|
Home / Health
Ergonomic Questionnaire
By:Nishanth Reddy
These days, computers have become so inevitable part of our lives that we need to use it for various purposes. Be it a free time or working hours, except a very few people, all depend on this machine to get their jobs done. There are certain things you need to know about the computer work hazards and the preventive techniques you need to follow to make your stay in front of the computer, trouble free.
I have come across some common worries shared by people who have to sit for long hours in front of the computer.
Is there a term called overuse of computers? If so, where do I draw the line?
If I have to use it on a daily basis, how many hours of my presence in front of this machine is recommended?
Will I be able to finish my work if I am to follow my recommended time schedule?
Here is a checklist that will help you create a safe, sound, and relaxed workstation. You can try using it in combination with the purchasing guide checklist. There are two options – ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. The questions relate to different topics like working postures, seating, keyboard, monitors, accessories, work area and some general questions. If the response is ‘no’, it means that a problem exists.
Working Postures:
1. Do your head and neck need to be upright, or in-line with the your torso (not bent down/back)?
2. Do the head, neck, and trunk need to be facing forward without twisting?
3. Does your trunk have to be perpendicular to the floor (you may lean back into backrest but not forward)?
4. Do your shoulders and upper arms need to be relaxed and in-line with the torso, normally about perpendicular to the floor (but not elevated or stretched forward)?
5. Do the upper arms and elbows need to be close to the body and not extended outward?
6. Do your forearms, wrists, and hands need to be straight and in -line (forearm at about 90 degrees to the upper arm)?
7. Do the wrists and hands need to be straight (not bent up/down or sideways toward the little finger)?
8. Do both the thighs need to be parallel to the floor and the lower legs to be perpendicular to floor (thighs may be slightly elevated above knees)?
9. Can your feet rest flat on the floor or should they be supported by a stable footrest?
Seating (Chair):
10. Does the backrest of the chair support your lower back?
11. Does the seat width and depth have the capacity for the specific user (seat pan not too big/small)?
12. Is the seat pan of your chair too long to press against the back of your knees and lower legs?
13. Is your seat cushioned properly, rounded, and blunt with a "waterfall" front?
14. Do the armrests of your chair support both forearms while working on the computer without meddling with your movement?
Keyboard:
15. Are the platforms for the keyboard/input device stable and large enough to hold a keyboard and an input device?
16. Are the input devices (mouse or trackball) located right next to your keyboard so that they can be accessed and used without having to reach them?
17. Can the input devices be easily activated with their size and shape fitting your hand (not too big/small)?
18. Does your workstation ensure that your wrists and hands do not rest on sharp or hard edges?
Monitor:
19. Is the top of the monitor screen at or below your eye level so that you can read it without bending your head or neck down/back?
20. Can the user with bifocals/trifocals read the screen without bending the head or neck backward?
21. Does the distance of the monitor allow you to read the screen without leaning your head, neck, or trunk forward/backward?
22. Is the monitor positioned directly in front of you so that you don't have to twist your head or neck?
23. Do you ensure that glare (for example, from windows, lights) is not reflected on your screen that makes you sit in awkward postures so as to view the screen better?
Work Area (Desk and Workstation):
24. Between the top of the thighs and your computer table, do you have enough room or your thighs (thighs are not trapped)?
25. Do you ensure that your legs and feet have sufficient clearance space under the work surface so that you can get close enough to the keyboard/input device?
Accessories:
26. Is your document holder stable and large enough to hold documents?
27. Is your document holder placed at about the same height and distance as the monitor screen so that there is little head movement, or need to re-focus, when you look from the document to the screen?
28. Is your wrist/palm rest padded and free of sharp or square edges that push on your wrists?
29. Does your wrist/palm rest allow you to keep your forearms, wrists, and hands straight and in-line when using the keyboard/input device?
30. While doing telephone and computer tasks simultaneously, do you keep your head upright (not bent) and your shoulders relaxed (not elevated)?
General:
31. Do your workstation and equipment have sufficient adjustability that ensures your safe working posture while allowing you to make occasional changes in posture when you work on your computer?
32. Are your computer workstation, components, and accessories maintained in serviceable condition and do they function properly?
33. Are your computer tasks planned in a way that allows you to vary tasks with other work activities, or to take micro-breaks, or recovery pauses while at the computer workstation?
So that is all about it. Living carelessly is the easiest thing to do, but could be the most dangerous thing too. On the other hand if you take some precaution, it can be the foundation for a healthy living, later in your life.
Remember that all the computer related hazards are not going to hamper your life in a very short span of time. But it may take years to show the symptoms. As I said earlier, prevention is better than cure.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: Ergonomics, workstation ergonomics, carpal tunnel syndrome, Office Ergonomics, computer ergonomics, Laptop ergonomics
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Nishanth Reddy is an Author and Publisher of various health related websites. For more information on Ergonomic Computing Tips visit:
Ergonomic Office Chair Ergonomics
|
|
| Top Health Articles |
- 1). Collarbone Injury By : Frank Vanderlugt
The clavicle or “collar bone” connects the scapula bone in the shoulder to the sternum in your chest. It functions to hold the shoulder upward and backward.
Clavicle fractures are common bone injuries. A break in the clavicle bone is usually a closed fracture that normally takes approximately 6 weeks to heal in an adult, 4 weeks in a child. The injury rarely requires surgery.
|
- 2). The Hottest Hair Trends And The Sexiest Hairstyles For 2007 By :
Copyright 2006 David Maillie
Hair has become unequivocally important as it can literally make one look like a movie star or a has been from Hee Haw, which died out many years ago. It is big enough that it is a multi billion dollar industry and the average bill in a salon is approaching $100. In the big cities with a hot hairstylist like Jonathon in Beverly Hills prices can easily top $500 for a cut and style.
|
- 3). Muscle Imbalance And Chronic Injuries By : Jeff P. Anliker, LMT
Injuries can occur anywhere and at anytime, but the most prevalent place of occurrence is in the workplace. The reason for such a high rate of injury is that people spend 8-18 hours a day, 5-7 days a week performing unidirectional (one-way) movement patterns, causing an imbalance in the musculoskeletal system that results in the overuse and under use of certain muscle groups.
|
- 4). Why Whey Protein? By : Sandy Knoll
With all of the recent negative press given to body supplements, it makes good sense to be cautions about using different nutritional supplements as a part of your body building efforts.
Whey protein has been lauded as a safe, natural and simple supplement. It's use has become popular for those genuinely interested in good health through physical fitness and body building.
|
- 5). Autism and its Generated Behavioral and Mental Impairments By : Groshan Fabiola
Autism is a complex neurological disorder that dramatically affects people’s behaviors and social interactions. The disorder can be revealed in early childhood, by the age of 3. Although the first signs of autism can sometimes be identified in infants, the disorder is usually discovered at a later stage of life. Autistic children present a wide range of behavioral abnormalities, and they can be easily identified among normal children.
|
- 6). Why Asbestos Cancer Affects More Men? By : Alfred J.James
Who needs to be examined?
Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos fibers on the job or at home via a family contact should inform their physician of their exposure history and any symptoms. Asbestos fibers can be measured in urine, feces, mucus, or material rinsed out of the lungs.
A thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung function tests, may be recommended.
|
- 7). The Benefits of Martial Arts Training By : Clint Leung
As any martial arts practitioner will tell you, there are multiple benefits in martial arts training. Of course, the most obvious benefit is a knowledge of self defense which is one of the major reasons why the martial arts were developed in the first place. Knowing how to defend oneself and loved ones in a potentially dangerous situation is an asset in today’s world just as it was hundreds of years ago.
|
- 8). Study Says Obesity May Be Caused By Virus By : Rick Hendershot
In new study published this month, a research team claims to have found evidence that a contagious virus can contribute to obesity.
The team found that a specific human adenovirus Ad-37 seems to trigger obesity in chickens. Previous studies had linked other adenoviruses -- Ad-36 and Ad-5 -- to obesity in animals.
These and other adenoviruses cause colds and other common illnesses in people.
|
- 9). How Long Will It Take To Gain Muscles| Build Muscle Mass By : Chris Chew
There are many factors to consider when you want to know how long will it take for you to gain and build muscle mass. Questions like are you eating enough and the right nutrients to accelerate muscle growth, are you exercising correctly and regularly and do you have the genes for quick muscle growth need to be addressed.
In this article, we shall discuss whether you have the genetic make up to gain and build muscles quickly.
|
- 10). Breathe Easy: Some Asthma Relief Tips By : Nick Carter
Asthma is the seventh-ranked chronic health condition in the United States and the leading chronic illness of children. It is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants.
During an asthma attack, tightening of the smooth muscles around the bronchial tubes causes them to become inflamed, narrow inside, and produce excess mucus.
|
| New Health Articles |
- 1). How To Break An Addiction By : John Morris
You need to evaluate the problem and find what triggers your addicts and what specific need it is using. Once you have determined that, you can begin breaking yourself of the habit one step at a time...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 5). Make Your Heart More Healthy By : Dan Sherman
Does it seem like there are more health risks these days than there were in the past? Well, the plain and simple truth is, there are. Now, more than ever, people around the globe grapple with various heath afflictions.
|
- 6). The Best Ways To Quit Cigarette Smoking By : Jonty Smith
The author packed in his 40-a-day habit within a few hours. He did it quickly, easily and painlessly. Why then do so many other smokers struggle to quit? In this article, the author explains the best ways to quit cigarette smoking, and why many of the established methods are counter-productive.
|
- 7). Can Chocolate Really Kill Your Dog By : Gregg Hall
We have all heard this all of our lives but how big a threat is it really? Is it life threatening or will it just make him sick? How much chocolate does the animal have to eat for it to cause a negative reaction?
|
- 8). The Attraction Of Magnetic Therapy By : John Morris
Magnetic therapy is an alternative treatment for common ailments. The most commonly treated ailments for that magnetic therapy is used for are arthritis, pain, inflammation, muscle tension, migraines, tumors, asthma, allergies, diabetes and many other joints or healing complaints...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
