G1+Voicethread+Planning

Brainstorming for the VoiceThread
I'm not sure is I should put this here or in the discussion, but then I thought "Hey, I'm already on this page." so might as well put it here. If it should be somewhere else, move it. Or tell me and I'll move it =]
 * gives lots of examples what what is ergonomic and what is not.
 * lots of pictures of good vs. bad ergonomics and pictures of injuries that could happen.
 * who has a really nice voice?
 * could create our own guild lines...maybe? ergonomics at school or something more interesting and creative.
 * Or we could just outline why ergonomics is a good thing, and some basic guild lines, for computer use maybe? I'm guessing numerous people spend A LOT of time in front of computers.

Kevin's proposed organization: 1. Open up with pictures of ergonomic designed things. Talk about ergonomics as a concept and what it generally is. 2. talk about injuries, then their causes, then ways to prevent them, THEN how ergonomically designed thigns prevent them 3. talk about the case studies, show analysis on the way they used ergonomics, like the economic cost and how well the rgonomics worked 4. conclusion on whether we think ergonomics are economically viable in the work place

Voicethread outline
Should we split up slides between us? (These are more like sections. I think if we only have one slide for all this talking or presenting it's gonna be quite boring. We can always get photos that contribute to the effectiveness of what we are saying)) What is ergonomics? Ergonomics, sometimes called Human Engineering, is the science of designing work environments that enable people and things to interact efficiently and safely. For example, most of us spend time sitting in front of a computer. Well, slouching in your chair is ergonomically poor while sitting up straight is ergonomically good. Ergonomics, in short, help prevent repetitive stress injuries, such as Carpal tunnel syndrome, that can result from working in an ergonomically poor environment. Sometimes, this is achieved through ergonomic training, or from using ergonomic products. Ergonomic training is basically teaching people to be more aware of their posture and the area around them so they can be aware of things that are not ergonomic and correct them so they are in, as well as possible, an ergonomic environment. Ever seen those weird shaped keyboard? Those are an example of ergonomic products. They're designed to minimize strain on the wrist when typing so you don't suffer some conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Today, many companies are embracing ergonomics, because THEY FEEL a healthier employee supposedly equals greater production and efficiency. But, despite all of the supposed benfits, many companies still hesitate to make the workplace more ergonomically efficient because of the expense. Ergonomics has been raising in popularity and use, but those ergonomic products are so much more expensive than normal products! For example, according to Amazon.com, the Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard (not ergonomic) costs around $6.45 while the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 (ergonomic keyboard) costs around $99.24. Huge difference, no? " Even though it's expensive, companies should invest money into altering the workplace so it's more ergonomic. Why? Well, it would be better to understand how a non-ergonomic workplace can affect employees "(I don't think this should go into the beginning. This is what we're trying to prove. In the conclusion we can say this with referencing our case studies and other sources.). OSHA, an organization that develops guidelines for certain industries to reduce ergonomic injury, describes ergonomic injury by the term "musculoskeletal disorders" or "MSDs". It refers collectively to the group of injuries and willnesses that affect the musculoskeletal system. Repetitive stress injuries are injuries that occur from repetitive action. For example, screwing one part of a machine in an assembly line for hours. Some common causes for ergonomic injury is... Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive work with a bent wrist. It consists of a tingling, painful, or numb feeling in the fingers, especially at night. Tendonitis? Inflammation of the area where muscle and tendon are joined. Pain, swelling, redness...caused by repetitive movement. Ganglion - a cyst at a joint or in a tendon-sheath. Caused by repetitive movements. Epicondylitis - inflammation at the area where the bone and tendon are joined. Cause by? You guessed it! Repetitive movements. So many injuries caused by repetitive movements, so many that can be prevented just by changing the work style or surroundings. This is what ergonomics aims to eradicate. we can show that table I found too at this point. we need photos of some of the injuries. we'll get that by april 25th  START OF SOURCES THAT EXPLAIN EFFECTS OF ERGONOMICS this is gonna be showing the chair photo i assume. This is fine overall, just some of the english sounds awkward. Chairs. We spend so much time sitting, yet we don't fully understand how, just by sitting, we can potentially injure ourselves. Combine that with a computer. Even more possibilities for injury arise! Just sitting for too long can cause problems. By sitting, the natural curve of the lumbar, the lower back, will flatten, thus increasing the pressure on the disks of the spine. Sitting also puts pressure on the back of the legs, which can cut off blood flow. Those factors can cause lower back pain. Statistics show that lower back pain accounts for more lost work time than the common cold! While employee's can't truly prevent employees from getting a cold, they can help reduce the factors in the workplace that could lead to lower back pain, and thus avoid lost work time due to that pain. That would increase productivity, which in turn, increases the money earned. But that's just from sitting. Sitting while leaning forward puts too much strain on the lower back, thus, the spine has to carry all of the weight of the upper torso. If you tuck your feet under the chair, the strain is increased. Slouching puts strain on the lower back and neck. If you're slouching in front of a computer, you also have a poor view of the screen and your wrists and arms are in a bad position to be using the keyboard. The best position would be sitting up straight, with the torso in perfect vertical alignment. If you're using a computer, the forearms should be horizontal to reduce wrist strain.
 * Slide 1****:** The Introduction:
 * [[image:ergonomic_keyboard.jpg width="352" height="352" caption="Ergonomic Keyboard"]] ||
 * Ergonomic Keyboard ||
 * [[image:keyboard.jpg width="426" height="275" caption="Not so ergonomic keyboard"]] ||
 * Not so ergonomic keyboard ||
 * Slide 2:** The explanation
 *  repeated use over time of vibrating tools and equipment, such as a jackhammer;
 *  tools and tasks which require twisting hand or joint movements, such as the work many mechanics perform;
 *  applying force in an awkward position;
 *  applying excessive pressure on parts of the hand, back, wrists or joints;
 *  working with the arms outstretched or over the head;
 *  working with a bent back;
 *  lifting or pushing heavy loads.
 * Slide 3:** Continuing from slide 2.

__**CARPAL TUNNEL!!!!** - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a "painful progressive condition caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist" (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, www.ninds.nig.gov) - Symptoms include: pain, weakness, or numbness in the fingers, hand, and/or wrist, radiating up the arm. As the condition worsens, people may experience tingling, decreased grip strength. - caused by working in assembly line work or in a job that requires long periods of repetitious movements - Solutions: Performing daily exercises that strengthen the fingers, wrists, forearms, and hands, and wearing a hand brace at night or when experiencing pain during the day can all help reduce the risk. Taking short breaks at work or during times of extended repetitive motions involving the hands. - However, the key cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is poor posture: Find an ergonomic chair with proper lower back support and position the chair to an appropriate height in relation to the desk and user's height. A keyboard should be place close enough that a person can comfortably use it while keeping their spine against the back of their chair the shoulders should be relaxed and the elbow close to the body ensure that the wrists are straight while using the keyboard to prevent pressure on the nerves

([|http://ezinearticles.com/?Minimizing-the-Risk-of-Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome-Through-Ergonomics&id=844862)]__ _ - For one, computer-induced eyestrain could damage your vision. When your eyes get accustomed to focusing for long periods of time at the same distance, the eye muscles become less flexible, and your vision can worsen, - Seven body positions. Most of us know these seven ergonomic Dos, but here they are, for review: (1) Line of sight should be 6 inches above the computer screen; (2) screen should be 18-24 inches from eyes; (3) feet flat on floor, no crossed legs; (4) knees slightly below hips; (5) shoulders down and relaxed; (6) wrists slightly below elbows; (7) fingers slightly below wrists. - Take micro breaks. Every 3-5 minutes, look up from your computer and focus on something across the room. - Nearsighted? Get computer glasses. Get fitted for lenses that allow you to see clearly 18-24 inches away - Do rapid blinking. Blink quickly for a few seconds. You will be surprised how relieved your eyes will feel as they are immediately lubricated. ([|http://ezinearticles.com/?Save-Your-Eyesight-at-the-Computer&id=728332)]
 * EYESIGHT PROBLEMS**

START OF CASE STUDIES Still not convinced why money should be spent for an ergonomically friendly environment? Just take a look at the case studies.<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; color: rgb(244, 42, 42)">Again, we need to put this at the end because we are trying to prove this. We supply case studies and examples, and then in the conclusion we draw upon all this analysis and make the conclusion. The Health and Safety Executive estimates that in 1995-1996, MSDs cost British society £5.7 billion. 1.0 million people are affected each year, resulting in 11.6 million lost working days (2004/0). As they published, Cost Benefit Studies that support tackling MSD's gives detailed results of about 21 case studies. The benefits of using ergonomics was calculated using the investment required to change the workplace (new equipment bought, changed work styles, ergonomic training...), and comparing that cost with the benefits of the improved work system. It was important to compare the differences in conditions before the change and after the change. The research team considered changes to sickness and absence levels associated with MSDs, productivity rates, staff turnover and other variables, like reduced waste or higher quality output when hey determined the possible benefits.
 * Slide 4:** More proof.

One of the studies used involved heavy containers that needed to be lifted manually into an "overpack" for transporting offshore. tehc containers weighed up to 75kg. Since there was limited space, posture was poor and there was only enough room for one person to do the job. A back injury had already occurred because of the job, and that resulted in 6 month's absence. This was the second injury in just a few months. The injured personnel were specialists, so their presence was sorely missed. The company lost revenue. The solution? It wasn't possible to make the containers lighter or change the dimensions of the overpack (those changes, if they were possible, would have improved posture, but instead a jib crane was installed on top of the overpack that would take the weight of the containers. Assessing the risks and iffting jib cranes to all containers cost £14,875 . The cost from the two injuries was around £45000. More incidences of that time were predicted to happen in the future. If the jib cranes were used for 5 years, then the investment costs wold be recouped in just 3 months. The rate of injuries, and thus money lost from those injuries, would also reduce. All in all, just by making a small change to he workplace, the companies could regain the money used to finance the change, and money would be saved from less injuries. This case study shows that ergonomics is not only economically viable but that it is also a good idea. It has caused the company to lose less money to injures by investing a small cost compared to what they lost due to the injuries. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; color: rgb(244, 42, 42)">Very good. Analysis is apparent. Another case study related to the manufacture of medical devices. Workers needed to attach ultra-fine structures to needles and 40% of them were experiencing shoulder and neck discomfort. If the ultra-fine attaching job was performed for only four hours per shift, high ergonomic risks could be avoided, but productivity levels would reduce. Modifications were them made to the workstation to improve postures. A camera and small monitor were installed to allow the operator to check the location of the needle without having to adopt awkward neck positions. Staff who haven't had any experience could now perform it with less training. Operators could work safely for an additional two hours a day without being at significant risks of musculoskeletal pain or injury. The cost of the modification and for purchasing the cameras was £9350, the net intervention benefit was £18900 and the payback time was 12 months. Basically, the installing of ergonomic designs not only stopped the pain, it allowed workers to work for a longer time showing that ergonomics increases productivity! Though the payback time was a year, it came with hardly any risk of any injuries and a much greater level of productivity. Once again proving that it is so totally economically viable. IF the company can afford the start up cost and can wait until profit pays it off. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; color: rgb(248, 63, 63)">Very good. Analysis is apparent. but maybe a bit more subtle with the bias. An ergonomic intervention study was conducted at two hospital laundries and a control laundry to evaluate changes in injuries, self-reported pain and psychosocial factors post-intervention. At Laundry A, ergonomic changes resulted in fewer musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs), but no significant difference after 8 months in self-reported pain or psychosocial factors, even though 88% of workers felt the changes made their work better. At Laundry B, ergonomic changes resulted in a reduction in MSIs, less self-reported pain and significant improvements in psychosocial factors. At the control laundry, there was no change in injuries or psychosocial factors, but increased reports of pain in the same time period. Benefit-to-cost ratios were 0.97 for Laundry A and 1.5 for Laundry B, demonstrating a one-year or less payback on ergonomic improvements. The high return on investment was largely due to increases at both laundries in productivity and savings in overtime, turnover and return-to-work costs.
 * Slide 5:** Case Study 1: continued from slide 4
 * Slide 6:** more case studies.
 * Another Case Study**

Figure 1. “Dumper” before modifications showing awkward bending and reaching postures Figure 2. “Dumper” shows an extended conveyor with higher sides and plastic bags that reduce awkward dumping postures. On questionnaires, 73% of workers reported their job had changed and 88% felt the changes made their work better: 70% reported less physical effort, 69% being less tired, 75% less sore and 75% reported the job is both more interesting and more varied. The incidence of MSIs (medical aid and lost time) went from 48.8 to 41.9 (in the 8 month follow-up) and further to 18.6 in the second full year following changes.
 * Laundry A**

([|http://www.cher.ubc.ca/PDFs/laundryergonomics.pdf)]

The total cost of ergonomic interventions at Laundry A was $84,240. Benefits totaled $82,070, including a reduction in managers time dealing with grievances, selling of a sheet ironer, reduced turnover and overtime and increased productivity. The one year benefit-to-cost ratio was 0.97. Therefore, the ergonomic solutions had a one-year payback or 97% return on investment. Additional savings were realized the following year (after the 2-year project completed) with a substantial reduction in MSIs. The change to disposable bags yielded a payback of $20-45,000 for customers, further enhancing the viability of the laundry. At Laundry B, the cost of ergonomic interventions was $27,800. Benefits included reduced MSIs, reduced time loss during return-to-work and an increase in productivity, totaling $41,600. The one-year benefit-to-cost ratio is 1.5, with an eight month payback for the ergonomic solutions. The return on investment for Laundry B is therefore 150%.
 * Cost-Benefit Evaluations**

Conclusion:

Tie in all the case studies and sources, make the conclusion, it's pretty obvious. Reference them yep...

Okay, this seems all and well, what we do need to do is figure out how we're going to present the case studies. We can't really find too many pictures i think, so it may just end up being a video of us talking or something with props and stuff. I'm not sure. more ideas would be //wonderful//.

=Videos= media type="youtube" key="W5ZpruQRMAc&hl=en" height="355" width="425" STS Workstation Ergonomics Training Video

media type="youtube" key="KUU6FYxE0YU&hl=en" height="355" width="425" Work Station Ergonomics