User-friendly toilets

Designing an accessible toilet ...

"The wonderful thing about being a disabled person in Malaysia is that when you require assistance, four out of every five Malaysians will come to your aid. The only problem is that you sometimes have to call out to them for help.

... So you can understand why I was thrilled when I read that the Housing and Local Government Ministry plans to include signs in Braille in public toilets all over the country. According to the news report, the visually-impaired will find it easier to use loos with signage in Braille indicating where facilities such as bidets, urinals, soap dispensers, hand dryers and garbage bins are located

... Meanwhile, Kapt Abdul Karim Stuart Russell, secretary of the Support Group Society for the Blind of Malaysia, has raised the following points for the committee to consider:

• Tactile ground surface indicators for the blind help orientate them to the location of public toilets. These must be properly placed and maintained. Note: Tactile markings are only of limited help if no information in Braille is provided outside and inside the toilets to help the blind use the facilities.

• Standard uniform layout is essential in assisting the visually-impaired to overcome difficulties when using public toilets. Even slight differences can cause serious problems, distress and pose a possible danger to the blind.

• Floors should be free of obstructions such as steps, open drains, and broken or missing tiles.

• Designs should ensure that counters, cubicles, doors, etc, are free of sharp edges and other dangers.

• Locking devices of toilet cubicles must be simple but effective. The designs must provide tactile evidence that the door is locked."    (Continued via The Star)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Multi Functional Hearing System

Ergonomics applied to hearing aid ...

"A consequently offensive design could provide hearing devices without compromises either in ergonomic or in functionality. The struggle between technical shrinking and usability suggests a separation of steering and hearing. This operating unit provides useful additional functions such as telephone, audio recording and playback, orientation guidance and emergency calls. The whole concept aims for usability by means of simple structure and great usage certitude. The integration of essential communicational and navigational functions and a self-contained appearance enhances the rejected prosthesis to a system for accomplished hearing."    (Continued via Yanko Design)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Triagonale Studio Hearing System

Office ergonomics: Get out of your chair!

Stand up and take a break ...

"Despite the way we all slouch and slump over our desks, we are in fact, bipeds designed to stand upright. So for the millions of office workers who must sit on chairs in front of computers for hours on end, some posture techniques and exercises are in order.

Stooping, repetitive motion and bending forward toward the computer monitor (while relaxing the abdominal muscles) create rounded shoulders, weak abdominal and lower back muscles, and tight hip flexors (the muscles that allow the thigh to lift up).

These sorts of poor office habits create huge health-care expenses for businesses, as well as for people in general. For the year 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 11,270 repetitive strain injuries that

required days away from work, according to a spokesman with to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
More people visit chiropractors because of back pain than any other ailment. "The big complaints from anyone who sits for a living are typically neck, upper-back, and mid-back pain," says Lynn Sarkela, a Denver chiropractor. Slouching and rounding the back while sitting can increase pressure on the lumbar discs by 25 to 100 percent, depending on how you are sitting, Sarkela says. And for every inch the head moves forward off of the neutral spine position, the pressure on the discs in the neck increases incrementally up to the weight of the head.

To prevent the problem, Sarkela recommends never sitting for longer than 20 to 30 minutes without a break. "Stand up for at least 30 seconds to a minute and try to restore normal posture," she says.

Improved posture is a good place to start. Good posture reduces back pain and gives you a sound physical foundation to carry you through your day. Poor posture has a domino effect throughout the body, compounding the stresses and tensions.

When you're standing correctly, certain bony landmarks should line up:

REVERSE HANDS For wrists and forearms: Stand and place the palms of both hands on the desk, fingertips forward. Rotate the hands about 160-degrees to the outside (left hand turns counter-clockwise, right hand clockwise). Thumbs will now be outside. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. (see below for continuation) (Glenn Asakawa | The Denver Post)The head is erect and sits directly above the neck and spine; ears are over the shoulders; shoulders are over the hipbones; the hipbones bisect the knee joint; the knee joint bisects the ankle joint. When the terms "neutral head" or "neutral spine" are used, this means everything is in alignment with the rest of the body."    (Continued via The Denver Post)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Reverse Hands Exercise

Leggett & Platt Enlists Ergonomic Experts To Research Science Of Sleep

The ergonomics of sleep ...

"It’s no secret that sleep deprivation is affecting more and more Americans each day. In a 2005 Harvard Medical School Study involving more than 82,000 nurses, researchers found an increased risk of death among those who slept less than six hours a night.

“This study is alarming and one that everyone involved in the sleep industry should take very seriously,” states Mark Quinn, group executive vice president of sales and marketing for Leggett & Platt’s bedding division. “At Leggett & Platt, we’ve made it one of our top priorities to focus research efforts on improving overall health through improved sleep quality.”

To assist the company in understanding how science impacts sleep and bedding technology, it is enlisting the help of Dr. Susanne Frohriep. Dr. Frohriep comes to Leggett & Platt from the automotive industry in Europe, where she has spent the last three years as an ergonomics specialist, responsible for product development and ergonomic research of comfort products.

“Ergonomics plays a pivotal role in giving consumers the comfort that enables restful sleep, which impacts overall health,” explains Frohriep. “By understanding how ergonomics is connected to better sleep, Leggett & Platt can continue developing innovative sleep systems."    (Continued via Furniture World)    [Ergonomics Resources]

UI researcher: Drivers often override cars' safety features

Driver feedback does not always work as intended ...

"Car safety equipment helps prevent crashes in the short term, but over the long term, driver safety depends on one thing: the driver.

Researchers are learning that drivers sometimes adapt to new technology designed to make them safer in ways that actually might be harmful, said Linda Ng Boyle, assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering in the University of Iowa College of Engineering.

Take those variable message signs placed on the side of the road that warn of bad conditions ahead.

Boyle's research shows signs make drivers slow down at first. But after they think the danger has passed, drivers won't go back to their normal speed. In fact, they'll go even faster.

"You're going faster than you normally would," she said. "So have we put you in a safer position?"

Boyle, a human factors researcher in the UI Public Policy Center and faculty director of the Human Factors and Statistical Modeling Lab, studies risks that affect driving.

Yet she says she's as guilty as anyone. She used to drive a car with a warning light that told her when she ran low on gas. After a while, she started waiting until the light came on to go to the pump. Then she got a new car that didn't have the light.

"And because I didn't get that feedback anymore, I kept running out of gas," she said."    (Continued via Gazette Online)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Test Vehicle

The ergonomics of driving

The ergonomics of driving posture ...

"If you're heading out of town this weekend, chances are you'll be driving.

Chances also are the way you sit in your car -- especially on long drives -- will have a noticeable impact on your body. Everything from how your mirrors are set up to where you put your hands on the wheel play a role in how you'll feel when you eventually step out of your car.

"Most people drive, and so many people feel pain from driving," says Shona Anderson, a certified Canadian professional ergonomist and owner of Calgary's Anderson Ergonomics Consulting Inc.

"I do a lot of ergonomics for driving in industry -- oil companies, for example. They notoriously have back and shoulder pain," she says. "I've even had people call me because they've gotten a new vehicle and need help because it's just not comfortable."

Even if you don't drive for a living, logging long hours in the car on an extended drive can cause muscle tension and soreness, especially in the upper back and shoulders.

To make sure you have the right setup when you hit the road this weekend, Anderson provides the following tips. Follow the instructions, which range from before you start driving to once you arrive at your destination, to give your body the best chance at feeling good this long weekend.

After all, who wants to be sore for a weekend in the sun?"    (Continued via driving.ca)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Driving Posture

Does your website support business support which is accessibility?

Making website accessibility legal ...

"We remember over inaccessible website in 2006. After that all other websites started fixing their websites for atleast priority 1.

Now there is another case, its not for the accessible website, but for the accessible services. There is a lawsuit over hotel. Two disabled people sued online travel agency Hotels.com on Tuesday seeking guaranteed accessible room reservations.

The lawsuit, which is asking a judge to make it a class action representing all disabled California customers of Hotels.com, alleges the company discriminates against people with disabilities by refusing to guarantee reservations for wheelchair-accessible rooms. The lawsuit was filed in Alameda County Superior Court."    (Continued via Suggest Usability)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Website Access

Eastern Ergonomics Conference Addresses Aging Workforce

Dealing with an aging workforce ...

"In New York, the upcoming Eastern Ergonomics Conference will tackle an issue several companies will need to face in the next 10 years: An aging staff. Current statistics suggest 76 million Baby Boomers—or about one third of the U.S. workforce—is on a path to retirement. The conference will also address the newest techniques for improving workplace productivity, safety, efficiency, and profitability, and the most current information on compliance issues.

Conference topics include: Program management, cost justification and rate of return; risk assessment and prevention; workplace health and safety; determining cost effectiveness of products/services; healthcare and lab facilities; and industrial environments, among others.

Among the speaking engagements are “Flexible, Nimble, Ahead of the Curve: How Pitney Bowes Is Optimizing Its Aging Workforce” and “Passion Never Retires: How the Aging Workforce Has Created A Strategic Competitive Advantage for the Home Depot."

Attendees include ergonomists and ergonomics specialists; ergonomics, productivity, health and safety teams; executive management and department leaders; facilities, maintenance, site planners and managers; safety engineers and managers; and manufacturing/production designers and engineers."    (Continued via Interior Design)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Hedonomics: The Human Factors of Pleasure Gains Attention as World Grows More Complex

A new and emerging field ...

"While human factors and ergonomics has traditionally been focused on and identified with issues of the human side of technology in general and work specifically (remember your Greek: ergos = work, nomos = laws of), a new era in human factors is emerging.

It emerged with the realization that after studying motor control, perception, perceptual-motor relationships, and, finally, the cognitive capabilities and limitations of human beings, it was time to add emotion and sensation to the make-up of people and recognize the importance of that aspect of our being.

It is important to relax, enjoy life, and, as the Declaration of Independence reminded us, pursue happiness.

Yes, human factors and ergonomics finally added to safety, efficiency, and productivity that need for human beings to enjoy life. It started with the title of "the human factors of pleasure" but that sounded too much like we were embracing (forgive the pun) the adult entertainment industry. We then moved on to Affective Human Factors (which I personally think sounds more scientific and professional), and now we have rounded out the search for the proper phraseology with "hedonomics" (which would appear to split the difference.)

Addressing the Stress of Life

Whatever we call it, the human factors associated with the pursuit of happiness cannot only be fun but is serious business in its own right for many reasons.

First and foremost among those reasons is that as the stress associated with life and work increase and, let's not kid ourselves, it is, the stress relief brought on by play, pleasure, and joi d'vivre, becomes ever more critical to our well-being.

The complexity of life is growing and the technology we create is adding to it. Cellphones, computers, self-service checkout, the global economy, all add to the stress.

After all the focal point of an on-demand world is the word "demand." Multimedia presentations may be more effective, but a good book is still more relaxing. And as this stress associated with work, child-rearing, education, and financial security grows, the importance of getting away, having fun, and relaxing becomes more important so hedonomics emerges to allow us to design such activities to optimize, maybe even maximize, our enjoyment of life."    (Continued via WRAL)    [Ergonomics Resources]

9 Keys for Directing Attention to Safety

Directing attention for safety in the workplace ...

"The ability to direct attention is a key to successful performance in many endeavors – from sports to leadership to communications to injury prevention. But to avoid defaulting into unworkable solutions, first recognize what has not significantly helped to direct attention control toward safety.

Ignore it and hope it will improve. This is a common organizational approach and can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If leaders do not pay attention, other employees will not pay attention either.

Inadequate Reminders. Too many managers assume attention control purely is a motivational issue and periodically remind workers to “pay attention,” “just follow procedures,” “use common sense” or “think before you act.” These messages are too infrequent, repetitive or meaningless, and rarely boost attention control. Often, such messages become part of the workplace background, disregarded as just more “noise.”

Shock tactics.
These tactics usually get attention only for a short time, then lead to resistance or disregard. For example, we have seen posters that graphically show gruesome results of injuries – but these images often create a negative emotional response rather than developing positive attention control.

Shame or blame. Approaches that play on fear of reprisals or lowered self-esteem often distract employees from safe procedures. Sometimes, workers wind up spending more attention on covering themselves than on overcoming potential work risks.

Awareness-only training. This approach typically focuses on motivation without developing practical, transferable skills for improving attention control."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Listening to Ergonomics In The News

We have added a new feature to Ergonomics In The News that allows you to listen to each article. The audio was added to the blog for three reasons: (a) to make the blog more accessible for people with visual impairments, (b) to allow you to listen to articles while you are doing other things on your computer, and (c) to permit you to listen the articles while doing other activities away from your computer. For example, you can listen to the articles while driving your car, going for a walk, or jogging.

You can now listen to each article individually by clicking on “Listen to this article” at the end of each article. Also, you can add Ergonomics In The News to any media player as an audio RSS subscription. Just click on the Talkr icon in the sidebar. Then add the audio RSS URL to any media player like Windows Media Player, Real Player, iPod, Yahoo, Juice, etc.

This service is brought to you via Talkr which is a text to speech application. Listening to individual articles is intuitive – just click the link at the bottom of the article. If you want to listen to all the articles at one time, you might want to use a “podcast client” such as Juice. Also, if you want to listen in your car, look at the methods described by Talker.

Please let us know if you find this service useful.

A Review of Ergonomically-Designed Pens

An ergonomic assessment of several pens now available ...

"Dr. Grip

Pilot produced the Dr. Grip pen, the first ergonomically-designed pen available to the general market, in 1995. The Dr. Grip is designed to relieve writing stress and fatigue for those with disabilities that impact writing ability (for example: arthritis, repetitive strain injuries). It is a wide-barreled pen with a cushioned, soft-rubber grip. The larger grip reduces the amount of force needed to hold the pen. The rubber provides a bit of traction that also reduces the force needed to hold the pen. This pen is recommended by the Arthritis Foundation for Ease-of-Use. It is available in a ballpoint pen, gel-ink pen, rolling ball pen, mechanical pencil, and multi-function (combined mechanical pencil and retractable ball-point pen).

PRO - This is a standard, stick-style pen modified for comfort with a wide barrel and a soft, rubber grip. Its design reduces writing fatigue and stress. The Dr. Grip is readily available in brick-and-mortar stores and online. Refills are standard and easily available. The cost of the Dr. Grip pen has come down since its introduction to mid-range.

CON – This is a good, gold-standard pen. If you are in the market for a stick-style, ergonomically-designed pen, there are no cons associated with the Dr. Grip."    (Continued via Bella Online)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Dr. Grip

Does the Mouse Pad Matter?

The value of mouse pads ...

"Remember mouse pads? Those little, square rectangles upon which you rode your pointing device? They came free with computers, and even some mice. At the computer store, they cost all of five bucks.

Would you pay $20, $40, or more for a mouse pad?

Well, people do. Along with the advent of gaming mice comes the "professional mousing surface." Baked with all kinds of technologies, such as aluminum composition or 7/100 of 1" thick, the professional mousing surfaces available for anywhere from $10 to the stratosphere all claim to make your performance soar in competitive gaming. Some also make promises of superior ergonomics, but the key in most cases is that, with this mousing surface, you'll transform from a target to a threat the next time you wade into a multiplayer first-person shooter.

Okay, maybe the claims aren't so bold, but many companies would have you believe that a special place to rest your mouse contributes to your ability to defeat other players in FPS games, real-time strategies, and other twitch titles.

Pardon me, but wasn't Dennis "Thresh" Fong playing back when mousing surfaces were still call pads? Heck, he was winning Ferraris when gaming mice were considered superfluous ideas.

We looked at mousing technology and talked to some professional gamers in an effort to determine whether a mousing surface could really be worth the price of an A-list game. Are high tech mousing surfaces gamers' godsends, or glorified mouse pads? Let's explore."    (Continued via ExtremeTech)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Mouse Pad

Taking a closer look

Why workplace injuries are shown to be declining ...

"According to official statistics from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry declined in 2005 for the third consecutive year. BLS reported that nonfatal injuries and illnesses declined to 4.6 cases per 100 workers in 2005, compared to 4.8 cases per 100 workers in 2004. The rate of injuries and illness requiring days away from work also declined 4 percent in 2005, according to BLS.

“The announcement that workplace injuries and illnesses in 2005 were at an all-time low is more good news for America’s workers and reflects the department’s effective worker health and safety strategy,” declared Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. OSHA claims a 19 percent reduction in injury and illness rates since 2001.

Over the years, however, a growing number of voices have raised questions about whether these rosy announcements are “simply too good to be true.” The skeptics have pointed to exclusions in BLS-counted workplaces, continuing issuance of willful citations by OSHA against employers under-recording injuries, academic studies documenting massive undercounting by employers and a proliferation of corporate accounting scandals where “cooking the books” has occurred in many areas of business recordkeeping.

Accurate records of workplace injuries and illnesses are important because they are the essential starting point from which individual employers can identify high-hazard operations and develop appropriate controls. They also set government priorities for research, agency resources and enforcement actions.

Why Downplay?

There are powerful incentives for both government agencies and employers to downplay workplace injuries and illnesses. Declining injury rates can be highlighted as evidence of “success” of government efforts; at the same time, they can justify limited or no growth of government activity during a period of budget tightening.

Employers can benefit from lower reported injury and illness rates in reduced direct medical costs, lower workers’ compensation insurance premiums, use of a “clean safety record” in competitive bidding processes and avoidance of being targeted for high-hazard workplace inspections by state and federal OSHA. There are very real economic benefits to employers from underreporting."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Laptop Ergonomics 101

Avoiding ergonomic problems from a necessarily bad design ...

"Whether you're an occasional notebook user or work on one all day, you're most likely putting yourself at risk for long-term aches and pains.

"Laptop design is necessarily constrained by the need to pack everything into a portable unit; the ergonomics can't be ideal; the ergonomics aren't ideal," said Dave Miller, ergonomist at United States Ergonomics.

In fact, laptops fail to meet one of the most important ergonomic requirements for PCs: that the screen and keyboard be at different heights. "Depending on position, you put yourself at risk for either neck strain, or shoulder, arm, and wrist injury," said Miller. As it is, it's impossible to position your laptop in a way that will allow for optimal comfort when both typing and viewing; you'll always have to sacrifice one component.

So does this mean we should stop using our laptops altogether? Thankfully, the answer is no. "With extra equipment," Miller said, "a laptop can be part of an ergonomic workstation, with the added flexibility of being taken on the road."

One of the best ways to make portable computing as pain-free as possible at home is to invest in an external, full-sized keyboard that will give you desktop-like flexibility. A detachable keyboard also allows you to type from a distance that's comfortable without forcing your eyes to be too close to the screen (a good viewing distance is about an arm's length away)."    (Continued via Laptop Magazine)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Laptop Ergonomics

OSHA Following up on Ergonomic Letters

Putting teeth into ergonomics laws ...

"Since 2002, OSHA has sent approximately 440 ergonomic hazard alert letters to employers. According to an April 11 OSHA directive, the agency will be contacting those employers to see how much progress they have made in addressing the ergonomic hazards outlined in the letters.

As part of OSHA's “four-pronged” approach to ergonomics – comprised of industry-specific and task-specific guidelines; outreach; enforcement; and research – OSHA conducts ergonomics inspections and issues citations under the General Duty Clause. The agency has published voluntary ergonomic guidelines for nursing homes, retail grocery stores and the poultry industry.

The agency over the past several years has sent out ergonomic hazard alert letters to notify employers of ergonomic problems at their work sites. The April 11 directive to compliance officers “outlines a process for contacting employers to determine whether hazards and deficiencies identified in the letter have been addressed.”

“This directive applies to any inspection coded N-03 for which an ergonomic hazard alert letter has been issued, regardless of whether the inspection was initiated under an emphasis program, the Site Specific Targeting Program (SST) or was unprogrammed,” the directive says. “This directive is intended to apply only to [ergonomic hazard alert letters].”

Employers Must Respond Within 20 Working Days

According to the directive, OSHA compliance officers are to use the “current phone/fax process” to contact all employers that received an ergonomic hazard alert letter on or after April 1, 2002, and that have had the letter for at least 1 year.

During the initial phone/fax contact, OSHA compliance officers are to “determine what specific measures were taken by the employer in response to the [ergonomic hazard alert letter].”

Following the initial phone/fax contact, officers are to fax a copy of the original letter as well as a letter requesting:

• Details of the employer's ergonomic control measures, including those recommended in the original hazard alert letter.

• Copies of the employer's OSHA Form 300 since close of the original inspection that prompted the letter.

• The estimated number of full-time employees or work hours for the exposed employees for the time period corresponding to the OSHA Form 300 information."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

The Evolution of Input

A new kind of mouse replacement ...

"Who would believe that a little mouse could cause so much pain? Most computer users, that's who.

The ubiquitous computer mouse has long been hailed as a crucial tool that has helped humankind interact with technology. It has also developed a nasty reputation for causing injuries. The repetitive movements we perform as we move that cursor around the screen can cause aches, pains, strains and even bring on the much-dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome.

And like most technology problems, a cottage industry has emerged in search of a solution. The market for ergonomically friendly input devices is actually a pretty big cottage, worth somewhere between $35 million and $49 million, according to one of the major companies in the field, Kensington Computer Products Group, based in Redwood City. And because the problem with aching hands, arms or shoulders hasn't shown any signs of going away, it is likely that the market will continue to grow.

To match that demand, entrepreneurs are innovating as fast as they can.

Euro Office, originally founded in Sweden with U.S. headquarters in Napa, has developed the Trackbar Emotion, a new kind of ergonomic mouse that works to minimize the reaching movements at the root of most mouse muscle problems.

"Some 10 years ago computers broke down, said Mike Sjöblom, president of Euro Office. "Now we have fixed the computers, but people are breaking down instead."

The Swedish-designed and Chinese-made mouse is centered at the base of the keyboard. Without having to reach to the left or the right, you control the cursor with your fingertips on a scroll wheel.

Less force is needed to click than with a conventional mouse. The idea is to minimize the movements in front of the computer as much as possible so that strain on hands and arms are reduced.

Another mouse competitor

The Trackbar Emotion was introduced in Scandinavia last year and is just coming to America now. Its biggest direct competitor is another ergonomic pointing device that now has a large part of the U.S. market, the RollerMouse from Contour Design.

"One difference between us and them is that we have a system for both desktops and laptops," said Sjöblom. "Another difference is that we are approved by Microsoft."

Just like the RollerMouse, the Trackbar Emotion doesn't come cheap: The price tag is $199 -- about 10 times more than a conventional mouse."    (Continued via SFGate.com)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Trackbar Emotion

University of Iowa Opens New Automotive Production Line Research Center

Ergonomics research in autombile manufacturing plants ...

"The Virtual Soldier Research (VSR) program, located at the University of Iowa College of Engineering Center for Computer Aided Design (CCAD), today announced that the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), an organization com-posed of DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation, has joined the program partnership with a $1.5 million contract for manufacturing ergonomics research.

At the UI, a team of 35 researchers is advancing state-of-the-art performance in computerized human modeling and simulation. Their work with USCAR will be aimed at helping the U.S. automakers use computer representations of people, called "digital humans," to design safer and more ergonomically acceptable manufacturing plants.

The partnership will address three large projects, including a study of the strength and fatigue limits of automotive manufacturing plant workers; the development and integration of ergonomics tools into "Santos(tm)" — VSR’s computer representation of a human; the advancement of the field of predictive mathematics, also referred to as "Predictive Dynamics," to enable Santos(tm) to predict such variables as his own walking speed and direction while carrying various loads and while mathematically predicting various postures."    (Continued via press-citizen.com)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Ford helps heftier folks fasten their seatbelts

The changing size of anthropometric models ...

"Do you have to fasten not only the driver's but also the passenger's safety belt around you when you slip behind the wheel?

With nearly one of every three Americans rated "obese" by the American Medical Association, you just might.

And the car companies are addressing the problem. Hard to believe, but the last time attention was paid to how the size of people affects the size of the passenger cabin was when John, Paul, Ringo and George were an opening act in the '60s.

"Because of increased obesity, more of today's motorists are grappling with tighter fits around steering wheels, armrests and seats," said Gary Rupp, a Ford ergonomics research engineer. Suit coats can be let out with needle and tread; doors can't.

... It took six years, but Ford has come up with a set of virtual reality mannequins to help its designers create cabins to fit occupants whether they are petite or XXL.

The mannequins represent people with long or short arms and long or short legs, as well as larger hips.

They are used to determine cabin dimensions from the size of the seat to the size of the centre console between the plumper driver and front-seat passenger.

It means motorists can now breathe a little easier -- even if they need to exercise more."    (Continued via Driving.ca)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Obese Driver

Computer Users: Learn to Baby Your Eyes - Eye Disorders including cataracts, Lasik eye surgery, blindness, glaucoma and eye allergy

Advice for avoiding eye strain at the computer ...

"There are few professions left that don't use computers in some way, just as there are few households that don't consider the family computer an essential appliance.

But all those hours online can take a toll on your eyes, experts warn.

"An increasing number of people are on the computer huge numbers of hours during the day," said Dr. Kerry Beebe, an optometrist in Brainerd, Minn., and spokesman for the American Optometric Association (AOA). "It does seem that particular visual demand can be tough to handle if there's anything less than perfect going on with your visual system."

Studies have shown that eyestrain and other vision problems can occur in as many as nine out of 10 people using video display terminals at work, according to the AOA.

The most common symptoms are eyestrain, blurred vision, double vision, excessive tears, dry eyes and excessive blinking or squinting. Visual problems also can result in physical problems such as headaches and neck or shoulder pain.

"Some people will have all of those and some just a few," Beebe said. "But anytime anyone comes in with those symptoms, we automatically ask, 'What are you doing much of the day?' They often spend many hours on a computer."

The radiation put out by a computer screen has nothing to do with these symptoms, although that's a common myth, said Dr. Jeffrey Weaver, director of the AOA's clinical care group.

"People are often asking about ultraviolet radiation, but any UV radiation from a computer screen is minimal," Weaver said. "If no one's getting a tan from using their computer, then it's not a matter for concern."

But if you're having eye trouble during or after computer use, you should have your eyes examined, Beebe said.

"Many times people will have a focusing problem or a refractive error where simply wearing glasses while using the computer will take away those symptoms," he said.

You should also take frequent short breaks, every half hour or so, Beebe and Weaver said. During those breaks, which can last just a minute or two, you should fix your eyes on a distant object to help refresh your vision.

"Just looking across the room or out a window can help a lot in keeping your focus relaxed," Beebe said.

The brightness of the monitor should be adjusted to an intensity comfortable to the eyes, according to the AOA. That means not too bright or too dim.

Next, you should adjust the contrast between the characters on the monitor and the background so the letters are easily read.

Finally, minimize reflected glare on the monitor by using window shades or curtains and dimmer switches on lights. Bright light sources also should be removed from the peripheral vision."    (Continued via MedicineNet)    [Ergonomics Resources]

What Is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy, biomechanics and ergonomics combine to help back pain ...

"Osteopathy is a form of drug-free non-invasive manual medicine that focuses on total body health by treating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework, which includes the joints, muscles and spine. Its aim is to positively affect the body's nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems.

This therapy is a unique holistic (whole body) approach to health care. Osteopaths do not simply concentrate on treating the problem area, but use manual techniques to balance all the systems of the body, to provide overall good health and wellbeing.

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still established the practice of Osteopathy in the late 1800s in the United States of America, with the aim of using manual 'hands on' techniques to improve circulation and correct altered biomechanics, without the use of drugs.

Osteopathy established itself in Australia in the early 1940s, and there are currently over 1100 Osteopaths practicing across the country.

... How does Osteopathy act to "prevent" ailments like back pain?

With our lives becoming increasingly busy, yet more sedentary, Osteopaths can offer prevention advice such as stretching exercises, lifting techniques, posture, breathing and stress reduction which is a great way for individuals to maintain their own health. In addition some lifestyle changes including diet or workplace ergonomics can dramatically improve ones health and reduce ongoing health costs.

Early intervention by an Osteopath means you can be aware of potential sources of referred pain, and how you can make changes to your lifestyle now, so you won't have to deal with the pain later on.

Preventing injuries means less time off work and therefore more time keeping active and enjoying the benefits of general good health. It is vitally important for all Australians to be aware of how injuries can occur and what we can all do to avoid them. The recent Federal Government White Paper produced by the Productivity Commission on the future of health care and its workers in Australia certainly demonstrated this."    (Continued via Medical News Today)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Taking the Heat Out of the Job

Avoiding heat stress on the job ...

"Construction work is hazardous enough. But when summer brings sweltering temperatures, workers have to be extra careful to not let heat overcome them. One company – Turner Construction – is taking heat stress prevention to new heights.
Escaping the heat while working outdoors in the summer is a challenge. But when the job involves constant drilling, lifting heavy loads or pouring hot asphalt, it becomes almost impossible to stay cool.

The challenge of preventing heat stress for outdoor workers has garnered a lot of attention, so much so that several states already regulate heat stress prevention for outdoor workers. In California, for instance, a spike in the number of heat-related work fatalities led the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to adopt a permanent heat stress standard in June 2006. Likewise, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) in the state of Washington issued an emergency heat stress rule that modified an already existing rule on indoor temperature exposure to make it applicable to outdoor workers as well.

... DePrater notes that while it is almost impossible to escape the heat while working under a hot summer sun, preventing heat stress is possible. Already lauded for its comprehensive safety programs (OSHA has acknowledged Turner as a model of accident prevention in practice), Turner Construction’s take on heat stress is taking action before it becomes a problem."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Talking Mobile Phones for Visually Impaired Canadians

Talking cellphone will help visually impaired and aging users ...

"Cashing in on the aging population in Canada, Rogers Wireless has launched a "talking cellphone" in the form of Nokia 6682RVI, powered by screen reading software called Nuance TALKS. This is a rather good opportunity to show compassion to the visually impaired population, highlight innovativeness, and widen subscriber base at the same time.

Selling price is $500 if without any terms but can go as low as $199.99 for a 3-year term.
Nuance TALKS essentially turns the Nokia 6682RVI handset into a "talking phone" by converting menus, instructions and content displayed on the screen into audio output through its internal speaker, or an optional wired or Bluetooth headset.

According to Statistics Canada, there are more than 600,000 Canadians living with significant vision loss. Current projections indicate that with our aging population, this number will increase dramatically over the next ten years. Nuance TALKS allows these customers to be more wirelessly connected since audible cues provide access to the services available on the phone."    (Continued via The Mobile Technology Weblog)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Nokia 6682rvi

The Science of Seating Selection

Ergonomics of seating in churches ...

"If you see people squirming this Sunday, try not to take it personally. Sometimes it’s not you — it’s your ergonomics.

Stated simply, ergonomics is an applied science that seeks to improve the design and function of tools and other objects used by people. By understanding the range and capability of the human body, ergonomists look at a seating choice depending on who will be sitting in the chairs, how long they’ll remain there, and the functions these people will be expected to perform.

To help us break down the anatomy of an ergonomically sound church seating choice, I worked with four collegiate professors and culled the research of various related associations. In the end, it seems a good chair is simply a sum of the quality of its parts.

The E-Word

Most people have heard the term “ergonomics” before, but it’s usually in reference to office furniture. Its applicability to church seating is considerably less notable – but experts say there’s a reason for this: design increases in importance with the time spent in a chair.

“Sitting places more pressure on your lower back than standing and can result in more problems and discomfort,” explains Cindy Burt, MS, OTR, ergonomics program manager at UCLA’s Environment, Health & Safety Dept. As such, she places more importance on a chair’s design if someone will be sitting in it for prolonged periods of time (i.e., a total of three or more hours a day).

The fact that many chairs in a worship environment won’t see this kind of use changes how churches should shop, explains Alan Hedge, Ph.D., a Cornell Univ. ergonomics professor and director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory.

“It’s doubtful that people sit on church seats for long enough to cause a back injury,” Hedge says. “However, for people with back injuries, even an hour on a chair that’s uncomfortable can be too much.”

John Lloyd, acting director of the Center for Product Ergonomics at the Univ. of South Florida, agrees with Hedge: duration of exposure is indeed a key factor in seating selection. The considerations would be more lenient for a seat that’s used only one hour per day vs. 40 hours per week, as is the case with office chairs.

In fact, Lloyd adds, properly designed church pews are “perfectly fine” for anyone free of medical factors requiring special considerations, such as preexisting back, neck or hip problems. Otherwise, experts recommend making an investment in special, adaptable seating for a limited number of the congregation."    (Continued via Church Business)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Hedonomics: The Human Factors of Pleasure Gains Attention as World Grows More Complex

The pursuit of happiness as a Human Factors element ...

"Human factors and ergonomics has traditionally been focused on and identified with issues of the human side of technology in general and work specifically (remember your Greek: ergos = work, nomos = laws of), a new era in human factors is emerging.

It emerged with the realization that after studying motor control, perception, perceptual-motor relationships, and, finally, the cognitive capabilities and limitations of human beings, it was time to add emotion and sensation to the make-up of people and recognize the importance of that aspect of our being.

It is important to relax, enjoy life, and, as the Declaration of Independence reminded us, pursue happiness.

Yes, human factors and ergonomics finally added to safety, efficiency, and productivity that need for human beings to enjoy life. It started with the title of "the human factors of pleasure" but that sounded too much like we were embracing (forgive the pun) the adult entertainment industry. We then moved on to Affective Human Factors (which I personally think sounds more scientific and professional), and now we have rounded out the search for the proper phraseology with "hedonomics" (which would appear to split the difference.)

Addressing the Stress of Life

Whatever we call it, the human factors associated with the pursuit of happiness cannot only be fun but is serious business in its own right for many reasons.

First and foremost among those reasons is that as the stress associated with life and work increase and, let's not kid ourselves, it is, the stress relief brought on by play, pleasure, and joi d'vivre, becomes ever more critical to our well-being.

The complexity of life is growing and the technology we create is adding to it. Cellphones, computers, self-service checkout, the global economy, all add to the stress.

After all the focal point of an on-demand world is the word "demand." Multimedia presentations may be more effective, but a good book is still more relaxing. And as this stress associated with work, child-rearing, education, and financial security grows, the importance of getting away, having fun, and relaxing becomes more important so hedonomics emerges to allow us to design such activities to optimize, maybe even maximize, our enjoyment of life."    (Continued via WRAL.com)    [Ergonomics Resources]

The Weighty Issue of Ergonomics - Tips for the Gym

Preventing injuries when working-out ...

"We think we are doing what is healthy for our bodies – going to the gym and lifting weights. Strong muscles perform better, have better endurance, and are less prone to fatigue and injury. Weight lifters, however, can be at high risk for developing tendonitis, rotator cuff injuries and peripheral nerve compressions. They may commonly experience elbow, shoulder, back and knee pain.

Last week I had two clients walk into the clinic. Both had valid work-related elbow pain and finger numbness caused by repetitive use of the arms. One is a graphic artist, the other a manual laborer. Both also have that solid, heavy-set, weight-lifter physique. If I had not already guessed that these were body-builders, the look in one’s eyes when I told him he had a grip strength that was functionally weak would have given him away. How could that be? This guy could probably not remember the last time anyone told him he was weak in anything. However, his grip test gave a good indication of how pain is limiting his ability to perform work, leisure and self-care tasks.

In addition to providing standard, work-related ergonomic information to my clients, I find myself providing instruction in exercise programs and ergonomic lifting techniques to prevent further injury and enhance recovery of injuries.

Here are some ergonomic tips to keep you pain-free at the gym.

GENERAL TIPS

• When starting or changing a program, train with a fitness expert who knows proper technique.Don’t push through pain. Pain is our body’s warning signal that something is wrong. If you are having pain, train with a health care professional who has experience with injury recovery.

• Warm-up muscles prior to working out.

• Stretch the muscles after working out. Stretching will lengthen the muscles that have tightened during the training and help to eliminate post-exercise soreness.

• When lifting, use proper form. Lift slowly and don’t use momentum to swing a weight. Although you may be able to lift heavier weights when using momentum, you are not isolating the muscle to work it efficiently. You also place yourself at higher risk for strains, sprains and muscle tears."    (Continued via Bella Online)    [Ergonomics Resources]

25 Free Health Tips for Computer Nerds

Ways to avoid injury when using a computer over an extended period ...

"You've probably heard the horror stories about gamers who died after marathon gaming sessions. In 2002, a 27 year-old Taiwanese man collapsed after playing computer games for 32 hours non-stop. In 2005, a 28-year-old South Korean man who played computer games for straight 50 hours died of heart failure. The latter gamer stopped his game only to visit the toilet and to take short 'ubernaps.'

You may not be a gamer, but you might feel as though you're tied to your computer with an umbilical cord if your computer-related job demands your attention for eight hours or more per day. As a result, you might suffer from erratic sleep patterns, headaches, back pain, and a poor attention span among other ailments. Although detachment from that computer and an expansion of interests might present the simplest ways to avoid or remedy these physical problems, your job may not allow you that luxury. To that end, the following list includes 25 health tips that address these computer-related health issues in the office or in your home. Of course, since this is Free Geekery, most of our tips are of no charge to you.

1. Listen to your body.
You may know how to program, code, and write a great article, and you may pride yourself on following your boss's cues to the letter. Despite these accomplishments, you may not listen to your body until it's too late. For example, if you take a sleeping pill occasionally you might remedy a short-term problem. But if the cause of insomnia is constant stimulation, you'll need to change your lifestyle to eliminate what may become a chronic issue.

2. Learn your limits.
When you listen to your body, you aren't exhibiting weak or 'soft' behavior. Athletes have learned that when you keep tabs on what your body says, you exhibit a willingness to find your true physical limits. Who's to say that you aren't a computer athlete and that signs of pain or fatigue aren't signals that you've taken on more than you can handle?

3. Stretch.
The best way to stay in touch with your body is through exercise. Exercise can improve your sleep patterns, your ability to think clearly, and it will improve your capacity to fight infections along with the ability to ward off cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. If you haven't exercised in a while, it's best to start out slowly with stretches and walking and then slowly work your way into more strenuous workouts. You can stretch during short breaks at your desk with this free online example."    (Continued via Free Geekery)    [Ergonomics Resources]

The Benefits of Pain - An RSI Perspective

Pain does serve a purpose ...

"The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. The word "pain" comes from the Latin root poena meaning punishment, a fine, a penalty (Wikipedia: Pain and Nociception). Although often connected with negative feelings, pain actually has some very important functions.

There are two types of pain: acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain occurs for specific reasons. With acute pain, an actual or potentially damaging event triggers special sensory nerve endings located in the skin, muscles and joints. These neural impulses then travel through the dorsal horns of the spinal cord and up to the higher centers of the brainstem and brain. An automatic and rapid course of action to eliminate the event and prevent further injury is decided upon.

• Acute pain is a protective mechanism that helps us avoid damaging situations. It warns us that damage is imminent and provides information that the body uses to avoid further injury. For example, acute pain warns us to quickly remove our hand from a hot stove top.

• Acute pain lets us know when we need to seek medical attention - such as when we have received a cut, broken a bone, or are having a heart attack. Our action may be as small putting on a band-aid or as extreme as a visit to the Emergency Room.

• Acute pain is also a signal that we need to rest a body part to allow it to heal. For example, the pain of a broken ankle prevents us from putting weight on the leg until the bone has healed enough to withstand it."    (Continued via Bella Online)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Are you a straight arrow in bed? Bend a little, says ergonomist

The ergonomics of sleep ...

"A sleeping posture favoured by many people may be interfering with a good night's rest, according to a survey that suggests nearly four in 10 Canadians have woken up in pain.

The "arrow" position, or sleeping on your side with the legs straight, was the most popular sleeping posture at 39 per cent, but experts said it may place stress on the spine and pelvis.

People often assume many positions at night, but the arrow is a common starting point, said Kathy Kawaja, a certified ergonomist in Ontario speaking on behalf of the mattress industry's Better Sleep Council.

Sleeping on the side is a plus for the arrow, but the legs are straight and one hand is tucked up underneath the pillow, which is ergonomically undesirable.

The downside of the arrow is that the hips and pelvis are not in a neutral position, which can put some strain on both, as well as the lower back, adding to discomfort, Kawaja said.

Regularly sleeping in poor postures may deform the structure of the backbone and lead to chronic joint and muscle strain, as well as headaches and poor posture.

The tuck or feta