Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment A-11

Note
For more inf or m ation on wor kstation set up, see the Am erican
National Standard for Human Factors Engineering of Visual Display
Terminal Workstations. ANSI/HFS Standard No. 100-1988. The Human
Factors Society, Inc., P.O. Box 1369, Santa Monica, California 90406.
Pre-existing Conditions and PsychosocialFactors
Pre-existing conditions that may cause or make some people more
susceptible to musculoskeletal disorders include the following: hereditary
factors, vascular d i sorders, obesity, nutr itional deficiencies ( e. g., Vitamin
B deficiency), endocr in e disorders (e.g., dia betes), hormonal imbal an ces,
connective tissue disorders (e.g., arthritis), prior trauma (to the hands,
wrists, arms, shoulders, neck, back, or legs), prior musculoskeletal
disorders, aging, fluid retention due to pregnancy, poor physical
conditioning and dieta ry habits, and other conditions.
Psychosocial factor s associated with these di sorders include: work p lace
stress, poor job satisfaction, lack of support by management, and/or lack
of control ove r one’s work.
Contact a doctor if you experience pain, tenderness, swelling, burning,
cramping, stiffness, throbbing, weakness, soreness, tin g lin g an d/or
numbness in the hands, w rists, arms, shoulders , neck, back, and/or legs.
Checking Your Comfort: How Do YouMeasure Up?
Use this checklist to see if you are setting up your work environment to fit
your physica l needs.

Checking Your Chair

Do you sit in an upright position with the backrest supporting your
lower back?
When sitting, are your feet fl at on the floor?
Do you period i cally adjust you r chair and your posture?