New Type of Court Facility

Aviar Design provided interior design services for the newest District Court Building on the Navajo Nation.
Navajos view their justice method as a ceremony.  Supporting this view is a peacemaking room with peeled pole walls, and a variety of seating supporting what has been called a “horizontal system of justice” because all participants are treated as equals with the purpose of preserving their ongoing relationships and restoring harmony among involved parties.

Ergonomics is more than just providing employees with an adjustable keyboard tray.  Ergonomics is an entire branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environments.  OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) defines ergonomics as the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population. Effective and successful “fits” assure high productivity, avoidance of illness and injury risks, and increased satisfaction among the workforce. 

While ergonomic improvements to the work environment are primarily used to create a safer and more healthful work environment, your company may experience other benefits.

• increased productivity
• increased work quality
• reduced turnover
• reduced absenteeism
• increased morale

What’s at stake?

See what’s really required of your company by reviewing the OSHA guidelines.  OSHA has developed industry specific guidelines to provide specific and helpful guidance for abatement to assist employees and employers in minimizing injuries. 

No guidelines for your industry?  Think you’re off the hook?  OSHA encourages employers where necessary to implement effective programs or other measures to reduce ergonomic hazards.   This requirement exists whether or not there are voluntary guidelines.  As an employer you still have an obligation under the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1)  to keep your workplace free from recognized serious hazards, including ergonomic hazards. According to their website, OSHA will cite for ergonomic hazards under the General Duty Clause or issue ergonomic hazard letters where appropriate as part of its overall enforcement program.

Where to start?

There is no “one size fits all” solution to ergonomics, there are basic design goals, to consider when setting up a computer workstation or performing computer-related tasks.  OSHA has created evaluation checklists for your use.

How comfortable and supportive is your workstation?

How’s your work process?  

Does your chair do more than just sit pretty? 

What’s on and under your desk? 

Need help?

There are many ways to get help implementing an ergonomics program in your workplace.  A qualified interior designer can implement ergonomic principles in the design and layout of your space and address issues such as work process and workspace layout.

Have more intensive needs?  Whether you need to deploy a global ergonomics initiative or a single risk assessment, you may need an ergonomist.  They differ from interior designers with specialists in fields including kinesiology, biomechanics, and engineering evaluating from every approach.

The importance of ergonomics in the workplace cannot be overlooked, regardless of the size of your company.  There is a wide range of solutions and it’s just good business!

If we look at one of the well referenced standards for government interior design, The UFC for Interior Design (UFC 3-120-10), it states that

“Designers must consider interior design compatibility with the local environment, functional requirements, ergonomics, and economy of construction, energy conservation, interior details, sustainable design and life cycle costs. Additionally, facilities must be designed in harmony with the architectural character of existing facilities that are to remain, especially those that are considered historically or architecturally significant. Design excellence must not add to project costs but balance the functionality, aesthetics, quality, sustainability and maintainability of facilities.” 

That doesn’t sound any different than what we would do for private sector clients so let’s talk about what may be different in providing interior design to the government.

First of all, let’s define “Government” for the purpose of this post:  We are referring to all federal, state and local government agencies /organizations, and organizations funded by state or federal funds such as schools, universities, etc.

To get an idea of the huge scope of this market called “government”, the federal government alone, not including Department of Defense (DOD), houses more than 1.2 million federal workers, half of those are located in over 7,100 leased properties across the country with one million of the 1.3 million active duty military in North America alone.

6 reasons why interior design for the government can be different:

1. Construction methods
2. Standards and specifications
3. Procurement processes
4. Contract requirements
5. Terminology and acronyms
6. Paperwork

Construction methods are similar to that used in non-government projects and include the following most used types.  There is not one standard method that government agencies use

• Design-Bid-Build is used to first design the building and site allowing an estimate for the cost of construction to be provided for bonds or other future or multiple funding types, and then the project is bid once the drawings are complete.  Typically an A/E firm will be the prime contract holder.
• Design-Build involves a design team consisting of Architectural, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Company, Engineering and Specialty firms to create a complete design team that takes the project from concept to design. The Construction firm is usually the prime contract holder. 
• Turn Key projects include installation of furniture, equipment and all interior aspects of the project to be included in the construction contract.  This reduces procurement time, identifies furniture placement to coordinate with utilities, reducing change orders and move in time.

Standards and specifications are typically established by larger government entities, such as the DOD, for use by firms working with the government.  These standards are in place to help save time, to standardize within a department or agency, as well as allow others to access the information.  Probably one of the most important standards that interior designers can reference is “The UFC for Interior Design” (UFC-3-120-10).  This document specifically details the qualifications and interior designer is required to have for Department of Defense projects.

“2-2 INTERIOR DESIGNER QUALIFICATIONS:  Design and review must be accomplished by, or in consultation with, professional interior designers or architects with significant interior design experience. Qualification of designers is based on education, experience and examination. Interior designers or architects will have completed a recognized program of academic training in interior design; and/or will have attained registration or licensure as required by the locality or district where the project work occurs. For contracted interior design services, the interior designer or architect must be NCIDQ certified and must not be affiliated with any furniture dealership, vendor or manufacturer. The Government reserves the right to approve or disapprove the qualifications of the interior designer selected by an A/E or a Contractor.”

• The Air Force and the US Army Corps of Engineers have well established guidelines for interior design for projects under their jurisdiction.
• Large cities and counties often have established detailed guidelines to provide a minimum level of quality and support of their standards program. 
• Testing requirements for products and finishes are usually in place to provide a level of quality and safety for the employees and public using government spaces.
• Many government organizations will also have drawing standards in place that require certain software and/or systems in place to better manage their record files once a project is complete.

Procurement processes used by government are probably the largest differential in the design work between private and public spaces.  While the private sector may have purchasing standards in place for their procurement, the government (federal, state and local) has incredibly detailed rules, regulations and laws governing their procurement.  It is important that you understand what those rules are for your project and understand the criteria before you specify or purchase.

• Most government agencies call for the use of performance based specifications versus product specifications.  This allows for more manufacturers of a similar product to compete for business while assuring a minimum level of quality and performance can be attained without name brand preference.
• The mandatory use of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) for federal work and similar regulations that are adopted by other government agencies.  This large set of rules provides direction to contracting officers, but also is considered the law for acquisitions and must be followed where appropriate.

Contracts and registrations used by the government can also limit who is able submit for the project work. 

• Contract requirements can be issued by the government to help promote business in specific business types.  Designations, such as Small Business, 8A (disadvantaged minorities), HUB Zone (employees from disadvantaged economic regions), and Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MWBE), and Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVO) can be provided the opportunity to exclusively provide submittals for certain projects.  Even larger projects have “sub-contracting” plans that require certain percentages of these business designations are included in their contract.
• The use of pre-negotiated contracts allows the Government procurement process to access the contract holder quicker, because the majority of the negotiations have been done prior to the start of a particular project.  Examples of pre-negotiated contracts are “On-Call”, “Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity” (IDIQ) and, “Blanket Purchase Agreement” (BPA). 
• The requirement to register your company with federal organizations, such as the Contractors Central Registrations (CCR), Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA), plus various departments, individual states, counties, cities, and universities.  These registrations can be time consuming proposals or quick on-line answers of basic business questions, but be advised there are many to find.

Terminology and acronyms can be a challenge in the government, especially the federal government. 

Often the terminology and acronyms sound like a foreign language, leaving outsiders feeling like they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Between government sites that decipher the alphabet soup of government acronyms and Wikipedia, this language barrier is diminished. 

The amount of paperwork required for a government project is definitely more than private sector, and that will always remain.  The key to succeeding in this area is to be organized, develop a project management strategy with your team that helps you track and submit information on time, and make sure you are meeting all the requirements of the project.

While the process by which the design is completed can be more time consuming and different, the actual design work for government clients is not that different from other clients.    Government projects can be rewarding since they impact the general public in very real and tangible ways.

The best possible way to prevent workplace injuries is to create a working environment which minimizes risks by providing an optimal workstation layout.  This optimal working environment has four distinct elements that users interact with on a daily basis.  These elements are the chair, the keyboard and mouse, the monitor and lighting and glare.

The Chair

Based solely on ergonomic principles, the most important piece of office equipment is the chair.  The typical office worker spends more time sitting in their task chair than anywhere else.  The majority of the ergonomic chairs on the market have extensive manual controls and adjustment features.  Research indicates that users rarely make adjustments to their chairs throughout the day leaving them in a potentially static position.  Chairs which offer passive or automatic adjustment and few controls provide the most ergonomic potential. 

• Task chairs should encourage movement as research has shown that positional changes are significant to comfort and good health.  The best way to encourage movement is to recline the back of the chair opening up the angle at the hips past 90 degrees.  There are two breeds of chairs which accomplish this goal.  The first is the more traditional task chair with a recline spring tension and recline lock.  These controls allow adjustment of the back of the chair however caution must be taken to make sure that the adjustments have been made properly to fit the user of the chair.  The spring tension needs to be adjusted to fit the user and the recline lock should be used infrequently so that users have the ability to change positions.  The second chair is a newer design in which the chair utilizes a weight-sensitive mechanism to provide optimal support for the user.  When the user reclines, the mechanism senses the amount of weight being provided by the user and adjusts itself accordingly.
• Task chairs should properly fit the user.  Along with providing a recline position, a chair should also provide a good body fit.  There are several size adjustments that can be made to the chair in order to accommodate each user.  One is seat height.  The ideal seat height is when the user’s feet rest comfortably on the floor while at the same time the upper body is enough to accomplish work comfortably at the desk.  Another adjustment is seat depth.  The seat depth should accommodate the maximum amount of surface area to distribute the body weight.  The general rule for seat depth is to have 2 to 4 inches of space between the front of the seat and the back of the knee.  This should be measured with the user sitting completely in the chair with the back properly supported. 
• Armrests should be adjustable a well as kept level.  It is important for armrests to be adjustable to accommodate different tasks and different sized users.  Ideally, armrests to be height and width adjustable.  It is also beneficial if the arm pads are adjustable as well in a front to back motion and an angled pivot.  Keeping the armrests level is also important to maintain good health.  Users sometimes like to adjust the armrests to different heights and while this can be acceptable for specific tasks, used long term in this position can cause serious back problems for users. 

The Keyboard and Mouse

The keyboard position is important in the ergonomic workstation set up.  Research has found that the keyboard device itself is not a major cause of musculoskeletal pain; it is the inappropriate use of the technology that causes problems.  The keyboard should be placed below desk level which allows the user’s wrists to remain straight and their elbows open.  In addition, the keyboard should be either level or angled away from the user.  As with the chair, movement is critical so using an articulating keyboard tray not only provides the desired position, but also allows movement by the user.  The mouse should be placed on the same level as the keyboard and the keyboard platform should allow mousing on both sides. 

Monitor Placement

Research has shown that it is important to properly position the things people look at.  The height of the monitor should be such that the top line of text is at or slightly below eye level.  Any portion of the monitor above eye level will contribute to neck and shoulder strain.  When properly seated in the chair, the monitor should be placed so that it is no more than arms length away from the user. 

Lighting and Glare

Task lighting is an essential part of any ergonomic workstation.  With task lighting, the user is able to adjust the light to fit the required job.  Unlike general overhead lighting, directional lighting can provide the user the ability to provide lighting for maximum visual comfort and minimal glare.  Research also shows that task lightihg has the added benefit of providing increased worker productivity, largely due to users being given control over their own lighting levels. 

Laptops

Users who have laptop computers should consider placing the laptop in a height adjustable stand so that the monitor can be placed in the appropriate position.  In conjunction with the stand, an external keyboard and mouse will help to alleviate high risk posture associated with laptop computers.

Source:

Ronda Crenshaw, Ergonomics 102: Creating a Healthy Workstation http://www.humanscale.com/ergo_info/ergo102.cfm

Aviar Design recently completed a project at Pima Community College (as a member of the BWS Architect’s Design Team).  This renovation used  Title V CIL Development funds, with the purpose of: 

“transforming the campus through activities designed to infuse Basic Skills, Transfer, and Occupational/Technical curricula with global awareness, critical thinking, digital literacy, and cutting edge instructional technology”

Goal’s set by college to achieve this outcome were further stated in a presentation made to the design team:

• To create culture change in content delivery
• To create formal and informal spaces that are conducive to learning communities
• To provide education and skills for the 21st century
• To engage today’s students and faculty in new learning methodologies
• To increase student attention, retention, and success 

Watch this blog for a post on the paradigm shifts in education interior design.

3.  Better integration of architecture and interior design

Projects that have Furniture, Finish & Equipment (FF&E) as part of the building project will run smoother and save costs if the furniture and equipment selections and locations are determined as the building is being drawn up.  Bringing the interior designer to provide a FF&E layout and specifications will save the client money costs in:

• Reduced Change Orders because the furniture is “fit” into the building as the plan is being developed.
• Better Productivity when the detailed work flow of storage, workstations, etc is developed along with the building plans.
• Reduced Costs in adding building utilities (power and data) to support FF&E ahead of construction.

 2.  Better looking end product

Better integration of any existing furniture to be reused and incorporation of new furniture into an existing space with existing finishes.

• Saving FF&E Funds by performing a detailed inventory and documentation of existing products, to determine what can be reused, refurbished or recycled.
• Better Aesthetics are created when an interior designer creates a color pallet that works with all finishes, while adding new furnishing and finishes that integrate with both the old and new.
• Improved Staff Buy-in when an interior designer provides a layout of furniture and equipment early in the process, and the staff is involved in the process and the outcome.And the number one reason to use an interior designer is to SAVE MONEY!

1.  SAVE MONEY

• Programming Efficiency is achieved when an interior design is brought into a project early in the design to ask questions, listen and incorporate comments on how tasks are performed, work flow, storage, meeting space needs, etc.  Better work flow efficiency will lead to increased productivity when the building is occupied, and fewer changes and complaints after the move in.
• Cost Savings in design when the building finishes and FF&E finishes are generated at the same time in one package.  The time to select wall colors is greatly reduced once the fabrics, carpets, and other more limited finishes have been determined, instead of the other way around.
• Paper Changes have no cost real associated when the change is part of the design process.  Bringing the interior designer on a project early enough to work with electrical/data and mechanical engineers in placing utilities to support the FF&E saves construction change orders which can usually cover the cost of the interior designers fees.
• Innovative Products and Training that better support the client’s employees, which can result in increased productivity. 
• Better Pricing for client when an FF&E package is created for competitive quotes that can be evaluated equally.  “apples to apples”

Greenwashing can be found everywhere, and on many products we use on a daily basis. I have found that TerraChoice, “Seven Sins of Greenwashing” is an exceptional guideline that anyone can use as a tool to unveil lies from truth. We have adapted this in our design programming that’s used when specifying products.

1.  Sin of the HIDDEN TRADE-OFF: This is when a manufacture markets their product as sustainable, but only in a certain area, while not addressing the other issues that may also be important.

E.g.: Bamboo flooring and fabrics: Although this product is known as a rapidly renewable resource that can be harvested sustainably, the manufacturing of the material is another issue. Bamboo flooring uses a lot of energy, a variety of intensive processes as well as unknown quantities of formaldehyde adhesives.

Tip: Look at the entire process of what it takes to produce a product. If a manufacturer’s representative doesn’t know, it’s usually a good indication of a hidden agenda. You will eventually find the representatives that are educated on their products entire history, and they might come back and say that yes the company is aware of this other issue and they are considering the cost of changing their processes. This is an excellent opportunity to voice that this issue is important in your decision as a specifier. Hopefully enough people will comment and the manufacturers see the benefits of change.

2.  Sin of NO PROOF: There is no verifiable data provided for the sustainable claims that are being promoted.

E.g.: Recycled content percentages: When it comes to recycled content, whether post industrial or pre consumer, immediately look for any kind of percentages. When you finally need the actual documentation it is nowhere to be found at the website or in any of the literature.

Tip: Ask for documentation prior to specifying and verify that the documentation is valid. Check for 3^rd party certification or self certification. These documents will be required for submittals for all LEED projects. 

3.  Sin of VAGUENESS: Manufacturer’s marketing use of buzz words that are vague and meaningless.

E.g.: “Eco Friendly, Environmentally Friendly, Green, Non Toxic, Chemical Free, and All Natural”.

These “feel good” words have no additional specific details that validate the claims.  The lack of information can be misleading and only adds to confusion. Most of these words are product specific and imply that they follow some sort of guideline or policy that results in minimal or no harm on the environment. However there is no international standard for this concept. Therefore, even though an “eco” label may be attached to this product, not all labels carry the same weight.

Tip: Be wary of loosely based words and do your research. Verify and look for explanations for the buzz words. Scrutinize all of the eco-labeling and demand documentation.

4.  Sin of IRRELEVANCE: A claim that may be true, but it plays no part in allowing you to choose a better product based on green claims.

E.g.: Recyclable or CFC free.

In today’s market virtually all products are recyclable and the statement of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) free is irrelevant. The use of CFC’s has been banned in the US for over 30 years now.

Tip: Question the claim that is being promoted. Is the claim so common that every manufacturer in its class has fulfilled this option? If yes, then it is irrelevant.

5.  Sin of FIBBING: Its simple, some manufacturers outright lie to the public by promoting their product as green when it’s not.

E.g.: Office appliances and equipment that use the Energy Star labels claiming to be energy-efficient, but they can’t provide any documentation to back their claims.

  Tip: If a product is using a well-known eco label, don’t take their brochures completely on faith, visit the eco label website and verify that it is a credible product. Be aware that some labels require that their products be tested regularly, so even though products may have been tested and passed once, the manufacturer may have failed to keep up with the regular testing requirements.

6.   Sin of LESSER OF TWO EVILS: Contradictory statements.

E.g.: Zero VOC’s. All materials and finishes off gas, nothing is truly VOC free.

 Tip: If the claim in question looks and sounds like a bad combination and your intuition is telling you that it is a bad mix, it probably is. Compare against other products and evaluate the options or alternatives that you can use in your design.

7.  Sin of WORSHIPING FALSE LABELS: Manufacturer’s use marketing images and words to create the illusion of a credible third-party endorsement.

E.g.: “this product fights global warming”, “eco safe,” “eco secure”, or “eco preferred”–all of which are meaningless without context or proof.

Tip: Educate yourself on what is considered to be a reliable and independently verified eco label. Here are a few labels that you can rely on.

THIRD PARTY ECO LABELS:

• GREEN SEAL utilizes a life-cycle approach with manufactures, at all levels to “green the production and purchasing chain.
• GREENGUARD works with manufactures of indoor furnishings to reduce chemical exposure and improve indoor air quality.
• Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), International indoor air quality.
• LEVEL, BIFMA sustainable furniture.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), responsible forest management and chain of custody.
• ENERGY STAR a US government label for energy efficient appliances.
• FLOOR SCORE Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) & (SCS) tests hard surface flooring and flooring adhesive products for compliance with rigorous indoor air quality emissions requirements.

As more and more of your clients are asking for sustainable design you can feel confident that you are specifying the “greener” product by following the seven sins of Greenwashing.  

Portions of this article were taken from the following sources:

Segran Grace, (2010), A new sustainability playing field, Retrieved on April 16, 2010 from http://knowledge.insead.edu/csr-brendan-may-100416.cfm

Joe Barrios, (2010), How to Avoid Greenwashing, Retrieved on April 14, 2010 from http://ecovillagegreen.com/2009/04/how-to-avoid-greenwashing-sin-1-the-hidden-trade-off/

Basically, FBO is a huge public access database containing government business opportunities that are valued at $25,000 or greater and it’s available to all commercial vendors and government buyers to post, search, monitor, and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire Federal contracting community.  This includes but is not limited to the U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Military Branches, U.S. Postal Service, National Parks Service, Federal law enforcement agencies, and more.  You name the Federal government agency, and you’ll probably find it a solicitation for it on FBO. 

In particular, with recent government spending incentive programs, such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), more and more design and construction related solicitations are finding their way into this database daily.  These FBO solicitations can lead to countless contracting and subcontracting opportunities and partnerships with other related industry partners.

Take it from me, a FBO novice, after an hour or so on the database you will quickly learn the ins and outs and how to manage and surf the FBO database in no time.  How do you begin?  By letting your fingers do the talking…or typing in this case and go to FedBizOpps.gov website.  Also, I highly recommend you spend some time thumbing through the FBO.GOV Vendor (user’s) Guide, https://www.fbo.gov/downloads/FBO_Vendor_Guide.pdf. This is especially useful if you’re not familiar with similar search engines, to help you build your FBO profile, and show you how to review, manage your vendor opportunities and much more. 

For more information, visit the FedBizOpps web site at www.fedbizopps.gov.

Avair Design was hired by Tucson Medical Center to produce a design concept for a massive facelift for their entire facility. Tucson Medical Center is a historic, well-respected hospital, which houses both, inpatient and outpatient services. It is also the largest one-story hospital in the country. Due to the age of the facility and the building layout there were many challenges that had to be addressed. This included improving way finding, using modern color schemes, and a general refurbishing of the facility. Through the use of color, we were able to improve the facilities overall environment.

Our first step was to research, we started with the Planetree group. Planetree* studied how the elements of color and nature affect measurable reductions in a medical facilities overall costs. After researching and reviewing information put out by the Planetree research group, as well as others, we were able to integrate these ideas into our design concept.

From the beginning we knew we needed to look at the facility as a whole, as well as keep in mind the historic nature of the hospital and its tie to the southwest desert. We combined these factors to create our design concept. Taking the existing exterior quadrant colors, modifying them to relate to colors of the southwest desert, we formed a cohesive color palette for the facility.

Each quadrant was designed around neutral colors that will be the standard throughout the facility. By using the field colors throughout the facility, predominate quadrant colors are used as accents, reinforcing the existing exterior way finding. This allows those entering the facility to continue using color to help them orient themselves throughout the expanse of the hospital.

Color defines the area of the hospital

Dividing the campus into color quadrants has accomplished both of our requirements of improving way finding and enhancing the interior spaces. The result is a decrease of stress on patients, staff, and visitors navigating their way through the campus, and creates a unified, organized perception of the facility as a whole. Creating a master plan for renovation work and establishing a schedule of projects that fit into the hospitals’ budget, Tucson Medical Center is on track to complete their transformation over the next several years.

*Planetree is a non-profit organization that provides education and information in a collaborative community of healthcare organizations, facilitating efforts to create patient centered care in healing environments.

In part one of this two part article, we will look at the myths and facts about basic ergonomic principles.

Myth:  Ergonomic workstations are needed only if the user is at a computer all day

Fact:  Research has shown that “workers most likely to report pain… were the not the ones who spent the most time using a computer, but the workers who said their workstation design was poor.”[1]  A person’s environment affects their behavior which is one of the key principles of ergonomics.  Having a well designed workspace, helps to ensure that people work safely.

Myth:  You should always sit up straight

Fact:  In reality, sitting up straight is not all that good for you.  Recent research has shown that reclining is healthy for you.  A slightly reclined position distributes your body weight to the back of your chair which in turn puts less stress on your spine.

Myth:  The best ergonomic position is to sit with your body at a 90 degree angle

Fact:  This previous ergonomic tool has now been shown to not be the healthiest way to sit at your desk all day.  Movement is critical to maintaining a healthy work environment.  Building flexibility into the workstation allows for frequent positional changes throughout the day. 

Myth:  The more adjustable a piece of equipment is the more ergonomics it provides

Fact:  Adjustability is a critical part of ergonomics, but too much adjustability can be just as dangerous as a poorly designed workstation.  Users often unknowingly adjust their equipment into unhealthy postures or positions.  Products should be adjustable within a safe range without allowing untrained users to put themselves at risk.

Myth:  If a product is labeled “ergonomic” it must be safe to use

Fact:  There is currently no regulatory oversight to use the word ergonomic therefore products labeled ergonomic may not be the healthiest choice available.  Research is key, on the part of the employer, to make sure that items being purchased will provide a benefit to the worker.  Require that the claims of a products functionality be backed up with research and testing before making a purchase decision.

Myth:  The more light the better

Fact:  Any office which is over lit contributes to vision and glare issues.  Lighting is key to a workspace, but the amount of light and its location are also important.  Reading a document requires five times more light than viewing a computer monitor.  Therefore, directional task lighting is the best option in a workspace.  It supplements the standard room lighting and allows the user to move the lighting to where they need it in their workspace.

A few other key principles include minimizing extreme postures, avoiding contact stress and taking breaks.  A neutral posture is important to maintain comfort and health.  Neutral postures are those positions which require minimal muscle activity to maintain.  Contact stress is a focused pressure on a specific part of the body.  Taking breaks from repetitive tasks is important to avoid repetitive motion injuries.  The most important piece of advice regarding ergonomics is to educate the workers.  Education allows workers to have an understanding of ergonomics and also makes them aware of their space and how they can prevent injury.

Part two of this article will focus on tips for setting up an ergonomic workstation.

Source:

Ronda Crenshaw, Ergonomics 102: Creating a Healthy Workstation http://www.humanscale.com/ergo_info/ergo102.cfm