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A bad back? It's the new office plague
By Jim O'Rourke,
The Sun-Herald - Australia
A recent workplace ergonomic seminar was told that back problems in all industries cost NSW businesses $270 million annually and more than 96,000 weeks in lost time.
NSW Physiotherapy Association president Eva Schonstein told employers they were not doing enough to reduce back injuries.
Managers needed to act more quickly on employee complaints about poorly designed work spaces.....more
Making Johnny Sit Up Straight
By Katie Dean
Wired News - USA
Ergonomics experts have long bemoaned the lack of attention paid to proper computer workstations in schools.
But this month, one state has decided to address the issue. New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey recently signed a bill that establishes the Ergonomics in Education Study Commission...
The New Jersey commission, to be appointed by the governor in the coming months, will consist of teachers, school administrators, medical professionals and ergonomics researchers.
The group will have six months to study ergonomics in New Jersey schools. Specifically, they will look at design standards for classroom equipment and furniture, education programs for healthy computing behaviors and injuries associated with poorly-equipped computer work stations and overuse. The final report will provide recommendations to the governor and legislature about how to implement ergonomic design standards in state schools...
"If you don't have good habits to start with, chances are, by the time you get to the workforce, you're going to be primed for injury," said Alan Hedge, professor of design and environmental analysis at Cornell University who also runs the school's ergonomics website......more |
