Ergonomic improvements in the office environment

Abstract

T he electronic office has dramatically changed the way we do business. It has enhanced our ability to gather and exchange information and resources. We have access to global data through communication links and remote data bases. We share data across oceans and work within groups that never physically meet. And we have become dependent on this access and flow of information in making sound business decisions. While this electronic office has altered the way we do business and compete in the marketplace, it has also changed the manner in which we work. People are spending long hours at computer terminals performing repetitive tasks. They are working in noisy, poorly lit offices, seated in a fixed position on chairs and at desks meant for other tasks. These concerns are not limited to office furniture. When evaluating hardware, according to O’Brien (1991>, one must ask two questions: 1. Has it been “human factor engineered” with the user in mind? 2. Is it “user-friendly”-that is, designed to be safe, comfortable, and easy to use? These same questions of ergonomics can be applied to the entire work environment. Is the lighting adequate, with little or no glare? Is the seating adjustable with good lumbar support? Is the computer equipment positioned for ease of use and the height of the monitor adjustable for the user? Is the noise level conducive to productivity and is the air quality good? The ideal work environment should be compatible for multiple users, who must have some degree of control over it. This is of particular importance for data processing centers, computer controlled manufacturing departments, and other areas that operate 24 hours per day. Technological advances in computing have outpaced concomitant changes in the work environment. Less consideration has been given to the cost of poorly designed work areas than to the benefit of improved processor speeds. Some argue that current equipment, furniture, and work environments are not ergonomically designed with the user in mind. Office improvements may be necessary for health reasons, but they wil ulso increuse productMy.