Office Ergonomics - OHSA Occupational Health Services Australia

Office ergonomics can help you be more comfortable at work, lower stress, and reduce the chance of injuries caused by awkward positions and repetitive tasks. Sometimes its not about the desk or chair. It might just be the lighting, relative humidity or job design that could be the real problem. OHSA people aren’t just WHS Experts – we are Certified Professional Ergonomists!

Certified Professional Ergonomists have been certified by the HFESA and have demonstrated that they have the skills and experience to provide high quality and consistent advice and support in the area of Ergonomics and Human Factors. The HFESA CPE programme is endorsed by the International Ergonomics Association. A CPE usually is an Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Psychologist with Post Graduate Qualifications in Ergonomics or a relevant discipline. For admission to Certified Professional Ergonomist, they must have:

• Been an active member of the HFESA (or other IEA affiliated society)
• Completed an education program which provides a comprehensive set of ergonomics competencies
• Expertise in ergonomics demonstrated through the provision of at least one major work sample, supported by one or more work samples or products of smaller magnitude
• A minimum of four years of full-time practice in human factors & ergonomics or the part-time equivalent

Did you know?

• Sitting up straight is wrong – Your trunk thigh angle is optimum at approx 100-110 degrees.
• Computer at eye level is wrong – You should be able to just over the top of your monitor.
• Lifting with a straight back is wrong – You should lift with a natural ‘S’ curve and use your legs to lift.

Sedentary work

Office works tends to involve prolonged periods of sitting, which can pose significant risks to workers’ health, for example:

• premature death – people who sit for 11 hours or more a day are 40 per cent more likely to die within three years than those who sit for less than four hours
• heart disease – the risk of heart disease is increased by 50% even if the mainly sedentary person engages in regular exercise
• increased risk of type II diabetes
• physical injuries, eg strains and sprains – there is an increased risk of physical injuries if a worker maintains a static posture
• bowel cancer – the risk of colon cancer is doubled for people who sit for 11 hours or more a day.

Frequent short breaks from sitting are recommended. See Comcare’s Sedentary Work webpage for more guidance. For further guidance on office safety issues the following Standards, Guides and Handbooks are great resources. If you are still not sure how to solve your problem feel free to contact us to see if we can offer you our assistance.

• SAA HB 59-1994 – Handbook – Ergonomics.  The human factor – A practical approach to work systems design
• Australian Standard AS/NZS 4438:1997 Height adjustable swivel chairs
• Australian Standard AS/NZS 4442:1997 Office desks
• Australian Standard AS/NZS 1680.1:2006 Interior and workplace lighting
• Officewise – A Guide To Health And Safety In The Office – Worksafe Victoria 2006
• Guidance on the principles of safe design for work;
• Ergonomic Principles and Checklists for the Selection of Office Furniture
• Equipment and National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders from Performing Manual Tasks at Work.

OHSA consultants are recognised as some of the most respected and qualified people in the profession with an enviable portfolio working with over 500 companies around the world. OHSA consultants can provide assistance with:

• Workstation Assessments;
• Office Ergonomics Surveys Training;
• 3D Fully Animated Office Ergonomics Training Course
• Manual Handling Surveys & Training Programs;
• Warm Up and Stretching Programs;
• Interior Lighting Surveys;
• Hand and whole body vibration monitoring;
• Equipment, Vehicle, Plant and Job Design;
• Heat Stress & Physical Workload Monitoring;
• Shift Design;
• Development of Competency Based Training Packages.