A presentation of how to improvise the best possible ergonomics for "temporary" work stations while sheltering in place at home during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic for students, educators, and workers reassigned to their homes.
1. Improvised Ergonomics for the
“Temporary” Home Worker
Quin Bond
Director of Measurement and Evaluation Services
NJ Ergonomics LLC
www.njergonomics.com
2. Ergonomics
• The study of the problems of people in
adjusting to their environment; esp., the science
that seeks to adapt work or working conditions
to suit the worker
3. Types of controls
• Administrative Controls – Change of policies and procedures for
performing tasks or behavioral changes.
• Engineering Controls – Change of devices or tools used to perform the
task
• In the current pandemic scenario, due to shipping issues,
engineering controls may not be possible (may take too long to source
and ship a standing desk or other workstation accessories)
4. Improvising at Home
• Shipping for online providers (Amazon, Walmart, etc.) is
significantly delayed as they refocus on priority shipments.
• Stores such as Best Buy, Staples, etc. may not be considered
“essential services” depending on state rules
• Workers are going to need to see what they have available
in their own homes to help get into the best possible
ergonomic position while doing computer work
6. Ideal Set Up
• If the employee didn’t already have an exclusive
home office space, they are most likely not going to
have an ideal set up.
• We should still try to find a way to get them as
close to ideal as possible.
• Optimal visual angle with upper portion of the screen
just below eye level.
• Elbows between 90-120 degrees when using
keyboard/mouse
• Feet flat on floor
• Wrists in neutral posture when keyboarding/mousing
7. Sitting at the Couch
• The couch and the bed as
workstations should be avoided,
if possible.
• If you have to use the couch:
• Use a table for the
computer
• Sit up right
• Use a pillow or other
support
• Don’t use your laptop in bed!!!!!
8. Using a Tablet and Keyboard
• If using an iPad, Surface, or
other tablet with blue tooth
keyboard
• Use a tablet stand (or cover that
converts) to get tablet at better
viewing angle.
• Elevate tablet to improve
viewing angle
• Keep keyboard separate to be in
more optimal position
9. Kitchen counter as standing desk
• If you are tall enough
• Wear shoes
• Same laptop rules as desk
• Elevate one foot to reduce low
back fatigue
10. Phone calls
• Use Bluetooth headset/wired headset or use speaker
phone option to take calls
• Keep neutral cervical posture
• Allows employee to get up, move around, and stretch
• Leaves hands free to type, write notes, etc.
11. Using a laptop
• Elevate the laptop
• Use detached keyboard and
mouse
• Good posture
• Elevate feet as necessary
• Document holder?
12. Micro breaks for rest
and stretching
• Encourage employees to
take time each hour to get
up and stretch their neck,
shoulder girdle, arms,
wrists, hands, lower back,
and legs
14. Tips to Survive and
Thrive Working At
Home
• Keep to a daily schedule
• Eat clean and healthy (and regularly)
• Exercise in moderation
• Get started, don’t over do it
• Keep good sleep hygiene
• Regular sleep hours
• Stay hydrated
• Physical distance, socially connected
15. If you can order….
• A multi-position mouse (Contour Uni-Mouse)
• Adjustable DPI (speed and distance of movement)
• An ergonomic keyboard
• Multiple styles dependent upon user
• A laptop stand
• A document holder
• A Bluetooth headset
• An office chair
17. Quick Consults/Reviews
• Questionnaire to be completed before
evaluation
• Photos of workspace
• 30 minute consultation for recommendations
and answering questions on doxy.me (HIPAA
compliant video conference service)
• E-mail to remind about key points of consult
• Follow-up e-mail one week after consult to
check on adjustments
Standard Evaluation is performed
on-site with anthropometric
measurements of the employee
and measurements of the
workspace. The typical standard
evaluation contains 50+
datapoints that are measured to
help identify areas of
improvement and to make
appropriate, individualized
recommendations.
