Central Office Ergonomics

Marie RobinsonSBC Communications

Wire StrippingUse neutral wrist posture while stripping wire

Use minimal force on your hands while wire stripping

Keep right hand neutral while using tool across body

While on ladder, keep your body centered on theladder and position yourself at the proper height.

• If the body isn’t centered on the ladder,the likelihood of loosing your balanceincreases. Also, if you work at a heightthat isn’t appropriate for you, the reachdistance will increase and awkwardposture is likely.

• Solutions: Position yourself so that yourarms are neutral and the work isdirectly in front of you.

Working on the Ladder

Wrong

Neutral

Wire Wrapping• While wire wrapping,

keep the wrist neutraland elbow close toyour side.

• Make sure the tool fitsyour hand size.

• Make sure the tool isworking well & ismaintained.

Wire Unwrapping• Problem: revolutions

of the wrist whileunwrapping.

• Essential to have thewrist neutral.

• What are you doingwith your other hand?

Minimize reach distanceswhile working on the frame.

Problem: The further you reach away from yourbody, the harder your body works day after day.

Neutral Shoulder postureAwkward wrist and shoulder

Solutions; The closer you position yourself to your work, the more neutral your posture will be.

Avoid Overextendingwhen lifting or working

Position yourself close to your work.

Wrong Neutral

As your arms move away from your body, the back & arm muscles work harder.

Remember: Visioncan drive posture

When your work involvesvisually intensive tasks, yourposture may be affected by yourvisual needs.

TIP: Keep your visioncorrection current.

Problem: Improperly lifting a wire bag, wire reel, boxes, or other items can lead toincreased spinal disc pressure which lead to back discomfort or pain.Solution: Always use proper posture while lifting objects.

• When lifting an object:� Avoid Twisting - Change direction by movingyour feet, not your torso.� Avoid Jerking - Lift smoothly.� Avoid Side lifting - Keep the object in front of you.� Avoid Overextending when lifting or working - Keep the object

close in to your body.� Avoid Bending at the waist - Keep the torso upright, especially

when standing up.

� If the weight of the object exceeds yourcapability to lift it:

� Divide the load into smaller portions.� Get help or use a mechanical device.

Use proper lifting posture

LIFTING-RIGHT

• Head straight• Back Straight• Knees bent• Feet - shoulder width apart• Light load

Avoid Twisting

Wrong Right

Change direction by moving your feet, not your torso.

Face the direction you plan to move.

Avoid Jerking Movements -Lift smoothly.

Wrong

Plan your lift and use control.

• Head straight• Back Straight• Knees bent• Feet - shoulder width apart

Rounded Back

Straight Legs

Feet Together

Looking Down

Awkward/Heavy Load

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Handling Wire Reels

• When handling wire reels, make sure youlift using proper lifting techniques.

Pushing and Dragging Material

TIP: Create a wire handle for the wire bag toassist in pulling the wire bag

Pull awkward items such as burn bags. Use your legs!!

Always push a ladder

Pushing and Dragging Material

Pushing and Dragging Material

• The scrap wire bagneeds to be gently pulledout of the metal bin.Don’t allow the bag tofill up too full. It’sharder to pull out of thebin and harder to dragacross the work area.

Running Jumpers

• Keep wrists &Shoulders neutral

• Position yourself sothat you minimize yourreach

• When shelvingjumpers, use anassistive device or layup stick.

Cosmic Frame• Minimize force by not pounding the punch down tool• Remember to keep wrist neutral when using punch down

tool.

Kneeling while working

• Problem: Kneeling on the hard surface of the Central Office can add tothe long term wear and tear of the knee joint.

• Solution: Use knee pads or a foam pad to kneel on especially if thework will be over a few minutes ….. Or sit down.

Ergonomics while workingon the computer

• Feet flat on the floor or footrest.• Support the back while sitting.• Keep everything within an easy reach.• Neutral wrist position while typing or mousing.• Top of the VDT screen at eye height or slightly below.

WORKSTATION POSTURE

Writing height at elbowheight of employee

Monitor height at eye level orslightly below

Feet flat on floor

Eye to screen distance 18-30”

Appropriate document holder

Wrists and forearms parallelto the floor and neutral

Elbows at 90-115 degrees

Lumbar supported

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