During the 2009 spring semester, The Office of Human
Resources partnered with the UNH Department of Occupational Therapy graduate
program to create an ergonomic injury prevention pilot program focusing on the
office environment.
The students studied the concept of ergonomics and how
it relates to job site assessments, and included ergonomic equipment. As part of the course requirement, students
developed various ergonomic informational literatures for The Office of Human
Resources, as an educational tool to help prevent work-related injuries.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the science of improving
the way a person interacts or "fits" within their workspace. It takes
into account the physical stresses (repetitive motions) and organizational
systems (office procedure and policy) experienced on the job. Most workplace
ergonomics programs focus on the physical factors and the risk factors
associated with musculoskeletal disorders (repeated use of muscles of the neck,
arms, wrists, hands and low back). Ergonomic Wellness is important because it
provides the body with the proper support necessary to function and reduce the
risks of stress and injury, which would be detrimental to overall wellness.
The Workstation
Most
office workstations have the same basic components. There’s the desk, the
chair, the keyboard, the telephone, the shelving, the computer monitor and any
other pieces of equipment. In assessing your workstation, everything must be
questioned. Review the Tips for an Ergonomic Workstation: Ergonomics OT Brochure
Time to Stretch
No matter how wonderfully your workstation
is assembled, your body will still need a little time to adjust to the work
it’s about to do. Just as athlete’s warm-up before their games, so too must
office workers prepare for their workdays. By stretching your muscles
particularly, the ones you’ll use most in a day’s work, you will give your body
a chance to shake out the cobwebs, get your blood flowing and be ready to work.
Stretching allows oxygen rich blood to
reach muscles and other soft tissues that often is starved while sitting or
repeating the same motion. UNH Workstation Stretches
Proper posture and correct body mechanics are important to
preserve the health of our back. UNH Body Mechanics