Ergonomics, Part 2: Ergonomic devices

This report covers keyboards, pointing devices, software, and general tips for safe computing ...

"The world is full of devices associated with the word ergonomic. A scholar trying to learn the word by studying the way it's used in today's culture is likely conclude that it means "curvy" or possibly "funny-looking." Nearly all mice, trackballs, and other devices are now described as ergonomic; this doesn't mean they're all good for you to use.

Unfortunately, unless you use a given gizmo for a few hours, it's hard to get a feel for how it will work for you. Still, experimentation is the tried-and-true method to determine the level of ergonomic satisfaction you will get from a device. Borrow mice from friends to see how you like them. Try keyboards out in the store."   continued ...   (Via IBM)

Emergency text service for deaf

A sensible approach ...

"A new PSNI text messaging service will mean people with hearing or speech problems will be able to contact the emergency services using mobile phones.

The project was developed by the police in partnership with the Deaf Association of NI and British Telecom.

People who register with the service will be able to use their mobile phones to text the police, who in turn will contact the relevant emergency service."   continued ...   (Via BBC NEWS)

March 29 - 31, 2006 ERGONOMA: 4th European Tradeshow on Workplace and Work situations Ergonomics Solutions at Thurn & Taxis, Brussels, Belgium

The international meeting place for ergonomics users and practitioners - showing ergonomic furniture, equipment and accessories for office and industrial workplaces, services from consultants, designers, professional ergonomic bodies internationally."   continued ...   (Via EurOhs)

Promoting health and safety as a key goal of the corporate social responsibility agenda executive summary

An interesting view from the UK ...

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has many definitions but, in essence, it is based on the integration of economic, social, ethical and environmental concerns in business operations. The major social concerns include the welfare of the key stakeholders in the business, especially employees.

The study established that CSR is gaining in influence and, as the CSR movement comes of age, it is becoming mainstreamed in the measurement and reporting of business performance on which the financial services industry bases its investment decisions. This places a burden on organisations such as HSC/E to demonstrate why and how OHS is a material issue for the reputation of companies and for their business performance.

HSC/E must demonstrate that OHS is a reputational risk issue for all types of business. For the reputational risk to be material, it needs to be shown that companies that fail to adequately address occupational safety and health are in danger of losing public trust with a consequent loss of profit and shareholder value. Public awareness is key to making OHS a material issue for reputational risk. The focus here should be that whilst HSC/E raises public awareness, especially of occupational health issues, HSE’s Business Involvement Unit translates the message into CSR language to engage with the CSR movement."   continued ...   (Via EurOhs)

Common Mistakes in Confined Space Monitoring

A great list of mistakes made in confined space safety ...

"A confined space is no place to "learn as you go." Learn how to avoid these potentially deadly errors in the work world's most dangerous spaces.

Learning from practical, real-world experience often requires learning from your own mistakes. In many cases, this can be an effective way of developing greater levels of competence and understanding in a given subject. Unfortunately, when mistakes are made in confined space monitoring, the cost of this education is often measured in the number of lives lost.

The deadly nature of confined spaces leaves little room for error and even less opportunity to "learn as you go." Learning about some common mistakes before entering a confined space will go a long way toward establishing a workplace air monitoring program based on industry best practices." continued ... (Via Occupational Hazards)

Lean Behavior-Based Safety

Even small businesses can now comply ...

"The business climate has drastically changed since 1984. Behavior-based safety (BBS), in general, has not! Even a proven technology with documented results such as BBS must eventually evolve with the prevailing business climate. The traditional BBS process is fat and out of touch with the realities of today's worksites. Sites considering BBS are concerned about both the internal and external costs. Sites that already have implemented BBS are straining to provide the resources necessary to continue the process. Other sites have decided not to implement because of the costs and inefficiencies. A leaner approach that remains true to the original principles has proven to be the answer to all these problems.

Those that have opted out of the BBS trend because of expense or resource requirements now have new options. Firms that have traditional BBS processes have a way to reduce manpower requirements without sacrificing effectiveness. The leaner version may be a better fit for small sites, sites with limited budgets and/or sites with inadequate resource availability. Simply using parts of the technology without opting for the whole process may prove effective for those with specialized needs, difficult logistics and cultural complications including union resistance. This new way of thinking about BBS has brought a useful technology into the realities of today's business climate." continued ... (Via Occupational Hazards)

Is your laptop a pain in the neck?

There have been several articles recently about neck and wrist problems when using laptops. This article seem to describe the problem with greater simplicity and clarity:

"When you look at the design, laptops were never (meant) as a replacement for a desktop computer," said Alan Hedge, director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University. "The idea was portability for occasional use. It was never intended to be a machine you would work at for eight hours a day, 52 weeks a year."

The main problem with laptops is that the screen and keyboard are so close together. Without the aid of peripherals, laptop users have two choices, neither of which would win them any points for posture. They can cramp their neck down to view the monitor or they can elevate the machine to eye level, which can wreak havoc on shoulders and arms.

And the wrists lose regardless, because the keyboard is so small, leading to awkward hand positioning.

"These are all recipes for disaster for your body, and your musculoskeletal system especially," said Nicholas DiNubile, an orthopedic surgeon in Havertown, Penn., a Philadelphia suburb. " continued ... (Via ZDNet)

Small businesses may get more power versus OSHA

"The Occupational Safety and Health Administration no longer riles businesses by proposing ergonomics regulations or suggesting that employers are responsible for the safety of their employees' home work environments.

Those are just bad memories from the Clinton years. Small businesses, however, still complain that OSHA doesn't treat them fairly when it comes to enforcing workplace safety regulations.

And that is at issue in the construction industry, which accounts for 38 percent of the work force in small business, but 56 percent of all small business fatalities. Laborers/material movers and heavy equipment/tractor trailer drivers make up two of the three occupations with the highest number of injuries resulting in time lost from the job." continued ... (Via The Phoenix Business Journal)

New keyboard designs alleviate repetitive strain

"A decade ago, there was much talk about keyboards causing repetitive-motion injuries. Attention was focused on ergonomics, and leading manufacturers, including Microsoft Corp., introduced special curved and split keyboards.

If you're like me, though, those keyboards didn't solve the problem. Months ago, I started getting tingling and numbness is my lower left arm, probably the result of typing. It wasn't painful, but the odd feeling occasionally made it hard to sleep. The phenomenon isn't uncommon among my colleagues.

I decided this was a good time to test a new generation of ergonomic keyboards that break a rule of keyboard design you've probably never thought about.

But switching to the EZ-Reach did something. The numbness started receding. I'm not sure if this is because the mere act of changing keyboards relieved overused tendons, or if the keyboard really did what it was supposed to.

A small study cited by TypeMatrix showed that 21 of 24 participants who complained of repetitive strain injury before switching to TypeMatrix felt better after five weeks, so I'm willing to give the company the benefit of the doubt.

I found the Kinesis board very comfortable. The cup-shaped keypads mean only minimal movement is needed to hit each key, and the hands move very little. The wide separation of the keypads mean the arms don't need to angle in." (Via Chicago Tribune)