaces, Office Ergonomics: Practical Applications demonstrates how to create offices that accommodate all workers. The book contains practical advice on how to maintain an office environment that promotes a healthy, safe, and efficient workforce.
Covering workstation design, selection, layout, and use, the book details the impact of computers on worker well-being, particularly when used under unfavorable conditions, and discusses how ergonomics can accommodate disabled workers. The author emphasizes the need to offer ‘protection’ to people involved in manual handling in offices, an issue that is frequently overlooked, and offers advice on how to work satisfactorily in non-office environments. She explores the possible negative outcomes, such as back pain, headaches, and upper limb disorders, of a poorly designed workstation.
Walking you through all the features of an office, the book provides insight into the potential problem areas that workers often encounter. The book explains how to identify suitable workstation furniture, test it, trial it, and introduce the final selection so the workforce accepts it. The author draws on first-hand experience dealing with difficulties in many types of office situations to provide straightforward, easily applicable advice on how to improve the workplace to reduce the likelihood of workers experiencing discomfort, ill-health, and dissatisfaction.
Table of Contents
Working Posture
Introduction
Sitting versus Standing
The Back
Posture
Maintenance and Monitoring of Good Postures
Summary
The Design of Workstation Furniture Introduction
Desks
Partitions
Chairs
Accessories
Summary
Workstation Trials Introduction
Task analysis
Trials
The Roll-Out
Summary
Computer Use Introduction
Desktops
Flat Screens
Laptops
Wireless Technology
Out-of-Office Working
Summary
Screen Displays Introduction
Memory
Displays
Summary
Input Devices
Introduction
Keyboards
Mouse
Touchpads
Trackball
Joystick
Touchscreens
Graphics Tablets
Voice Recognition Software
General Design Requirements
Summary
Organizational Issues Introduction
Job Design
Work Rate
Rest breaks
Overtime
Incentives
Motivation
Shift Work
Compressed Working Week
Managing Change
Summary
Training Introduction
The Trainees
Training Methods
The Course
Alternative Approaches
Making Training More Effective
After the Course
Summary
The Environment Introduction
Noise
Lighting
Thermal Comfort
Summary
Manual Handling
Introduction
Manual Handling Injuries
Reducing the Risk
Training
Summary
Work-Related Ill Health Introduction
Upper Limb Disorders
Responding to ULDs
Backache
Visual Fatigue
Stress
Summary
Disability
Introduction
Workstation Arrangements
Computer Work
General Environment
Summary
Risk Assessment Introduction
Sample Checklists
Case Studies References