Office Ergonomic Assessment Tool - A Few Details

Many people suffer from acute and chronic musculoskeletal complaints and work related injuries. Everyday there is a constant rise in the number of people complaining about such injuries. One crucial reason is that 2 out every 3 people sit for all or part of their workday at a computer station. This exposes workers to awkward postures and repetitive motions that create a multitude of muscular or spinal complaints. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, trigger finger and few lumbar disorders are the results of uncomfortable sitting. Most of these syndromes can be reduced and the productivity of the work can be increased if appropriate ergonomics is implemented.

Applying a scientific and evidence based approach to the process of ergonomics is very important. Office ergonomic assessment tools aids to identify ergonomic risk factors, quantify them and then implement them for making measurable improvements to the workplace. The best approach to do that is to make ergonomics an ongoing process to identify risk and reduce them based on scientific analysis and office ergonomic training. Here are a few assessment tools:

1. WISHA Lifting Calculator

Washington State Department of Labor develops this calculator and Industries based on NIOSH research. This research highlights the primary causes of back injuries. This calculator performs a check on the ergonomic risk assessments on a wide variety of manual lowering and raising task. This tool is also a screening tool to identify the lifting tasks, which is further analyzed using more complex and comprehensive NIOSH Lifting Equation.

2. NIOSH Lifting Equation

The NIOSH Lifting Equation is a very helpful tool that is used by all safety and occupational health professional. This tool is used to evaluate the manual material handling risks linked with lifting and lowering tasks in the workplace. The equation takes into consideration the job task variables to determine the safe lifting practices and guidelines. The chief product of this equation is the Recommended Weight Limit (RWL), which describes the maximum acceptable weight that all healthy employees could lift in a course of 8 hours without risking the musculoskeletal or the lower back. 

Many other tools can be found that are equally efficient in doing office ergonomic assessment.  Some of these tools include Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), Liberty Mutual Manual Material Handling Tables (Snook Tables). With proper office ergonomic training a company can achieve the task of implementing ergonomic measures and increasing productivity.