We Learn The Causes of Lower Back and Hip Pain From The Numbers

Poor workstation setup, poor posture or postural habits, and  office equipment are all factors for computer workers at risk for stress injuries.

Warwick, Rhode Island --- December 5, 2004 -- The Office Organix national study shows a computer work force of 18 million Americans at significant risk from repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) including carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and lower back injuries. Four common workplace risk categories were identified: poor workstation layout; inadequate office equipment; unhealthy postural habits; and low worker expectations about office comfort.

Conducted over a 24-month period, the Office Organix study sampled computer office workers across the country. Completed questionnaires were either returned by mail or filed electronically. Respondents came from every state, age group, office size (SOHO offices with 1-9 workers to major corporate work centers of 500 and up employees) and included many job titles. "

Despite press given to OSHA proposed requirements, the work force is ill equipped and at risk. Stress injuries cost real dollars; the personal pain is real and lost productivity is real," Grossman said.

Poor workstation setup leads the list safety concern for computer ergonomics we discovered.

• 51.2% place keyboards too high.  It contributes to upper back neck shoulder pain and wrist stress which resulted in leading Carpal Tunnel Syndrome causes.

• 65% of workers have the monitor placed too high. It contributes to neck and shoulder stress.

• 26.6% place monitors off at an angle instead of the straight ahead preferred position.

• 39.2% place the monitor too close.

• 68.0% experience blurred vision and frequent monitor headaches

• 42% have blurred vision, dry burning eyes, delayed focus, or altered color perceptions, a collective condition known as Computer Vision Syndrome.

• 47.8% cradle the phone between the head and shoulder during phone calls instead of using a headset

• 53% experience monitor glare from poor office lights, sunlight or window glare. Excessively bright, and high-glare offices were another frequent finding. The tendency here causes unconsciously shift body position to avoid monitor glare which also contributes to neck, shoulder and back strain and leads to chronic back pain.

• 51.2% of respondents report when using keyboard they support the upper body by resting on their wrists. This places dangerous strain on the vulnerable carpal tunnel area.

• 34.4% continue to tightly clutch the mouse when it is not in use.

When wrist surgery is required, the cost to business from carpal tunnel syndrome absentee frequently exceeds $50,000.00 per employee. In addition there are also hidden costs, such as training new employees when valuable employees quit for less sitting-intensive jobs. The key issue is that much of the costs absolutely could be avoided with simple changes in ergonomic office furniture or ergonomic equipment placement and employee involvement in ergonomics chair and maintenance.

Our office is more machine friendly than user friendly. Here are the reasons:

• 20.4% of workers report they share a desk with other workers when using the desk with only minimal adjustable options.

• 56.1% work in chairs with no height adjustment ability

• 45.8% have non-height adjustable chair arms.

• 49.2% reporting frequent back pain, among which most had minimally adjustable office chairs. Height adjustable desks are rare.

• 49.7% (almost half of workers polled) ignore recommendations to take computer stress prevention breaks.

• 60% describe themselves as sitting for hours at a stretch immersed in the monitor.

• 89.8% were taught that up sitting straight and rigid exemplifies good posture. The truth is that eve a good posture in a prolonger period of time will become a dangeroud posture that leads to pain eventually. Movement is important for our body.  We are built to move, not to sit around. Ergonomists teach that a more fluid posture is healthier and promotes circulation.

• 30.6% of workers believe an office is uncomfortable inherently.

• 10.7% think adjustable desks and chairs should go only to top executives. In a nutshell, workplace attitudes and passivity contribute to unhealthy computer office furniture environments.