This article was
written by ErgoRisk

Driving and Distractions

Ergonomics is based on the science of fitting our life to our physical and mental capabilities and limitations. When it comes to physical abilities, our muscles tend to provide us with an inside voice that tells us whether we are close to our limits (whether we listen to them or not is another issue altogether).

When it comes to using our brain, it’s not as black and white. Over the past few years, researchers have focused on ‘reaction time’ to determine how distracted and impaired we can become when we are driving. At any given moment, we make decisions as we are distracted by road signs, conversation in the car (or on a cell phone), and other electronic devices or displays (radio, DVD, organizer).

It’s interesting because all of us have a line that we hopefully don’t cross – drinking and driving. What’s interesting is that research has found that drinking and driving, driving exhausted, dialing and driving and texting and driving can all have the same effect on our decision making capabilities and reaction times. (If you have ever driven behind someone on their cell phone, this isn’t a surprise.)

Not surpisingly, many companies and cities are creating policies directing workers to eliminate distractions (cell phones, texting, computer use while driving).

What’s your plan or do you need to have a wake-up call before you change your habits?

This article was
written by ErgoRisk

Travelling With Ergonomics

Whether you are commuting or on the road for the majority of the day, do you ever just stop and think – what the heck is in all of these bags?

Shouldn’t we be carrying a lot less considering the miniaturization of all of our devices? Isn’t this supposed to be a wireless, paperless business world?

But if you’re like most people, you probably carry not one bag but two or three to work. What do your shoulders and back think about this?

Whether you’re hitting the road to work or on a business trip, take the time to realize that more isn’t more – it’s just more of a pain in the back and neck.

Next time you’re carrying that heavy bag(s) around:

Ask yourself – what is essential and what can be left at home or the office (especially if you have taken your bags home and not opened them)?
If you are constantly packing a laptop back and forth and you have a home and work computer – look into whether your company allows you to log-in remotely or use a USB drive instead.
Consider a wheeled bag for your laptop and/or files. While this does reduce the weight on the spine and the shoulder, it can also tempt us to carry around more and more stuff. This is fine until we have to carry our case up a couple of flights of stairs. The pulling up motion with our shoulder behind the body is a no-no. If the files are essential and stairs and curbs aren’t a problem, they are worth considering. But it’s important to be aware of the potential issues.
Consider a back-pack. This keeps the load balanced on your back. But remember, you still have to lift it to get it on and wear it correctly. Generally, we recommend that our children’s backpack not weigh more than 10-15% of their body weight. Do you lead by example? Pull out your scale and see if you need to put your bags on a diet.

This article was
written by ErgoRisk

Your Ergonomic Wallet

There is a classic Seinfeld episode where George gets picked on for carrying his ‘Costanza’ wallet. He carried so many receipts around in his thick, massive wallet, that at one point his back leaned to one side when he sat down. He even resorted to stacking napkins beneath his other pocket to level himself. Suprisingly (not!), he ended up with a sore back… What do you do with your wallet when you drive?

The good news is that most of us don’t sit on our wallet when we drive. But it’s often the small details that we forget when we are in a rush. Most of us take the time to get comfortable in our chair before the workday starts. Do you take the same time before you get out of your driveway?

Taking the time to put your back in ‘neutral’ while driving is essential. Neutral posture happens when your hips are at the back of your seat, and your low back is supported comfortably. The combination of long commutes and road trips, coupled with poor low back posture and vibration from your vehicle is as good as a GoogleMaps itinerary to the land of the Soreback Blues. The bottom line is that before you start any commute – start with your back in mind.

This article was
written by ErgoRisk

Ergonomics and your Car

First, offices with walls became extinct.

Then the office cubicles started to get smaller…and smaller.

And then they finally kicked you out of the office and suggested that you ‘telecommute’.

Well – look on the bright side – you finally have a corner office with a window! As you are admiring the view – check to make sure that you have enough tools so that working in your car isn’t a pain.

The good news is that the rules for setting up your car are similar to those for your office workspace. Consider if your car is truly a good fit for all of the tasks and equipment that you need. While smaller cars can be good on gas, they can wreak havoc on your body if you have to work in them on a day to day basis.
Look online for tools to hold your laptop, phone etc. (search www.google.com for mobile desks or mobile office).

There are some simple solutions on the market that attach directly to your steering wheel. If you’ll be working in the car for a period of time, switch to the passenger seat to avoid twisting. There are also Consider tools that will allow you to bring your office tools close to you (writing surface etc.) (e.g. www.mobilegear.com)

Try to fit your other devices up around you to keep yourself in neutral. Set-up your seat to keep your hips and back aligned, with your laptop in front of you. Consider using a filebox container with essential stationary, and resources that you can keep in your trunk.

In the end, we all know that your car isn’t the best office so it’s always important to listen to your body.
Taking breaks is important whether you’re driving, working in your office, or working in your mobile office.