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Ergonomics

Ergonomic Evaluations

SLAC Medical offers ergonomic evaluations free of charge to SLAC employees and SLAC temporary employees.  To set up an evaluation, please contact the Medical Department at x2281.

Tips on Computer Ergonomic Safety

  • Have you had an ergonomic evaluation from the SLAC Medical Department?
  • Did you adjust your monitor so that your eyes are level with a point just below the top of the screen?
  • Are your arms and shoulders relaxed when you use the keyboard or mouse?
  • Is your keyboard adjusted to allow for a 90-degree bend in your elbow?
  • Have you adjusted your keyboard so that your wrists are NOT resting on the wrist rest and that you have a neutral (straight) wrist position?
  • Is the center point of your hips at the same level or slightly higher than the center point of your knees?
  • Do you have a 90-degree bend in your knees when you are sitting?
  • Is your chair positioned so that your feet rest on the floor or foot rest?
  • Do you stretch/relax your hands and back for one minute after every 20 minutes of continuous computer work?
  • Have you used the SLAC computer-based training course?
  • Are objects at your workstation, such as the telephone, within arm’s reach?
  • If your job requires two or more hours of continuous phone use per day, do you use a telephone headset?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a frequent and painful disorder of the wrist, caused by bad posture, excessive force, or repeated hand movement without a break.  Please visit the separate webpage with information for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Ergonomic Chairs

Please contact the Medical Department, x2281, for approved chair samples and more information about the chairs available at SLAC.

If you purchase a chair, make sure it has the following aspects:

  • Pneumatic height adjustability
  • Adjustable seat pan and lumbar support
  • Seat back locks in vertical position
  • Height-adjustable arm rests

Stretching

  • Stretch Break, licensed for SLAC Usage download here (scroll to the bottom of the screen and select "install now"). If you do not have administrative rights on your computer to install software, fill out a desktop computing help ticket to have computer support help you install it.

    This program is SLAC-licensed for use on SLAC-computers. It installs software onto your computer that pops up at pre-programmed times (for instance, every 15 minutes, or 30 minutes, or an hour -- your choice) and reminds you to take a quick break and stretch. If you select the "stretch now" option, it guides you through a few simple exercises that are ergonomically selected to help in reducing computer stress.

The following are other outside links with good stretching techniques:

Other Resources

The following are a few outside links with ergonomics information reviewed by SLAC Medical.

 


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