But isn't it just common sense?

Yes it is! (Although having a solid understanding of anatomy and musculo-skeletal injuries does help)

Someone sent me this link today - perfect timing for this post. It's funny how so many of the solutions provided when doing ergonomic assessments are met with a 'But of course! Why didn't I think of that?'. That's not to think badly of the people being assessed... the majority of people I've come across sit at their desk and start working without even considering the option to make their workstation more comfortable for them.

Here's a cute clip on how easy it is to improve your set up when using a laptop or PC - of course some of the solutions aren't as ideal as I'd like them to be, but it gets the message across.

So simple, yet so effective

Get Ergonised - for your home and office workstation
www.get-ergonised.com.au
1300 820 877

Who's giving you a hand?

For many of us, it's not what we do that is hard, it's how much of it there is to get done! 

This message was reinforced to me today after completing a workstation assessment. The desk was piled high with paper.. not in clearly defined stacks, but strewn across and over and around everything else on the desk. My client was complaining of back pain, both upper and lower, neck pain, and just looked plain tired. During the assessment we cleared the desk and reorganised it starting with correct placement of the essential items: monitor at the correct height (it had been too low), keyboard and mouse within close proximity to the client (they had been used with arms outstretched), and phone within easy reach. Due to the high level of paperwork and referencing required, I also created a temporary document holder to stop him from reading his notes from places on his desk that required awkward neck postures.

With the physical aspects of the workstation addressed, we then delved into the matter of workload. My client stayed back at work long after their colleagues had left for the day, didn't take lunch or tea breaks, and felt like he was never on top of things. He showed me his list of things to do that week, which went over a few A4 pages. Taking the list off him, we broke the it down into achievable daily tasks, and wrote them as a check list in his diary for each day. He also realised that many of the tasks on his big long list were actually meant to be done by other people in his team, but he had just taken them on board for some reason or another, and as such become burdened with an unrealistic level of work. A delegation list was developed, and trays arranged on his desk to keep his documentation in organised and easily identifiable locations.

With a clear desk and achievable workload, the relief was evident on my client's face.

Morale of this story:
* Organise your desk so that you don't feel burdened by work before you even start your day
* Make sure your workstation is well set up to prevent physical discomfort at work
* Make sure you are not doing work for other people! Delegate it back to them and focus on doing a good job on your own work
* Break down your to-do list into achievable tasks each day

And feel better!

www.get-ergonised.com.au
1300 820 877

It's only a little niggle...

In the many years of working as a rehabilitation consultant in worker's compensation, I can't begin to tell you how many times injured workers' have told me how their injury occurred, explaining that 'it was only a niggling discomfort, I thought it would just go away'.

Lower back pain, upper back pain, neck pain, wrist pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain.. the list goes on and on. Left to get better on their own, these niggling discomforts can sometimes develop into full-blown injuries that can take months and even years to recover!

Besides getting an all-important workstation assessment to ensure that how you sit and work isn't contributing to the discomfort, other things that can help out in these early stages can include:

• Massages from a qualified remedial massage therapist or physiotherapist
• A few physiotherapy sessions (and then actually doing the stretches and exercises they prescribe)
• Some anti-inflammatory medication (talk to your doctor or pharmacist first)
• Light exercise and movement (we sit down for way too long each day)

Also, it's worth looking at the things you handle everyday - For example, some handbags are really heavy! Do you really need a full 1L water bottle, a diary, a book, a make up bag, spare shoes etc. with you at all times? See what things you can leave at work or home, what you can downsize (i.e. using a small bottle and refilling it as needed), or other ways you can carry things to and from work (backpacks and trolley bags are a couple of options).

The most important message out of this is that it's so much better to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to aches and pains that just don't go away. Act before they become more than just a bit of pain in the neck!

www.get-ergonised.com.au
1300 820 877

What is ergonomics? What's a workstation assessment?

I've come to a realisation that many people don't really know what I do, or what Get Ergonised stands for. Having conversations with people over Christmas, I noticed that they were doing a lot of nodding but not a lot of understanding.. so here it is:

What is ergonomics? 

Essentially, ergonomics is making products and tasks more comfortable for the user. When applied to office workstations, it means making it more comfortable for people to sit and work at their desk. That's it, nothing more, nothing less. Just something to make your workstation not make you sore. When you think about it, many of us experience that niggling neck and upper back tension that always seems to get worse when working on an intense project or after a long day or week.. and how about that low back pain that can sometimes make it hard to stay seated for hours on end. Even things like forearm pain, wrist pain, headaches, eye strain and leg soreness may be symptoms attributed to sitting at a desk that has not been set up specifically to suit you. Hot-desking seems to be the new thing in workplaces, where you get to sit at a different workstation every day.. do all these people spend 2 minutes each morning setting themselves up for optimal comfort?

So what's a workstation assessment? 

A workstation assessment is an evaluation of you at your workstation. It includes making sure your chair is at the right height, and that the backrest fits the curves of your back; that the monitor, keyboard and mouse are positioned correctly for you; that your phone is accessible without straining yourself; and also as importantly, that your workflow is effective and work areas on your desk are appropriately designated.

January is a great month for having a workstation assessment, as most people will still be relaxed and pain-free after a few days or weeks off from work. Start the year off getting yourself ergonised!

Check out www.get-ergonised.com.au for more information on work and home workstation assessments.

Who'll be stringing up the Christmas lights at work this Christmas?

Ahh the festivities..Secret Santa's, candy canes and merriment all round. Christmas can be such a fun time of year in homes and workplaces across the country! Here are a few safety tips to keep everyone smiling:

1. Carrying heavy gifts and boxes of decorations? 
Use a trolley where you can, or divide up the load into smaller bundles.

2. Hanging up tinsel and other pretty decorations in the office?
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT stand on a swivel chair! Ladders and step stools have been made for a reason. Use them!!

3. Gift giving time?
Pick up wrapping paper and ribbon from the floor - no one likes a slip hazard!

4. You don't like your gift?
Don't throw it back at the gift giver. Eye injuries are never fun.

So there it is.. have a safe and happy Christmas, and see you again in the new year!

CONTACT GET ERGONISED TODAY TO ARRANGE AN OBLIGATION-FREE SITE VISIT FROM A CONSULTANT IN THE NEW YEAR. INCLUDES A COMPLIMENTARY PREVENTATIVE ASSESSMENT FOR THE REFERRER. 

www. get-ergonised.com.au
admin@get-ergonised.com.au
1300 820 877

Ergonomic humour

Here's a funny take on a serious topic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_popout&v=Ns_mt77JZb0

Picking up on common bad habits is a great start to improving the way you sit (and feel) when at work. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of training and education in the good, bad and ugly bits of work posture and ergonomics.

Contact Get Ergonised today to book in training sessions or ergonomic assessments for the new year so that you can start the year feeling comfortable at work, and stay that way!

www.get-ergonised.com.au

admin@get-ergonised.com.au

1300 820 877

Harmonising Work Health & Safety across Australia

As of 1 January 2012, Commonwealth, States and Territories have agreed to implement nationally harmonised WH&S (work health & safety) Legislation.


This means that from next year, a person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure work health and safety, and will have a duty to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking. 



These duties include requiring, so far as is reasonably practicable: 


• the provision and maintenance of a work environment that is without risks to health or safety 
• the provision and maintenance of safe plant, structures and safe systems of work
• the safe use, handling-including transport-and storage of plant, structures and substances
• the provision of any information, training, instruction or supervision that is necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety arising from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking
• the provision of, and access to, adequate facilities for the welfare of workers at the workplace, and 
• the health of workers and the conditions at the workplace are monitored for the purpose of preventing work-related illness or injury


The duties to ensure health and safety require persons conducting business or undertakings to eliminate the risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable. If this is not possible, they must minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable.


What does ‘reasonably practicable’ mean?


Work health and safety duties, other than duties of officers, workers and other persons at the workplace, apply so far as is ‘reasonably practicable’.  ‘Reasonably practicable’ represents what can reasonably be done in the circumstances. This means that the duty holders must satisfy the duties as far as they are reasonably able to, taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters, including:


• the likelihood of the relevant hazard or risk occurring
• the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or risk
• what the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, about the hazard or risk and the ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, and
• the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk. 


Only after assessing these matters can the cost of eliminating or minimising the risk be taken into account, including whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to (significantly outweighs) the risk. 


*source: Safe Work Australia


For office based workers, the use of preventative ergonomic assessments will be a valuable and reasonably practicable tool in monitoring the health health of workers and the conditions at the workplace are monitored for the purpose of preventing work-related illness or injury, and to help in creating a safe work environment 


www.get-ergonised.com.au