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VDT OCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICS

VDT OCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICS. VDT OCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICS Objectives. Identify and Evaluate the Ergonomic Risk Factors Associated With VDT Environments Develop Effective Engineering and Administrative Controls to Minimize Exposures Associated With VDT Environments. CURRENT VDT ISSUES.

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VDT OCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICS

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  1. VDTOCCUPATIONALERGONOMICS

  2. VDTOCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICSObjectives • Identify and Evaluate the Ergonomic Risk Factors Associated With VDT Environments • Develop Effective Engineering and Administrative Controls to Minimize Exposures Associated With VDT Environments

  3. CURRENT VDT ISSUES • Visual Discomfort • Electromagnetic Frequency ( EMF ) Exposure • Fatigue / Stress • Musculoskeletal Disorders

  4. VISUAL DISCOMFORTComplaints • Eye Strain - Largest Single Complaint • Burning / Itching Eyes • Headaches • Cataracts

  5. VISUAL DISCOMFORTCauses • Eye Muscle Strain / Fatigue • Dry Eyes • Uncorrected Vision Problems • Vision Correcting Eyewear - Focusing Difficulties • Possible Indoor Air Quality ( IAQ ) Relationship

  6. VISUAL DISCOMFORTCurrent Consensus • No Evidence That VDT Work Leads to Visual Damage • No Proven Correlation Between VDT Usageand Cataracts • Eye Muscle Strain / Fatigue • Lighting / Glare • Monitor Height & Distance to Eyes • Visual Concentration on Monitor • Dry Eyes • VDT Environment Less Humid • Eye Blink Rate: 3. 6 / Min VDT vs. 18. 4 / Min Normal • Regular Vision Exams Recommended

  7. VISUAL DISCOMFORTControl Measures • Eye: Strain / Fatigue / Dryness • Lighting / Glare • VDT: 50 fc / 500 Lux Optimum Light Level • Office: 100 fc / 1,000 Lux Optimum Light Level • Don’t Place VDT Directly Under Bright Overhead Lights • Provide Indirect Lighting and Supplement With Task Lighting • Place VDT Parallel to Windows • Low Reflective Walls / Work Surfaces • Anti-Glare Screens: Last Resort Only

  8. VISUAL DISCOMFORTControl Measures • Eye: Strain / Fatigue / Dryness • Ensure Monitor Display Quality • No Apparent Flicker (Older Monitors) • Adjustable Brightness and Contrast • High Resolution and Polarity • Adjust Monitor Height and Distance • Top Character Line on Screen 15 - 20 DegreesBelow Horizontal Eye Level & Monitor Angled Appropriately Upward • Eye to Screen Distance 20”- 40” ( Operator Preference Studies 25. 5”- 31” )

  9. VISUAL DISCOMFORTControl Measures • Eye: Strain / Fatigue / Dryness • Eye Focusing / Muscle Defatigue Exercises • 1 Min. Rest / Exercise Break ( Focus / Refocus ) After 15 Min. Continuous VDT Work • Remember to Blink Eyes Frequently • > 18 Blinks / Min. Minimum to Refresh Eyes • Contact Lens Wearers Should SupplementOwn Tears Via Eye / Rewetting Drops

  10. VISUAL DISCOMFORTControl Measures • Vision / Eyewear • Regular Eye Exams • New Hire / Transfer • Annual • VDT Specific Corrective Lenses • Fixed Focal Length • No Bi / Tri-Focals • Inform Optometrist / Ophthalmologist of VDT Work and Eye / Screen Distance • Some VDT Users May Need a Correction Diff.From One Needed For Reading / Driving

  11. QUESTIONS ?

  12. ELECTROMAGNETICFREQUENCY (EMF) EXPOSUREComplaints • Reproductive Disorders • Birth Defects • Stillbirths • Spontaneous Abortions • Cancer • Leukemia • Lymphomas • Central Nervous System • Cataracts • Clusters of Reported Problems

  13. EMF EXPOSUREConcerns • EMF Radiation ? • Ionizing • X-Ray • Non-Ionizing • Infrared • Microwave • Radiowave • VLF • ELF • Or Are Other Factors the Real Issue ?

  14. EMF EXPOSURECurrent Consensus • Recent Studies Conclude: Emissions of All Types of EMFs Are Well Below Accepted Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Limits • No Direct Causal Link Established BetweenVDT Use and Reproductive Disorders, Canceror Cataract Formation • Other Factors ( Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs, Age,Socioeconomic Status, etc. ) Have a Greater Known Effect • Work Stress May be a Factor • More Research Needed / Ongoing to Determine Correlational / Causal Links

  15. EMF EXPOSUREControl Measures • Monitor / CPU Position • Front: Min. 12” Away = < 1 milligauss (mG) • Rear: Min. 24” Away = < 1 milligauss (mG) • Essentially “ 0 ” Exposure • Minimize Exposure to Known Reproductive and Carcinogenic Risk Factors • Smoking, Alcohol & Drugs • Workstation and Job Task Design / Redesignto Minimize Work Stress and Maximize Comfort Level

  16. QUESTIONS ?

  17. Fatigue / StressComplaints • Generalized Aches and Pains • Constant Fatigue • Sleeping / Eating Disorders • Increased Reliance Upon Coping Mechanisms • Smoking, Alcohol & Drugs • Ulcers • High Blood Pressure • Coronary Heart / Artery Disease

  18. Fatigue / StressCauses • Anxiety About Job Security • Anxiety About Ability to Operate Equipment • Computer Phobia • Job Ambiguities • Perceived Lack of Control Over Job • Concerns About Productivity • Shiftwork / OT / Repetitive Work • Co-worker / Supervisor / Personal Issues • Workstation Design / Layout

  19. Fatigue / StressCurrent Consensus • Lack of Job Satisfaction is Felt by Manyto be the Greatest Stressor • Stress is Related to Overall Job Contentand Not Just VDT Use • Physical Stressors Associated With Workstation Design / Layout Compound Effects of Mental Stressors • Economic Climate Can Significantly Impact Job Fatigue / Stress Levels

  20. Fatigue / StressControl Measures • Design / Redesign Jobs to IncreaseEmployee Control and Involvement • Keep Employees Informed About Job Status, Anticipated Changes andProgress in Achieving Goals • Provide Ergonomically Well-DesignedWorkstations • Train Employees in Proper Adjustment of Workstation Features • Promote On / Off Job Wellness Programs

  21. QUESTIONS ?

  22. Musculoskeletal DisordersComplaints • # 1 - Neck / Shoulder Pain • # 2 - Low Back Pain • # 3 - CTS / Wrist Pain

  23. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSCauses • Workstation Design / Adjustment • Postural Positioning • Dynamic Movement • Static Loading • Chair, Desk, Keyboard, Monitor, DocumentHolder, Telephone, etc. • Task Design • Concentrated Effort / Repetition • Physical, Mental & Visual • Physical Environment • Lighting / Noise / Temperature

  24. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSCurrent Consensus • Problems More Closely Related to the TaskThan to the Equipment • Continuous VDT Work Defined as • > 2,000 Reps / Hr • < 30 Sec / Cycle • > 3.5 Hrs / Day Continuous ( > 50 % of Workshift ) • Symptom Severity for Upper Extremity and Low Back Injuries / Discomfort Closely Related to Typing Speed and Length of Time Typing

  25. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSCurrent Consensus • Prolonged Excessive Postural Deviations Dueto Poor Workstation Design / AdjustmentSignificantly Contribute to Injury / Discomfort • Appropriate Task and Workstation Design / Adjustment Can Alleviate Majority of Injuries / Discomfort

  26. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures • Chair - Maximum Adjustability • Height - 5 Caster Base • Seat Pan - Waterfall Edge • Backrest - Lumbar Support • Armrests - Optional but Preferred • Footrest - Adjustable Height / Tilt • Relieves Body Weight Pressure on Spine • Improves Foot Position Relativeto Chair Height

  27. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures • Monitor • Adjustability For Height and Distance • Top Character Line 15 - 20 Degrees Below HorizontalEye Level & Monitor Angled Appropriately Upward • Eye to Screen Distance 20” - 40” ( Operator Preference Studies 25. 5”- 31” ) • Articulating Monitor Stand • Keyboard / Mouse • Detached For Ease of Movement • Adjustability For Height and Distance • Articulating Tray • Wrist Support and Mouse Pad • Detached Numeric Keypad

  28. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures • Desk / Workstation • Adjustable Desktop Height • Sufficient Under-Desk Legroom / Clearance • Good Housekeeping • Office Equipment • Document Holder at Monitor Height • Primarily View Monitor: Monitor in Direct View • Primarily View Document: Document in Direct View • Calculator, Telephone, etc. • Within Individual Comfortable Reach • Telephone Handset - Shoulder Rest or Headset

  29. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures • Posture • Head / Neck: Vertical and Forward Facing • Shoulders: Comfortable / Neutral Posture • Upper / Lower Arms: 90 Degree Angle • Wrists: Horizontal • Back: Upright / Lumbar Support / Contact Backrest at All Times • Upper / Lower Legs: 90 Degree Angle • Feet: Supported by Footrest / Reposition Periodically

  30. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures • Posture • Office Equipment Within IndividualComfortable Reach • Monitor, Keyboard and Chair Adjustments Are Interrelated • Training: Proper Posture / Adjustment of Workstation Features • New Hire / Transfer / Periodic Refresher • Supervisor Enforcement

  31. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures • Task Design • Provide Ergonomically Well-DesignedWorkstations • Design / Redesign Jobs to IncreaseEmployee Control and Involvement • 1 Min. Rest / Exercise Break (Stretching / Eyes - Focus / Refocus)After 15 Min. Continuous VDT Work • 15 Min. Rest Break (10 Min. Minimum)after 2 Hrs. Continuous VDT Work (NIOSH)

  32. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSControl Measures • Environment • Humidity: 50 - 70 % • Room Temperature: 70 - 75 Degrees ( F ) • Lighting: VDT - 50 fc / 500 Lux Optimum Office - 100 fc / 1,000 Lux Optimum

  33. QUESTIONS ?

  34. VDTOCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICSSummaryEvaluation / Control Measures • Total Job Environment • Workstation Design & Adjustment • Physical Environment • Task Design • Training • Emphasize Good Ergonomics • Design / Redesign / Adjustment • Promote On / Off Job Wellness

  35. THANKS FOR LISTENING TIME TO LOGOFF !

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