| 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.
About the author:
Nishanth Reddy is an Author and Publisher of various
health related websites. For more information on
Ergonomic Computing Tips visit: http://www.safecomputingtips.com. |
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