Is your Workspace Efficient?

 Are you having to go through your work to get to your work? That's a question posed in the article "How Efficient Is Your Work Space?" from their Entrepreneur.com July 1, 2002 issue.

Conservative estimates which this Entrepreneur article quote of the price paid by organizations due to disorganization follow: Here's the economics for you to consider: The salary of a secretary earning $30,000 per year translates into approximately $.25 per minute.

If the secretary spends a conservative 30 minutes per day searching through work to find the work, the annual cost to a company is $1500.00 per year.An executive earning $90,000 per year is worth $.75 per minute, and a half hour of disorganization per day translates into $4,500.00 of lost productivity per year.

Now multiply these dollars by the number of employees affected.Needless frustration wasted physical energy, anger, accidental strains, and confusion all exact additional tolls on your employees and on your business.

Disorganization reduces office efficiency, is also not visually appealing, can depress employees, and also reflects poorly on the business when customers or others tour your office.

Efficiency makes good business sense!

Please let our team know how we can help you !

The Number 1 Benefit for your Workstation

An Articulating Keyboard Arm/Platform: 

An articulating keyboard system is the most important component of an ergonomic workstation next to the chair. For people who work on a computer for 2 or more hours per day, a high-end articulating keyboard system can provide serious protection from a variety of musculoskeletal disorders, including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, neck pain, and upper and lower back pain.

Indoff's award-winning products and hundreds of options makes Indoff the market leader in articulating keyboard systems for 10 years running. We are the largest single source for:intuitive, adjustable and quality products.Our newest offerings remain several steps ahead of the pack. If you're serious about working in comfort, you've come to the right place.

Buying Product of the Month!

Posture Tech Knee Chair

The Posture-Tech knee chair is easy on the budget, easy on space, and easy on the back. By easing your hips into a forward tilt position, the Posture-Tech chair encourages an upright posture that correctly aligns your back, shoulders, and neck. Buy this and join the legions of our customers who swear by this product's amazing benefits! Black steel frame with nylon casters. Seat height adjustment. Available in Black fabric only.

- Black steel frame with nylon casters
- Manual height adjustment
- Supportive polyurethane foam covered with durable fabric
- Overall width: 18"
- Overall depth: 29"
- Height range: 21" to 28.5"
- Seat size:17.5" x 12.5"
- Knee cushion size:6.5" x 11"

From time to time our team at Indoff finds that we need to review the fundamentals of ergonomics the following article addresses these basics:

Computer WorkstationErgonomics

WORK AREA: 

The work area should be large enough to accommodate you, allow the full range of motions involved in performing required tasks, and provide room for the equipment and materials that make up the workstation. Use a headset for lengthy or frequent telephonework. Place the items you use most frequently directly in front of you. Avoid overcrowding computer work areas.

DESK/WORKSTATION:

Standard furniture cannot accommodate everyone’s needs. A taller person may need a one-time adjustment to have his or her work surface raised somewhat; a shorter person may need a footrest or other accessories. Adjustable furniture may be needed insituations where people share or use the same workstation. The desktop should be organized so that frequently used objects are close to the user to avoid excessive extended reaching. The work surface should have a matte finish to minimize glare or reflections.

HOUSE KEEPING:

The area underneath the desk should always be clean/uncluttered to accommodate the user’s legs and allow for stretching. If a fixed height desk is used, add a keyboard tray that adjusts vertically to provide added adjustability. A footrest should be used if, after adjusting the height of the chair, feet do not rest flat on the floor.  

A document holder should be used if documents are referred to during keying. The document holder should:

�� Be stable and adjustable (height, position, distance, andangle of view). 

�� Support your document on either side of the monitor. 

�� Be at the same distance from your eyes as the display screen to avoid frequent changes of focus and you should be able you to look from one to the other without moving your neck or back. 

CHAIR ADJUSTMENTS: 

Contrary to popular belief, sitting, which most people believe is relaxing, is hard on the back. Sitting for long periods of time can cause increased pressure on the intervertebral discs — the spongy discs between the vertebra. Sitting is also hard on the feet and legs.Gravity tends to pool blood in the legs and feet and create a sluggish return to the heart.

The following recommendations can help increase comfort for computer users:

 • "Dynamic sitting", don’t stay in one static position for extended periods of time.

• When performing daily tasks, alternate between sitting and standing or take small walking breaks throughout the day.• The chair back should have a lumbar support

• Adjust height of backrest to support the natural inwardcurve of the lower back.• It may be useful to use a rolled towel, lumbar roll or cushion to support the low back.

• The angle of the back rest is subjective but the trunk and upper legs should form an angle between 90 to 115 degrees.

• Adjust height of chair so feet rest flat on floor o Sit upright in the chair with the low back against the backrest and the shoulders touching the backrest.

o Thighs should be parallel to the floor and knees at about the same level as the hips.o Back of knees should not come in direct contact with the edge of the seat pan. There should be 2-4 inches between the edge of the seat and the back of the knee

• Arm rests should be removable and the distance between the arm rests should be adjustable.

o Adjust height and/or width of armrests so they allow the user to rest arms at their sides and relax/drop their shoulders while keyboarding.

o Don’t use armrests to slouch. Also, chair arms should not noticeably elevate your shoulders or force you to move your arms away from your body to use them.

o Elbows and lower arms should rest lightly on armrests so as not to cause circulatory or nerve problems.

• Use a footrest when attempts to adjust your chair and the rest of the workstation fail to keep your feet on the ground.

• Ensure that you have some space (2-3") between the top of your thighs and the underside of your workstation.• Have enough space under your work surface so that you can pull your self all the way up to the edge of the desk with room for your legs and knees to fit comfortably.

 MONITOR:

 Once the chair and work surface height are properly adjusted, the computer monitor should be placed so the top of the screen is at or just below eye level when seated in an upright position. The following suggestions can help prevent the development of eyestrain, neck pain and shoulder fatigue while using your computer workstation: 

• Make sure the surface of the viewing screen is clean.

• Adjust brightness and contrast to optimum comfort.

• Position the monitor directly in front of the user to avoid excessive twisting of the neck.

• User must position the monitor at a comfortable viewing distance, approximately 18-30 inches from the user.

• Position monitors at right angles from windows to reduce glare

. Close window blinds as needed to reduce glare from sunlight.• Position monitors away from direct lighting which creates excessive glare or use a glare filter over the monitor to reduce glare.

• Adjust the monitor tilt so that ceiling lights do not reflect on your screen.

• If a document holder is used, it should be placed at approximately the same height as the monitor and at the same distance from the eyes to prevent frequent eye shifts between the monitor screen and reference materials.

• Get regular eye check-ups.• Adjust as needed for larger screens. You may need to sit farther away and increase the font size to take full advantage of the larger screen. Bifocal and trifocal wearers have to pay particular attention to the placement of their monitor. Wearers of bifocals and trifocals often unknowingly tilt their heads backwards so they can read the screen through the lower portion of their glasses. This can sometimes lead to neck, shoulder, and back discomfort. Potential solutions include either lowering the computer monitor or purchasing glasses designed specifically for working at the computer. 

KEYBOARD: 

Many ergonomic problems associated with computer workstations occur in the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand. Continuous work on the computer may expose soft tissues in these areas to repetition, awkward postures, and forceful exertions, especially if the workstation is not set up properly.

The following adjustments should be made to your workstation to help prevent the development of an ergonomic problem in the upper extremities:

• First adjust your chair as mentioned above, then with your arms resting comfortably at your side, raise your forearms to form a 90 degree angle with your upper arms.

• Adjust keyboard height so shoulders can relax and allow arms to rest at sides. An articulating keyboard tray is often necessary to accommodate proper height and distance.

• Position the keyboard directly in front and be close to the user to avoid excessive extended reaching. • Forearms parallel to the floor (approximately 90 degree angle at elbow).

• Mouse should be placed adjacent to keyboard and at the same height as the keyboard. Avoid extended and elevated reaching for keyboard and mouse. The back of the wrist should be kept flat (in a neutral position). Do not rest the hand on the mouse when your are not using it. Rest hands in your lap when not entering data.

• A padded wrist rest will help to keep your wrist in a straightand neutral position while typing and keep your arms off the sharp edges of the work surface.

• Do not rest your wrists or hands on a palm or wrist rest when you are keying. These rests are designed to provide support only during breaks from keying.

• The slope of the keyboard may need to be adjusted so that it is flat in order that your wrists are straight, and not bent back while you are typing.• Press the keys gently; do not bang them or hold them down for long periods. Keep your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers relaxed. 

Our Top three Ergo Solutions

PRODUCTS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVENTO EASE YOUR PAIN

 Alan Hedge has been studying what makes people uncomfortable for more than 25 years, but lately he’s been a little sore. As director of Cornell’s Human Factors Laboratory, he sums up the current state of ergonomics, the science of human-centered workplace design: “There’s a lot of hogwash out there,” he says. “It’s not about having something feel different; it’s about considering human anatomical, physiological and biomechanical characteristics as they relate to movement.”

 If you’re like most Americans, you spend 75 percent of your day sitting in an office chair, keying your way toward 5 p.m. This alone can win you aches reserved for grandparents and linemen. As Hedge explains it, that’s because most new product design doesn’t specifically address how joints are built to move—specifically, within 20 degrees (plus 5 to minus 15 degrees) of their neutral position. Good ergonomics also minimizes joint forces and enlists larger muscle groups to shoulder much of the burden.

 With Hedge’s criteria firmly in mind, we should set out to find the best examples of good ergonomic product design, focusing on the five areas most ripe for ergo-induced ache: back, neck, shoulders, hand and wrist. Each of the dozen products we provide our Buying Group is backed by science. Our top three Proven solutions: 

1. Articulating Keyboard arm/platform, such as the Ladybug from Grandstands, www.grandstands.com
2. Evoluent, or Contour Roller Mouse Station, www.contourdesign.com
3. Flat Panel monitor arm, www.spaceco.com

Evoluent Mouse Loses it's Tail!

Finally, the Perfect Mouse. The Natural "Handshhake Motion" of the Evoluent Mouse is now even easier to use as it goes Wireless! These will be available to the San Diego Buying Group, and on-line for $110, plus inbound freight. We are now taking pre-orders for these units in lots of 5, or more. We look forward to continuing to support your teams with only the finest, at the deepest available discounts directly from the factories. Please visit our catalog to order.

 In Perfect harmony with your ET-4 Platform your team will have the ultimate in Keyboard arm/platform combinations avaialable.

A Changing Work Environment

Five or seven years ago, the thought of having a flat panel computer screen or laptop computer in nearly every workstation would have seemed ridiculous. To begin with, the technology was still being developed, and, perhaps more importantly, the price was exorbitant-especially when considering the scope of outfitting an entire office. Today, however, flat panel monitors and laptops are becoming increasingly common. And as computers shrink, so does the workspace. Since the office is becoming more cramped, keeping an employee productive can become difficult in small quarters. But new ergonomic technology can maintain proper posture and manage the work surface which helps mitigate feelings of claustrophobia.

When someone sits at a workstation, there are two things that drive posture: where the eyes look to see work and the position of hands. A laptop can negatively affect posture. If a laptop was sitting on a desk, in order to use the keyboard, an employee would have to pitch forward, lean both arms on the desk, and hunch over to see the screen. In this case, not only is there contact stress between arms and the desk, but the worker has also been pulled out of the back of the chair, which is no longer supporting anything. This all adds up to bad posture.

One solution for facility managers is a laptop holder. The computer screen is at a better level so users can sit back. Having the laptop in a position that is natural to look at placates the first half of proper ergonomics: where the eyes look. Our bodies follow our eyes. If someone does not have to strain to look at their computer-which is where most people spend the majority of their time looking-then a workstation is heading in the right ergonomic direction.

The second ergonomic consideration in the workstation is the positioning of the upper extremities. In order to be comfortable and ergonomically correct, there should be no contact between arms and desktops. One solution is a keyboard drawer. If a drawer with a Keyboard is placed 2" or 3" lower than the height of the work desk, it can be more comfortable for the user.

Once manufacturers noticed this trend, they began to offer devices called articulating arms. These are flat surfaces that have the keyboard on them, but when you pull them out, the angle can be changed either positively or negatively.This may be beneficial to both employees and facility managers. By using an articulating arm, an employee is able to break free of a ridged workspace. Instead of being forced to set the keyboard in one place and at one angle, an articulating arm allows workers to determine what is most comfortable.

 Benefits of an Articulating Arm:

 A More efficient use of Space:A facility manager can appreciate the benefits of articulating arms in terms of workstation size. The arm is a flat piece of material that is attached to a moveable arm which is anchored to a desk. Combined with a laptop computer or flat panel monitor, the overall surface area that an employee will need to work can shrink significantly. "Now instead of a workstation that is 6' x 8', a facility manager might be able to reconfigure office size to 5' x 7'.

Even though the workplace continues to get smaller, the comfort of employees is on the rise. Making the right decisions can have a positive impact on the workplace, Employers should try to achieve a high degree of functionality, and do it with something that is comfortable, and easy to use. This new way of thinking about the workstation has given rise to technologies that consider the needs of the employee. By adapting and accommodating to the needs of individuals, productivity continues to rise and facility managers can take part of the credit.

Introduction to Adjustable Keyboard Arms/Platforms

Adjustable Height and Angle:Ergonomic keyboard trays refer to the platforms for keeping keyboards below your desk. It is possible to adjust both the height and the angle of the keyboard placed on it. Ergonomic keyboard trays are an essential part of your overall ergonomic computer desk setup.Some ergonomic keyboard trays free up your desk space, which is very valuable, especially if it has a mouse tray also. The adjustable height and angle help you fit the trays to your own personal daily requirements or when you just want to change your posture. Ergonomic keyboard trays can make a great difference to you if you need to sit at a computer for longer period.

Avoid Uncomfortable Postures:Ergonomic keyboard trays help you avoid uncomfortable postures by keeping your wrists and hand in a straight line with padded palm rests. Computer users often call these wrist rests instead of palm rests.However, make your mind clear that it is not wrists but palms that require rest when you are not keying in anything. However, experts do not agree on how much period the rest should be given and what should be the time interval. As far as positioning, the mouse is concerned, it is advisable to buy ergonomic keyboard trays that allow keeping the mouse close to the keyboard. This kind of ergonomic keyboard tray will prevent you from unnecessarily moving your arm every time you use the mouse.

No More Pullout Trays or Keyboard Drawers:

Pullout trays or keyboard drawers cannot be considered ergonomic keyboard trays!!

You cannot adjust the height or the angle. Because they don’t offer adjustment features, pull-out trays and keyboard drawers are likely to be uncomfortable. Tilting is not possible so you cannot avoid the awkward positioning of hands while typing. Most ergonomists and safety professional prefer ergonomic keyboard trays to keyboard drawers.

Changing Your Posture:You know well that you can’t sit in the same position for the entire work day. You want to be able to change your position. Ergonomic keyboard trays allow just that, thereby resulting in more comfort, fewer injuries, and higher productivity.

There are three options tilt options available:

1.       Ergonomic keyboard trays that allow only upward angling: This is called positive slope. These are not advisable because they are not wrist friendly.

2.       Ergonomic keyboard trays that allow only downward angling: This is called negative slope. These are wrist friendly and highly recommended.

3.        Ergonomic keyboard trays that allow both positive and negative slopes: Use these only if you have discovered that only downward tilting is comfortable for your wrists.

How Long Can You Stand to Sit?

Ergonomic furniture is not a new concept, but among many office workers--from secretaries to CEOs--it remains unknown or misunderstood. According to a recent survey conducted by our company, only about one in four American office workers is at least somewhat familiar with the usage and benefits of ergonomic furnishings in the workplace. When people feel physically comfortable in their office environments, they are more likely to generate quality work in a shorter amount of time, and also to have a more positive attitude about their jobs, contributing to overall office morale. One of the most convincing arguments supporting the need for ergonomic furniture in the workplace is the increasing number of injuries reported among workers who do not engage in heavy labor. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in the year 2000, data entry keyers were absent from work, on average, 10 days a year because of workplace injuries.

Overall, they missed more days than laborers in the manufacturing, precision production and service industries. This statistic isn't surprising when you realize data entry workers spend hours at a time in the same static positions, making repetitive movements that often result in their arms and wrists resting on the hard edges of computer desks. All of these are factors that can result in a cumulative trauma disorder or a repetitive strain injury. In fact, according to the survey, there is an epidemic of aches and pains among office workers in the United States, with nearly 89 percent of respondents saying they experience tired or tense muscles at least occasionally at the end of a work day and 17 percent reporting they have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, a more and more common RSI.

These findings are especially disheartening for employers, who are at a greater risk of receiving worker's compensation claims from their employees, potentially requiring them to reimburse each employee for 100 percent of medical expenses incurred because of the injury. Seen from this perspective, the purchase of ergonomic office furnishings is an investment in employee health and safety--a smart option to alleviate the severity of existing conditions and prevent new injuries.

Choosing the Right Equipment:

A variety of ergonomic furnishings on the market help to reduce the pain and pressure placed on the bodies of office workers who spend most of their days behind a desk or at a computer. For instance, articulating flat panel display (FPD) arms allow computer users to adjust the height and tilt of their flat panel screens to find positions that feel most comfortable and alleviate neck strain and tension. Other features crucial to user comfort and convenience include a three-pivot design for focal distance adjustment that especially benefits an aging workforce whose members rely often on bifocals or other corrective eyewear. An adjustable-height pneumatic strut design also makes it easy for computer users to determine the most comfortable monitor heights and return to them repeatedly, which is useful if desks or cubicles are shared by many workers.

Articulating adjustable keyboard arm:

Another ergonomic advancement that aids the regular computer user is the articulating adjustable keyboard arm, which allows workers to change their typing positions effortlessly throughout the day. The newest generation of adjustable keyboard arms offers easy lift and lock height adjustment, combined with a new dual adjustable counter balance spring design that makes it simple and quick to find the most comfortable height for any task. A new tilt indication gauge means users can determine their most preferred angles for typing or keyboarding, a feature that 82 percent of respondents to our survey desire in a keyboard arm.

Sitting, Standing, and Productivity:

Ergonomic furnishings not only relieve physical aches and pains for workers, according to the survey, but also they can help to alleviate management woes of lower productivity. More than two-thirds of study respondents reported the need to leave their desks and stretch their legs at least five times daily. Assuming each break lasts approximately 10 minutes, nearly an hour of potential work time is lost per employee each day. It's also important to consider the indirect loss of productivity that occurs when employees walking around the office interrupt others and prevent them from conducting their work. While it might be a common assumption that most people would prefer to sit rather than stand while working, more than half of survey respondents (57 percent) would spend at least part of their office time standing if provided the opportunity.

Most would love to "take a stand" while meeting with colleagues, although others would most want to stand while talking on the phone or even working at their computers. Not surprisingly, then, the majority of respondents (92 percent) would prefer a desk or workstation that allowed them to make minor adjustments in height, believing that such a customized touch would eliminate the majority of their work-related pain.

 A major study conducted by the Cornell University Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Laboratory in 2004 proves height-adjustable office furnishings significantly decrease the severity of musculoskeletal discomfort for most upper body regions, including the shoulders, neck, arms, and hands. In this study, 33 computer workers from two companies were stationed at fixed-height work surfaces for four to six weeks, then switched to height-adjustable work surfaces for another four to six weeks. At the end of the study, participants were asked to evaluate the differences between workstations and to describe any changes in the frequency or severity of their aches, pains, or muscle tension 

Where did my Desk Go?

Desks look really spacious when they're empty, don't they? But once you add the phone, an accessory organizer and a PC monitor & keyboard (or even just a laptop), you have precious little room left over. Add couple of stacks of paper and a few Post-It notes and not even the dust can find your desktop.

Well, here are some ways you can reclaim the desk space that's rightfully yours that go well beyond wall-mounting your filing bins.

 Managing the Monitor

The first thing to do is deal with the biggest problem: the monitor. You have several ways to go here, the most expensive being replacing the behemoth CRT with a sleek flat panel display. (But even then, you're still taking up a chunk of valuable surface space.)You can reclaim the most desk space and gain the greatest ergonomic benefit by going the monitor arm route. Consider a monitor arm, for example. It clamps securely to the edge of your desk and suspends your monitor as if it's floating on a cloud. You can move it around, tilt it and swivel it as effortlessly as you do your chair. And it supports your keyboard, too.

Already have a flat panel monitor? Then check out the SpaceCo Product link.

The Disappearing Keyboard Trick:

 Another terrific way to deal with your keyboard and mouse is to mount an adjustable keyboard arm/platform beneath your desk. This is arguably the best solution from a Carpal Tunnel standpoint because it lets you work consistently within your "neutral reach zone," thus maintaining a low-risk, sustainable posture.

Dealing With What's Under Your Desk, Too:

 As long as we're on the subject of ergonomic accessories, one of my personal favorites is the sliding CPU Holder, also available on casters, that attaches to the underside of your desk.Not only does this put your CD and DVD drives right at arm's reach, it also makes the back of your machine considerably more accessible. It lets you rotate the CPU all the way around — no more "hands-and-knees-with-a-flashlight" routine to make cabling changes or check connections.

The CPU holder gets your system up off the floor and away from vacuum cleaners, major spills and similar hazards. And it locks in place to guard against theft.