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ERGONOMICS.

Custom fitting jobs for individual workers. Theory, disabled workers, computer-related problems, case studies.

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Introduction
Employers have learned that change is the bedrock of a profitable organization (Laque-Johnson, 1990). As-a result, many employers have instituted a variety of measures to apply the principles of ergonomics within the work-place. There have been several positive results subsequent to the use of ergonomics. As one example, the American Optometric Association (1992, p. 9) reports that VDT related work injuries can be decreased by as much as 78 percent with the use of ergonomically designed work-stations and alterations in work habits. Further, as another example, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that workers in ergonomically designed work settings were 25 percent more productive than their counterparts in nonergonomically designed settings (Schuler, Beutell &

McRae, J. In addition, those VDTemployees already having presbyopia, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism mayfind that their conditions are intensified by the increased use of VDTS.These symptoms may well be associated with the increased use of the VDT onthe part of the worker. Thedevelopment of these symptoms can be caused or aggravated by workersperforming tasks requiring repetitive motions. In addition, customers requested that work-stations be designed to facilitate ease of turning chairs while allowingfor close-by reaching. In fact, upper-echelon management evenlacks static offices, and the majority of the 18 staff of this firm lackdesignated workplaces. (1981). Orke, J. Human resources management. In fact, althoughseveral large corporations have made numerous efforts to increase theirrecruitment and retention of members of this population, there remainsimmediately needed improvement in these areas. With theimplementation of customer feedback in the design of office furniture,Wilson discovered that virtually all of his customers requested chairs thatwere more friendly to their backs. 4-1 . This allows employeesto conduct business while seated on a sofa or wing chair, or even whileriding an exercise bicycle. Walls gone with the paper atFinnish firm's office. (199 , December 21). Brown, M. References American Optometric Association. 461). What this computer adaptation does is allow the user to converttext to speech, so that all information can be presented in spoken form tothe user. More make for the money. In addition, this programallows the letters to be moved slowly across the screen, and there arerelatively few key control strokes required to perform this, and other,functions. Anonymous. The obvious benefit of this computer adaptation is that the userneed not see the screen while using the computer. Americans with Disabilities Act sparksdebate. (199 , Fall). Summary The use of ergonomic principles can prove invaluable to not onlyemployers, but also their workers by providing a host of ways in whichproductivity can be enhanced, work-place injuries can be prevented, anddisabled workers can be accommodated. This firm also uses flexible working hours and salariesthat are tied to the fulfillment of worker-manager agreed-upon goals.There are, however, facilities for copying and microfilming near the work-stations and a few file cabinets. The majority of employees of this firm are providedwith mobile sets of drawers and cordless telephones. This allows the police officer to better grip thebaton and maintain control over it while in use. For employees having farsightedness and/or astigmatism, specialprescription eye-wear can be prescribed. Schuler, R. 5-6.----------------------- 11 Wilson (1992) found that respondents thought theuse of ergonomically designed furniture would enhance worker productivityand decrease the likelihood of work-place injuries. (1992, June). Beyond these measures, theemployer can make sure that work-stations (i.e., VDTS, keyboards, andchairs) are adjustable so that workers can elevate the VDT, alter theposition of the key board to meet individual needs, and adjust the chairposition to eliminate or minimize such eye strain and neck-aches.Moreover, the employer can alter employee work habits for the involvedworkers by instituting a policy that requires frequent, short breaks fromVDTs to allow employees to rest their eyes and necks. Moreover, ergonomics can helpemployers effectively meet equal opportunity and affirmative actionobjectives and goals. The manifestation of discrimination toward the physicallydisabled inthe work-place is far from remedied (Anonymous, 1989). (199 , April 1). To date, nearly 9 % of allHoneywell buildings have met this goal. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Publishers. The ergonomic approach is critical to organizations and is,consequently, being used to redesign jobs to accommodate women, as well ashandicapped individuals. and HanesCorporation have successfully redesigned tasks using task analysis toeliminate or minimize such repetitive motions. 8. Brown (1984) reports that various police departments throughout thenation have also become ergonomically conscious. While the disabled have beenextended legal protection by the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1973Vocational Rehabilitation Act, as amended, there continues to be employmentdiscrimination against this population by virtue of architectural barriersand unfriendly work settings. Wilson, P. The Ergonomic Work-place The American Optometric Association (1992) reports that those workerswho routinely use visual display terminals (VDTS) may be subject to suchsymptoms of VDT-related problems as increased occurrence of headaches, neck-aches, blurred or double vision, flickering sensations, and the itching andburning of eyes. Thus, Honeywell, which has a soundand esteemed reputation for accommodating a diverse work-force, has gonebeyond the requirements of government regulations in developingaccessibility programs (Orke, 199 , pp. 2. Further, this approach haseven been reported to serve as an alternative to retirement. & Clowers, M. Stolov, W. (1987). 4-5). Investor's Daily, p. Further, the worker may experience inadequate eyefocusing, encountering problems changing eye focus from near to far or viceversa, as well as deficient eye coordination. Effectivepersonnel management (3rd ed.). There is also the office services group,which has permanent work-stations, but these workers are in an open (i.e.,wall-less) environment and have ergonomically designed office furniture.There is also a leisure area located in the center of the office, whichacts as an oasis, featuring greenery, a gold fish pond and a watersculpture. Schuler, R., Beutell, N. One of the most popularsoftware packages is the VISTA program, which allows letters to be markedlyexpanded as they are presented on the monitor. VDT user's guide tobetter vision. Further, Wilson discovered that customers alsowanted user-friendly computer stations, telephones and telephone systemsthat were ergonomically designed. The office nowhas no walls and, thus, no offices. As one example of this,the shapes of police batons have been altered to include an indentation forthe hand of the officer. The Council formulated in 1988 the goal that allHoneywell buildings would be accessible to all disabled individuals, nomatter what their disabilities, by 1991. There arealso several programs and computer accessories that will facilitate thesetypes of adaptations, while there are few actual software packages thathave specifically been designed for these workers. & Youngblood, S. Schuler, Beutell and Youngblood (1989) report that such firms asArmco, Inc. There are several types ofcomputer adaptations that can be implemented for these worker, mostimportant of which are letter expansion and speech synthesis. Stolov and Clowers (1981) report that several employers have begun touse ergonomic principles to insure that those workers having lower-backproblems can return to work and be less likely to reinjure their backs.There are several ways to mediate this problem, although ergonomicallydesigned chairs (i.e., pressure is on the knees and they lack backs),adjustable work-stations, and wedges placed under workers' desks are mostindicated. 199 Americans with Disabilities Act In addition to the use of ergonomically designed work settings fornon-disabled workers, employers are using ergonomic principles tofacilitate employment of the disabled. This Council iscomposed of individuals who either have disabilities or who have expertisein given disabilities. This firm is also "paperless," in the sensethat 78 ergonomically designed computer terminals are used in place of mostfile cabinets. Selecting and implementing educational software.Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Further, with theassistance of outside consultants and the development of the HoneywellAccessibility Code Book, the corporation's staff across the nation arebeing trained in accessibility issues. and Hanes Corporation have instituted the redesign of work-stations using ergonomic principles to reduce both the incidence andseverity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Laque-Johnson (199 ) reports that the Lindstrom Companies, whichprovides laundry and maintenance services, instituted a radical change inthe work environment at its Helsinki, Finland headquarters. This approach often serves equal employmentopportunity and affirmative action objectives. Paul: West Publishing Company. Introduction Employers have learned that change is the bedrock of a profitableorganization (Laque-Johnson, 199 ). The Honeywell council: Light years ahead.CAPED Communique, pp. With this, the user can determine whether or not the correctinformation has been inputted, formatted, organized and developed asdesired. Both Armco, Inc. Use of deadly force by patrol officers: Trainingimplications. St. The American Optometric Association (1992) reports that the majorityof VDT-related problems can be eliminated by the employer's using ergonomicprinciples involving work-station planning, work habit alteration andprofessional eye care. Apples for teachers - 1 1 programs for theclassroom. This work-place, which was designed using worker suggestionsfor an ideal work setting, not only increased worker productivity, but alsoinfluenced a dramatic increase in morale. Beyond this,there is the Professional Development Committee, which is also under theCouncil, which sponsors career development seminars for the disabled,prepares and disseminates job descriptions that explain the physicaldemands of positions, and creates a uniform identification system and aninternal goaling system to facilitate this population. Department of Education, Rehabilitation ServicesAdministration. As an example, for those workers having presbyopia,single-vision lenses or special occupational bifocals or trifocals can beprovided. (1985). As-a result, many employers haveinstituted a variety of measures to apply the principles of ergonomicswithin the work-place. Office ClubNews & Views, 2(1), pp. (1984). There have been several positive results subsequentto the use of ergonomics. 9) reports that VDT related work injuries can bedecreased by as much as 78 percent with the use of ergonomically designedwork-stations and alterations in work habits. (1989). They requested chairs with supports thatwere adjustable to a variety of positions, curved to the shape of the back,and provided firm support. American Optometric Association Handbook, pp. Moreover, this approach is concerned with the redesignof jobs to eliminate or minimize worker injuries from hostile workenvironments. Laque-Johnson, M. Blue Ridge Summit: TAB Books, Inc. The ADA presentstremendous opportunities for the disabled, with discrimination,architectural accessibility, and transportation (particularly mass transit)being regulated, along with mandates for such remedies as lift-equippedbuses being stipulated. PA Times, 13 (4), p. (1984). The responsibilities of this Council include theinitiation of programs that affect the disabled employee's working lifewith the corporation, as well as assisting other companies to developsimilar programs. Another popular computer adaptation is that which allows speechsynthesis (McRae, 1985). Schuler, Beutell and Youngblood (1989) report that ergonomics isconcerned with trying to design and shape jobs to fit the physicalabilities and characteristics of individual workers so that they can betterperform their jobs. As a remedy to this problem, Congressenacted the 199 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which will betteropen employment opportunities for the disabled. As an example of how Honeywell has attacked the problem of recruitingand retaining the physically-handicapped, consider that this organizationcreated the Honeywell Council to mediate these issues. The Merchandise Group Manager of Office Club, Paul Wilson, surveyedcustomers of this merchandiser to determine their needs for officefurniture and equipment. In addition, there is the Self-Help Committee, which is under the auspices of the Council, which developssupport groups which enable disabled employees to share problems and findself-direction in overcoming challenges in the world of work. When these symptoms are accompanied by tension andeye fatigue, the worker may suffer visual discomfort and, resultantly,decreased productivity. Further, as another example,the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) foundthat workers in ergonomically designed work settings were 25 percent moreproductive than their counterparts in nonergonomically designed settings(Schuler, Beutell & Youngblood, 1989, p. There have been several notable improvements inthese areas by such large corporations as Honeywell, IBM, AT&T, as well asall levels of government. This adaptation requires computer accessories tofacilitate voice synthesis, which entails the use of some form of loudspeaker. Handbook of severe disability.Washington, D.C.: U.S. This syndrome is characterized bynumbness, tingling, soreness, and weakness in the hands and wrists. Journal of Police Science and Administration, 12 (2), pp.133-14 . As one example, the American OptometricAssociation (1992, p. Miller (1987) reports that there are several computers (i.e., Apples,MacIntoshes, IBMs and their clones) that can be adapted for use with theblind and/or visually impaired employee. In addition to this,Schuler (1984) notes that the recruitment and retention of the Physically-disabled is hindered by such a stigma, perceptions of the entire disabledpopulation as being overall incompetent, and the presentation ofarchitectural barriers. (1992, Winter). Miller, S. 4-5.

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