Many are the ways in which taking a position at work can turn out to be deleterious to your health. A checklist compiled by Raleigh, NC-based Tompkins Associates shows that one-third of all physical injuries sustained in the workplace are related to ergonomics. Examples of ergonomic conditions that lead to injury include:
Repetition — Repeating the same cycle of motions just twice a minute for two consecutive hours daily; using a keyboard or mouse steadily for a total of four hours per day.
Force — Lifting 25 pounds below the knees or above the shoulders 25 times a day; gripping an unsupported object of 10+ lbs. for a total of two hours per day; pinching with two pounds of force (holding open a small binder clip, for instance) for a total of two hours per day.
Awkward posture — Raising hands or working with hands or elbows above the head for a total of two hours a day; working with your back/neck/wrists bent or twisted for a total of two hours a day.
Contact stress — Using your hand or knee as a hammer more than 10 times an hour for a total of two hours daily.
Vibration — Using equipment with a high vibration level for a total of 30 minutes per day (chainsaws, jackhammers) or with a moderately high vibration level for a total of two hours per day.
For more information, contact Tompkins Associates at (800) 789-1257 or visit www.tompkinsinc.com.