Getting comfortable with ergonomic products - Trend Watch

The concern over ergonomics is no longer new on the office scene. The last decade saw an increased focus on demands for worker comfort and safety. Today, more office workers seem to be aware of ergonomic considerations.

One trend is an increased focus on the need to change positions throughout the workday. Recent studies have recommended that office equipment have features allowing upright, forward tilt, rearward tilt, and standing postures. This includes the ability to alter the height and/or angle of the input device so that the user can maintain a neutral posture.

"Workstation adjustability must be provided in order to allow proper working postures for a wide range of user sizes and proportions," says Holly English, national sales manager for Intellaspace, a subsidiary of Weber Knapp. "Ideally, this adjustment should be quick and easy so that it is simple for an office worker to change postures throughout the day."

That's the approach taken by Intellaspace's Cobra SitStand, which allows computer users to move easily from a seated to a standing position without having to operate knobs or levers to change keyboard height. A special clamp tray securely locks with the push of a hand onto any keyboard 5-9 inches in depth. A sliding mouse catcher with cord is included, and the tilt and swivel mouse surface can be quickly moved, without tools, for left-handed users. Similarly, monitor support mechanisms are available to "follow" users as they change positions throughout the day. Newer models, such as ScreenSpace, an innovative flat panel support system from Intellaspace, allow for quick and easy changes in monitor height and view angle.

Fellowes offers four keyboard managers that combine ergonomic principles with space-saving designs, allowing users to find a comfortable keyboard placement. They support natural arm and hand positions while reducing tension in the wrists and shoulders. In addition, the keyboard managers attach to standard desktops and save space by storing the keyboard, when it's not in use, under the desk. Fellowes' Fully Adjustable Keyboard Manager incorporates a gel wrist support and a mouse tray that can be mounted to the keyboard's right-or left-hand side and swiveled out of the way when not in use. If more customization is desired, three premium models are also available.

Another development has less to do with the unique features of products than the environment in which they'll be used. "More and more consumers are paying attention to ergonomics," says Karenann Brow, director of ergonomics at Fellowes. "People are working in home offices more, whether they're telecommuting, pursuing another job on the side, or operating a home-based business. They are looking at products and asking: 'Do I have a place for those things? Can I afford them? What do I need to do in my environment?'" Since home-based office space maybe limited and budgets are often tight, this demand is in turn prompting manufacturers to offer more products that are small and unobtrusive as well as affordable. For instance, Fellowes' new line of Gel Crystals wrist rests come in choices of denim blue, teal green, and purple to add a dash of color to any workspace. Designed to provide maximum wrist support, they feature a no--slip base to prevent shifting, and one model acts as a combined mousepad and wrist rest.

Similarly, 3M offers several mousing surfaces including a new, smaller version that accommodates either a standard mouseball or an optical mouse. Another product is designed especially for use with an optical mouse, but also is usable with a traditional version. The larger Precise Optical Mousing Surface features a special texture appropriate for the sensing capability of an optical mouse, which measures light contrast every few seconds and can be negatively affected by the wrong surface. In addition, it comes equipped with a detachable gel wrist rest that can be used not only for wrist support but also for other tasks, such as dialing a phone or operating a calculator.

With some products, mobility is a key. For example, Dome Publishing's HANDEZE therapeutic support gloves may be worn throughout the workday regardless of the user's location. These fingerless support gloves help reduce pain in the hands, fingers, and wrists of those who perform continuous or repetitive motion activities. They offer a combination of heat, support, and massage. An innovative fabric construction helps maintain warmth while also producing a massaging and energizing effect. In addition, the gloves provide flexibility not found in rigid braces.

The growing use of laptop and notebook computers is another consideration, according to Warren J. Wasescha, marketing manager for the ergonomic business unit, Office Supplies Division at 3M. "As more people convert over to a laptop, it brings new ergonomic challenges to the office," he says. "Without a full-size monitor that can be elevated on a monitor stand if needed to improve viewing position, a laptop screen is fixed, and for many individuals that fixed height is too low."

Those who use laptops on a desktop also tend to sit too low relative to their desktop height in order to maintain a straight or neutral wrist angle, potentially straining back, neck, or arm muscles. Also, many users complain that the mousing devices built into laptops are far less comfortable than traditional options, Wasescha points out.

Such problems have led to the development of products such as 3M's [ANP.sub.560] Adjustable Notebook Platform, which elevates the back edge of the laptop. This raises the viewing screen while improving wrist position. An auxiliary full-size mousing area, with a gel rest that adjusts with the laptop, provides added comfort. With these and other products touting ergonomic advantages, a move toward simplicity is evident.

"We've made it too complicated," says Brow. "The reality of ergonomics is that what's comfortable for you is what's best. We need to demystify it and take it to laymen's terms. We need to ask, 'Are you uncomfortable? Do you have a neck ache?' The answer may involve a product, it may not." In fact, experts point out that even simple changes can pay big dividends.

"Most office workers and managers would be surprised to find that small changes in work tools and habits can make a real difference in how an employee feels at the end of the day and over time," English says. "Productivity improvements are a byproduct."

Those most familiar with the area of ergonomics foresee an increased focus on it as office workers realize its importance. 'With increased recognition, the demand for ergonomic office products will grow," says English. "In response, more competitors in supply of these products will emerge. The end user will need to take more care in determining that the specific product being considered offers acceptable quality and performance."

At the same time, users should seize the initiative, Wasescha says. "A lot of people out there simply accept poor ergonomics in their office without really doing anything about it until they experience intense pain or know someone who's had carpal tunnel surgery," he notes. "It shouldn't be this way. When you drive a car, you adjust your seat and mirror and even the steering wheel position before driving away. You should take this mind-set at your desk. If you aren't comfortable, take a good look at the situation and make some improvements."

Mark Rowh is an OfficeSolution contribution editor. Based in Dublin, Va., he can be reached at markrowh@usit.net

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