Space sharing in offices

More modern or post modern office environments are embracing the concept of space sharing.  An article from flexibility.co.uk describes considerations for a shared office space.  It is an interesting trade off between personal space and shared space.  I have visited cubes where people are able to personalize the space with photos of family and places that they have vacationed.  In one research library, many cubes were decorated with items that were associated with the librarians field of interest.  Conducting ergonomic evaluations in the space was like a trip to Epcot without the food.  I am interested in how accommodations will be made for people needing specific chairs or individuals with perfume sensitivities. 

Examples of office space sharing in Bangalore are found at this website.  Will people who spend less than 50% of their day at a cube embrace this environment and collaborate or will the lack of privacy cause people to get on each other's nerves?

http://krsinfra.wordpress.com/office-space-in-bangalore-hsr/

Self evaluation office ergonomics

U of MN DEHS has developed as self evaluation for office ergonomics.  Please view the Self Evaluation Checklist pdf for a review.  It is also available to U of MN employees at this link.  It requires a U of MN account and password.

Please note that All training, informative materials, and procedures presented on the DEHS Web site are prepared for the University of Minnesota. Neither its authors nor the University of Minnesota will accept responsibility for its contents if used in non-University of Minnesota settings.

photo from: www.dehs.umn.edu/ergo.htm

French Fry ergonomics

There is a discussion board reviewing problems with the ergonomics of fry baskets in restaurants.  There are issues with lifting the baskets and rotating and dumping the baskets.  Both of them put stress on the wrist and forearm.   I don't have a simple answer for this issue but we will be reviewing it at our kitchens for possible solutions. Thanks to Barbara Baum for bringing this to my attention.

Photo from Weighty Matters in Canada

Office Ergonomics symptoms checklist

U of MN DEHS offers a self assessment for office workers who notice areas of discomfort while working on a computer.  Just click on the body part that hurts and suggestions about the cause and possible solutions are provided.

Ergoman - Drawing from Uof MN DEHS Website

Therapist chair adjustment video

U of MN DEHS has completed a chair adjustment video for the All Seating Therapist chair.  Thanks to Rebecca Burton for the voice over.

Friant Midzone chair adjustment video

At U of MN DEHS we put together a chair adjustment video for the Friant Midzone chair.  Thanks to Rebecca Burton for the voice over work.

Prolonged sitting linked to cancer

USA Today reports that prolonged sitting is linked to breast and colon cancer.  One Mayo researcher suggested that if you sit for more than and hour at a time you've probably sat too long.  The researchers recommend walking at least 30 minutes a day at a minimum.

This may not be enough. According to Dr. James Levine the biggest difference between thin people and overweight people is not how much they eat or exercise but how much they sit.  Thin people sit 120 minutes less per day than overweight people.

In a related note: There is also a recent trend at the workplace for people to stand at the workstation rather than sit or to at least alternate between standing and sitting.  If you stand you can burn up to 50 calories more per hour than sitting. This according to an article by Andrea Cespedes.

Click on the link for an example of a portable sit stand workstation.