1. How to Achieve an Ergonomic Computer Workstation
October 8, 2009
How to Achieve an Ergonomic Computer Workstation
58th Annual Governor’s Industrial
Safety & Health Conference
October 7-8, 2009
2009 WA Govenor's Conference - LaSalle, Murphy, Pickett

2. Presenters Jeannette Murphy, OTR/L, CEA Leslie Pickett, PT
Ergonomist, Injury Prevention Specialist
St. Luke’s Rehabilitation, Spokane WA
Leslie Pickett, PT
Ergonomics and Injury Prevention Specialist
Swedish Medical Center, Seattle WA
Lynn LaSalle, MOT
Ergonomist, Ergonomic Coordinator
MultiCare Health System (MHS), Tacoma WA

3. Participants will…
Understand the ANSI/HFES human factors standards for creating an ergonomic computer workstation.
Understand some of the challenges and solutions for using computers in the hospital setting
Understand some of the challenges and solutions facing mobile laptop users.

4. ANSI/HFES 100-2007: Human Factors Engineering of Computer Workstations
Purpose
To specify acceptable applications of human factors engineering principles and practices to the design and configuration of the human-hardware interfaces in computer workstations.

5. ANSI/HFES 100-2007 Application
For computer workstations used regularly in office workplaces by users with normal perceptual and cognitive capabilities
Moderate to intensive computer users
Not intended for beyond the office workplace application
Generalizations to other applications exceed the scope of this standard.

6. ANSI/HFES 100-2007 Scope User Diversity
Applies to computer workstations for a wide range of users
In general the physical dimensions and force requirements are designed to accommodate at least 90 percent of the North American population
User Diversity
Design is not intended to accommodate all users due to the very nature of diversity

7. ANSI/HFES 100-2007 Guiding Principles
Enhance workstation usability by improving ease of use and ease of learning
Facilitate user performance by encouraging task proficiency and error recovery
Accommodate users of various physical sizes and expertise levels
Maintain user performance by allowing postural changes that minimize static loads
Promote user satisfaction by fostering product acceptance and product usage

8. ANSI/HFES 100-2007 Limitations
Not intended for transient computer work situations (e.g., using a laptop computer during airplane travel) or to workstations specially configured for individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities
Use of a portable device in an office setting, such as a laptop computer in a docking station, is not an example of transient computer work.
This standard does not apply to operator health considerations or work practices
Focus is to support operator performance through attention to the design aspects of the computer hardware and environment interfaces.
No implications are made that conformance to this standard produces health-related outcomes.

9. This standard recognized that VDT users frequently change their working postures to maintain comfort and productivity. Four reference postures are used in this standard to represent a range of postures observed at computer workstations.

10. The Comfortable Work Space
How to achieve an ergonomic computer workstation
October 8, 2009
The Comfortable Work Space
ANSI Standards, American National Standards Institute
HFES – Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Developed Human Factors Engineering of Computer Workstations
First revision from 1988 standards
Based on ANSI/HFES Standards Human Factors Engineering of Computer Workstation
2009 WA Govenor's Conference - LaSalle, Murphy, Pickett

13. Recommended Postures
Shoulder abduction
Wrist flexion
Elbow reference

14. Recommended Postures
Shoulder flexion
Torso to thigh reference