Here at Posturite we are not just concerned with ergonomics in the office environment; many of our workers spend a lot of their time driving, as do a great deal of the population. So this week the focus will be on ergonomics at the wheel.

Here is some advice from the experts:

Lower pressure on your back by sitting in a slightly reclined position (about 105 degrees) with the seat fully supporting your back.
The lower part of your back (the lumbar region) should always feel supported, as this helps maintain the natural ‘s’ shape of the back. If it’s not fully supported by your car seat, you can use a lumbar roll or a seat wedge.

Make sure your knees are slightly below your hips, increasing circulation to the legs and taking strain off of the lower back. Most cars have the ability to tilt the seat pan to allow for this.

Keep all items that you may need at hand but never keep them in your back pockets, as this will decrease circulation.

It may sound like your taking your first driving lesson again, but ensure that your mirrors are positioned so you don’t have to stretch or twist to see. If you are struggling to see any areas, invest in some blind spot mirrors.

Remember, driving shouldn’t be stressful; your shoulders should be relaxed and the steering wheel should be less than arms length away so you don’t have to lean forward and lose the support of the back of your seat.

Posturite will be holding their first Advanced DSE course on 24th September in Telecom House, Brighton.

The Advanced Display Screen Equipment Assessor course is designed for those people who have attended a Display Screen Equipment assessor course before or who have suitable experience of Display Screen Equipment assessments and issues and want further advice, a deeper understanding of the subject area and a chance to bring to the table areas of concern/difficulties in the presence of qualified Ergonomists and other experienced DSE assessors.

The course is a great opportunity for delegates to share their experiences of being DSE assessors and gain a broader understanding of Anatomy and Physiology, common musculoskeletal disorders, as well as an update on the Regulations and a review of ergonomic office accessories.

The half-day course is comprised of the following areas:

• Introduction
• Recap of DSE regulations, including expansion on problematic areas
• Review of assessment methods
• Advanced Anatomy and Physiology of neck, upper limbs and back
• In-depth look at common health problems, their relation to the anatomy and possible causes
• Review of ergonomic products, including practical session
• Home/mobile working
• Management of upper limb disorders
• Questions

To book or for more information on future courses, please call 0845 345 0010 and ask for Emma Dann.

So you’ve seen a product that claims it is “ergonomic”, but what exactly are the benefits and how do you know which product to choose?

See this article for a comprehensive guide to ergonomic hand tools and how to choose the best one for you:

How to Choose - and Use - Ergonomic Hand Tools

A recent study that increased the daily physical activity within an office showed that workers can lose weight without losing productivity.

Changes to the office included encouraging staff to conduct walking meetings, adding desks attached to treadmills and removing chairs and traditional desk seating.

The results showed the participants’ average weight loss to be 8.8lbs, with 90% of this being fat. Those participants who wanted to lose weight lost around double this figure!
All of this and an increase in productivity over the first three months of the study!

See the full article here for more information.

During the hot summer months outdoor workers most cope with the heat that they often can’t escape. Due to this, outdoor workers are susceptible to serious “heat illnesses” including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

But it’s not only those who work outdoors who are vulnerable to such illnesses; indoor workers can be affected too, especially if temperatures aren’t regulated or workers consume caffeinated drinks, overwork or don’t consume enough water. Dehydration and “heat illnesses” can be extremely serious, so follow the below link and take a read of this article that details the causes and effects of such illnesses, what to look out for and how to avoid them.

Usernomics article on working and playing in the heat

Trackbar Emotion, the centred pointing device that is helping UK office workers to combat repetitive strain injuries, has been voted Best Product at the show by those attending the National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas – one of the world’s biggest and most important ergonomics events.

Posturite has exclusive UK marketing rights for the Trackbar Emotion which was developed in Sweden by specialist company Euro Office. Big advantages of the Trackbar Emotion over other centred pointing devices are its small size (ideal for use with the increasingly popular short keyboards or laptops); its clickable roll bar that is thicker, smoother and more precise than most other roll-using peripherals; larger buttons that require two to three times less pressure than most mice; and its ability to be rotated through 180 degrees so that the user can choose whether the buttons are close to him/her or close to the keyboard.

Schools still have a lot to learn when it comes to choosing the furniture for their classrooms. Very few invest in the sort of ergonomic seating that could provide developing bodies with a degree of protection against future problems.

But that could all be about to change...

This week, our MD, Ian Fletcher-Price, talks about the increasing awareness of the benefits of sit/stand desking...

One of Posturite’s most popular products, the Evoluent Vertical Mouse, appeared last week in the Daily Mail’s Good Health supplement (Pg.57, Daily Mail, Tuesday, March 18, 2008,).

Spotted an interesting article from the other side of the pond that suggests a different view to the causes of this common syndrome.

http://www.presstelegram.com/business/ci_8454857

Carpal-tunnel injury drop puzzles analysts

DEBATE: Some believe that the syndrome was overdiagnosed, while others credit prevention efforts.