Case Study: Ergonomics In Action!
Computer Usage Need Not Be Hazardous to Your Health: A Case Study
The following story is a case study taken from my forthcoming book Ergonomics Made Incredibly Simple, and No Simpler; which is a semi-fictitious account from an OccuCom client. My goal in providing this excerpt is to provide some unique insight into how effective ergonomics can be when utilized with a “Big-Picture-Thinking” perspective:
David, a 42-year-old chief financial officer for a well-known venture capital group in San Francisco, continued to complain to his medical doctor that almost everything he did at his workplace caused him discomfort in the neck, eyes, wrists, and low back throughout the workday, especially the prolonged periods of sitting. Unfortunately, it was beginning to affect his social life. His physician, who specialized in work-related injuries and illnesses, referred him to my ergonomics-consulting firm and four treatments with a doctor of chiropractic. As it turned out, after a thorough evaluation of the office, desk and chair, computer workstation and accessories, as well as observing him interact with some of the most frequently performed task activities, the solution was quite simple. It required some minor rearranging of his computer furniture, as well as teaching him how to move more efficiently while keyboarding and mousing. A new ergonomic chair, sit-stand workstation (to be used in 30 minute sessions), and keyboard tray were also recommended and implemented. After two months, he reported to his doctor that nearly all of the symptoms were gone and that his social life was back in the groove. Furthermore, OccuCom was retained to help the remainder of the company’s workforce of 30 employees.
As this success story reveals, cooperation between health service providers, ergonomists, employers, and, of course, patients can maximize the benefits of the ergonomics process. After all, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, musculoskeletal disorders, as mentioned previously, are the most prevalent, most expensive and most preventable injuries in the American workplace today. This is particularly apparent as computer usage has increased to an estimated of the 120 million workers.
Course by Chuck Sherrod, Professor and Ergonomist, DC, MPH, CIE
