Ergonomic Guidelines

You can get the details at the OSHA site, but the gist of it goes like this, knees slightly higher then your butt, feet flat on the ground, and a ninety degree angle at your elbows so that your forearm is parallel to the ground and there is no pressure on your wrists if you, like me, like to rest them on the keyboard. Elbows is where its at in ergonomics.

Image courtesy of OSHA Web Site at www.osha-slc.gov

Frankly, the main problem with all ergonomic recommendations of this kind is that they are great as guidelines, but we're all built differently. I'm six feet two inches tall, and weigh over two hundred and twenty pounds so, I'm not a small guy. I have one office chair that cost about $80 and has no arm rests, and my main resting place, which cost about $300 and is one of those executive looking leather jobs. Still, I feel like both chairs feel upset every time I sit on them. I can just hear them saying, "Oh, man. Not him again. Why doesn't he lose some weight. Hey, buddy, I have a life, too."

Much of the rules and standards surrounding ergonomics at work tend to be a reflection of the business environment. In Europe, where there has been a more labor friendly environment than the US, ergonomic standards are more stringent. I remember that in the early nineties, German and Scandinavian companies were much more aggressive on display refresh rates than Britain, which tended to follow the US lead when it came to computing. Can you legislate ergonomics into the workplace? Probably not effectively unless you have a government that is gung-ho on eliminating chiropractors, or the Suits get a guarantee that it won't cost businesses an extra penny. Well, it does cost. To paraphrase an old saying, "At least you get your health."

Note to self: Now, go out and scare some old folk, or something? You is going maudlin on me.