What general guidelines should be considered for seated workstations?
For seated workstations, the following guidelines should be considered:
- Desks should be designed and/or selected according to a site-specific risk assessment/ergonomic assessment
- Every workstation should be designated with both the worker and task in mind
- The worker should be able to maintain a correct and comfortable body posture
- The worker should be able to reach the entire work area without stretching or twisting unnecessarily
- There should be adequate leg-room and knee clearance beneath the desk
- The work must be adequately visible with the head and trunk upright or with just the head inclined slightly forward
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What ergonomic factors need to be considered when selecting a work chair?
When selecting a work chair, consider:
- Seat height should be adjustable
- Seat width should cope with the largest users’ hip width
- Adjustable backrests should be provided to support the lower back
- The lower part of the back rest must be given a convex shape to preserve the curve of the lower back
- All adjustments should be quick and easy to make
- Seats should swivel and be easy to move
- Ensure armrests on the chair will not hinder work tasks
- Ideally, the chair should have 5 legs for stability
What general guidelines should be followed to help protect employees’ health and safety when standing work must be carried out?
When employees perform work in a standing position, consider the following:
- The worker should be able to maintain an upright and forward-facing posture during work
- Where possible, work should be planned to allow the worker alternate between sitting and standing
- There should be adequate space and knee room at the workstation to allow the worker to be close enough to the work without bending the trunk or over-reaching
- All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several different postures without reducing capability to do the work
- Workers should be able to carry out their task(s) without excessive bending or twisting
- Appropriate footwear should be worn
- Work activities should be performed with the joints at about the mid-point of their range of movement, especially when the head, trunk and upper limbs are concerned
What kind of workstation is preferred – sitting or standing?
The design and organisation of work activities should ensure that no prolonged postures, either sitting
or standing, occur. However, the decision on whether the employee sits or stands will depend on the work activity and a site-specific risk assessment.
Sitting is generally preferred for tasks that:
- require fine precision work, fine manipulative actions
- are of a repetitive nature
- require high levels of visual attention
Advantages of seated work include:
- taking the weight off the legs
- Stability of upper body posture
- Reduced energy consumption
Standing workstations are typically preferred when:
- Work which requires a person to lift loads and alternate postures frequently
- Tasks require a large space to be covered
- Tasks involving frequent application of downward forces
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What measures can be implemented to reduce the risk of muscular skeletal disorders (MSDs) when sitting or standing?
Measures that can be taken to minimise the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) may include, but are not limited to:
- Encourage frequent change of posture:
E.g. sedentary workers should be able to sit in a variety of positions and should also be able to get up and move around regularly in their job. A sit-stand workstation may be provided.
- Ensure limbs are in a position of greatest strength where muscular force must be exerted:
E.g. knee clearance to allow person to have easy access to their workstation when sitting, lifting a load close to the body.
- Avoid postures that require a joint to be used for long periods of time at the limit of its range of motion:
- Avoid forward inclination of the head and trunk
- Avoid twisted postures when carrying out work activities while standing.
- Avoid causing the upper limbs to be held in a raised position while sitting or standing.
- Provide adequate back support in all seats.
What is a pedestal stool?
A pedestal stool consists of an adjustable seat, usually 65-85cm high, which is tilted forwards between 15 and 30 degrees. Pedestal stools are generally used in the workplace to vary a standing work posture, when workers are required to stand for long periods. They allow the worker to adopt a semi-supported posture, to relieve the stress on the legs. However, a pedestal stool cannot be used for long periods of time, as it is only suited to standing activities where heavy forces or extensive movements are
not required.
What could be included in an ergonomic training programme for workers operating at sit, stand or sit-stand workstations?
Issues that should be addressed in training may include, but are not limited to:
- Risk Assessments
- Risk factors, e.g. awkward postures, over-reaching, twisting, handling loads, adjustability of chairs
- Control measures to avoid/reduce risk of MSDs, e.g. requesting site-specific risk assessment, ergonomic assessment.
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Where can I get further information and details on workstations and sitting/standing work?
Health and Safety Authority Website
www.hsa.ie
Health and Safety Executive, at
www.hse.gov.uk
International Labour Organisation, at
www.ilo.org
Occupational Safety & Health Administration, at
www.osha.gov
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, at
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, at
http://www.ccohs.ca/
References:
Di Martino, V. and Corlett, N. (Eds.), 1998,
Work organisation and ergonomics.
Geneva: International Labour Office.
Dul, J. and Weerdmeester, B., 1993, Ergonomics for beginners, Taylor and Francis.
Health and Safety Executive/ Local Authorities Enforcement
Liasion Committee, 2000,
Supermarket checkouts and musculoskeletal disorders.
Retrieved April 2006 from
www.hse.gov.uk
Kroemer, K. H. E. and Grandean, E., 2000,
Fitting the task to the human, Taylor and Francis.
Pheasant, S., 1999,
Bodyspace; anthropometrics, ergonomics and the design of work, Taylor and Francis.