Posted: Monday, 18 June 2012, New York | Author: iSeek/Mingxia Xu, Department of Management
In July 2009, when Maria moved with her department to the Albano building in New York as part of the Capital Master Plan, she set up her workstation in such a way that the computer monitor was placed to one side, and she had to frequently turn her head in order to see the screen.
Two years later, Maria started to have pain in her neck and lower back. “What contributed to it was the constant pulling of my muscles,” she said after consulting her physician. “It’s nobody’s fault,” said Maria, “It’s just that you don’t think of these things.”
Maria is one of 15 staff members who participated in the first information session on workstation ergonomics in New York on 7 June 2012. The session, organized by the Medical Service Division (MSD), provided valuable information on how to set up an ergonomically correct work station and prevent work related musculoskeletal disorders. These sessions are scheduled to be conducted monthly, and anyone who is interested should contact msdnurses@un.org or go to MSD’s iseek page for more information.
The science of ergonomics
"Ergonomics deals with the ‘fit’ between the user, equipment and their environment,” said MSD Nurse Ms. Thin Thin Lay. An effective ergonomic program can reduce the number and severity of work-related injuries and illnesses, and contribute to fewer lost workdays, improved employee morale and productivity.
How to set up an ergonomically correct workstation
As most staff members work with computers, Ms. Lay provided some useful tips on setting up an ergonomically correct workstation. One important factor is the chair. "A staff member in New York sits in one of two types of office chairs, the black Aeron Chair or the blue Criterion Chair. Both chairs have similar specifications, are fully adjustable, and offer excellent support to the full range of seating postures", explained Anne Soiberg, of the Facilities Management Service (FMS) in the Department of Management.
When sitting, the angle between your lower legs and your thighs should be roughly 90 degrees. You should adjust the seat height to just below your kneecaps when standing. The backrest must be adjusted to provide sufficient support to your lumber vertebrae. The curve in the back of the chair should be approximately 10 inches (25 cm) from the seat. It is equally important to adjust your armrests to provide support to your arms, shoulders and neck muscles.
Besides the chair, other equipment should be aligned properly to prevent muscle strains, including ensuring the following:
• the keyboard should be placed directly in front of the monitor
• the top edge of the monitor should be at eye level and the distance between the monitor and your eyes should be between 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm)
• When positioning a monitor, take into consideration the source of light and make sure there is no reflection or glare on your screen
• the mouse should be placed close to the keyboard and be accessible without stretching your arm
To learn more about what you can do to adjust your work station, Ms. Lay recommended the Configuring your Computer Workstation in 8 Steps, a self assessment package prepared by the Medical Service.
As for Maria, she is going to follow the advice of the nurse and arrange her workstation to be more ergonomically correct.