Office Ergonomics

[nzfreestyler]

We've had the OSH/ worklpace ergonomics people through to check out our workstations, specifically for using computers.

We've had the old blue light issue raised and we've all got bad posture and don't sit at our desks correctly! I'm only at my desk one third to half the time anyway, but... apparently regardless of how little or much I sit at a desk it matters.

We're not allowed to sit cross legged anymore, and we have to have our desks altered!

For those who wear high heels we must alter our workstation every day to match the heels we're wearing that day! Apparently our feet must be flat and thighs parallel to the ground when seated properly. I just used to adjust my chair to the height of my heels, but now our chairs need to be set to the height of our highest heels and then we have to use an adjustable foot stool that is designed specifically for high heeled shoes, that goes up and down and tilts so that the foot is kept parallel to the ground (ie. flat), and the toes/ heel of the shoe is still rested down on the footrest. Even though we may only vary heel heights by an inch, we still have to adjust the footrest!!!! Craziness, I think this is overkill. So the business has to buy several new desks, several new chairs, and a full compliment of these fancy looking footrests.

We were also looking at standing desks too, which I like the concept of, but apparently we should only wear block heels for standing, and no higher than 40mm. Fat chance of that at work! Nobody would wear those! At least we can adjust the height of these desks easily.

Additionally we have to cease storing folders in overhead shelving units because of health and safety and over-extension. Apparently a person in high heels should never stretch their arms out above shoulder level, eg to put heavy folders in shelves over benches, such as office shelves up high! Those of us in the offices ALLWAYS wear taller heels! In fact I thought it would make that job easier! Similarly we cannot help out back with parts etc in the lundia/ roller racking because we're not allowed to reach unless we put flat shoes on!

It was suggested that we (those with high heeled shoes) consider using a short step ladder to prevent over-extending. Really. Introducing a set of steps into the equation would be far riskier I'd have thought than any risks of over-extending ?

Anyone else heard of this! I mean maybe it makes some sense, but not really.

 

 

Edited July 23, 2017 by nzfreestyler

[CAT]

2 hours ago, nzfreestyler said:

We've had the OSH/ worklpace ergonomics people through to check out our workstations, specifically for using computers.

We've had the old blue light issue raised and we've all got bad posture and don't sit at our desks correctly! I'm only at my desk one third to half the time anyway, but... apparently regardless of how little or much I sit at a desk it matters.

We're not allowed to sit cross legged anymore, and we have to have our desks altered!

For those who wear high heels we must alter our workstation every day to match the heels we're wearing that day! Apparently our feet must be flat and thighs parallel to the ground when seated properly. I just used to adjust my chair to the height of my heels, but now our chairs need to be set to the height of our highest heels and then we have to use an adjustable foot stool that is designed specifically for high heeled shoes, that goes up and down and tilts so that the foot is kept parallel to the ground (ie. flat), and the toes/ heel of the shoe is still rested down on the footrest. Even though we may only vary heel heights by an inch, we still have to adjust the footrest!!!! Craziness, I think this is overkill. So the business has to buy several new desks, several new chairs, and a full compliment of these fancy looking footrests.

We were also looking at standing desks too, which I like the concept of, but apparently we should only wear block heels for standing, and no higher than 40mm. Fat chance of that at work! Nobody would wear those! At least we can adjust the height of these desks easily.

Additionally we have to cease storing folders in overhead shelving units because of health and safety and over-extension. Apparently a person in high heels should never stretch their arms out above shoulder level, eg to put heavy folders in shelves over benches, such as office shelves up high! Those of us in the offices ALLWAYS wear taller heels! In fact I thought it would make that job easier! Similarly we cannot help out back with parts etc in the lundia/ roller racking because we're not allowed to reach unless we put flat shoes on!

It was suggested that we (those with high heeled shoes) consider using a short step ladder to prevent over-extending. Really. Introducing a set of steps into the equation would be far riskier I'd have thought than any risks of over-extending ?

Anyone else heard of this! I mean maybe it makes some sense, but not really.

 

 

Sounds like a lot of ridiculous bs to me  

[nzfreestyler]

Exactly what I thought.

Its like the industry for H&S just spin about any nonsense in order to build their own empire of nonsense.

The majority of H&S nonsense is so far fetched the true liklihood of anything really causing an injury is extreemely small.

I think they're mixed up with 'logically possible' vs 'emperically possible'

Yes it is possible that I could get RSI from not adjusting my footrest to match my heel height today but its not really going to happen.

 

Given that a piece of asteroid could crash on our heads at work, everyone should have to wear hard hats all day. (oh and yes they are allowed to match your shoes). Possible but not at all likely to happen.

 

[Cali]

Thank you for posting this over kill. I had a very good laugh.

Now are the foot/shoe adjusters automatic and can sense the height of your heels automatically?

And what happens when you wear a shorter heel and have to "jump" off your chair?  You could get hurt then.

[maninpumps]

It's my prayer you all have desks with front covers on them . You would have to look out for someone looking up your skirt , this could cause a sexual harassment issue . Congratulations !!! OSH has out done the United States OSHA Laws , just out of curiosity at what point does common sense play into work place safety ? Kinda like wearing a hard hat in a steel mill and having a 10,000 pound roll off steel fall on your head , not really going to do much for ya . However you can plan on some OSHA geek checking to see if you were wearing your hard hat at time of death . HAHAHA ! Sorry I find this rather funny and I would rather take my chances with a pair of heels . 

[jeremy1986]

Quite funny, but I guess they have your best interests in mind, and I think its great that your employer is willing to do what it takes to keep you all safe.

[Shyheels]

They don't have anybody's best interests in mind but their own - it's a ludicrous bit of empire building by some no-marks who love to govern others in any way they possibly can. It is obvious that common sense has gone out the window in your workplace and, no doubt, many others. Thankfully I work from home and can do what I please. You have my sympathies.

[nzfreestyler]

6 hours ago, Cali said:

Thank you for posting this over kill. I had a very good laugh.

Now are the foot/shoe adjusters automatic and can sense the height of your heels automatically?

And what happens when you wear a shorter heel and have to "jump" off your chair?  You could get hurt then.

Its so silly you have to laugh it off.

The footrests are manually adjusted so you have to get down there and adjust the height and tilt. They have notches and a pivot that both need twidling. Its fairly quick but it is clunky.

And you're right about shorter heels. I don't wear a lot shorter - mine are all around 4 inches, so for me (and most of the girls too) we've only getting maybe an inch of variation across our heels, so I'm picking we'll never adjust anyway!

[nzfreestyler]

5 hours ago, maninpumps said:

It's my prayer you all have desks with front covers on them . You would have to look out for someone looking up your skirt , this could cause a sexual harassment issue . Congratulations !!! OSH has out done the United States OSHA Laws , just out of curiosity at what point does common sense play into work place safety ? Kinda like wearing a hard hat in a steel mill and having a 10,000 pound roll off steel fall on your head , not really going to do much for ya . However you can plan on some OSHA geek checking to see if you were wearing your hard hat at time of death . HAHAHA ! Sorry I find this rather funny and I would rather take my chances with a pair of heels . 

Common sense and OSH are mutually exclusive I think. Perhaps we should now be saying 'Uncommon Sense' !!

[JeffB]

nzfreestyler: Yeah, that does seem to be a lot of beaurocratic nonsense to me. I mean, whatever happens to letting the employees dictate ergonomics in the workplace since they spend all their time there while bean counters and so-called experts on the matter don't.

[pebblesf]

4 hours ago, jeremy1986 said:

Quite funny, but I guess they have your best interests in mind, and I think its great that your employer is willing to do what it takes to keep you all safe.

Yeah, the fact that your employer is willing to spend all the cash for this stuff speaks volumes....

[pebblesf]

4 hours ago, Shyheels said:

They don't have anybody's best interests in mind but their own - it's a ludicrous bit of empire building by some no-marks who love to govern others in any way they possibly can. It is obvious that common sense has gone out the window in your workplace and, no doubt, many others. Thankfully I work from home and can do what I please. You have my sympathies.

OK, well maybe your employer has much more money than common sense...Hope he doesn't waste his last dime on this stuff

[mlroseplant]

I have never heard of anything quite this extreme, I don't really see how they think they can control people's behavior that closely, like forbidding the crossing of legs. Even if there is sound science to it, how are you going to control that? You can buy all the fancy ergonomic stuff in the world, but you can't make people use it.

As a former (and maybe future) "safety guy" at work, I like to think I strike a good balance between putting everybody in bubble wrap and practicality. The creation off OSHA (or its equivalent elsewhere) was a major step in protecting the ordinary worker from unscrupulous employers, but like most things of this nature, it can become absurd. Having said that, I have to admit that I kind of laugh at "office safety." I know there are serious concerns, some of which have been addressed here, but honestly, I work with my hands over my head much of the time, and there is always the potential of being killed violently by chance at any given jobsite, particularly projects with large equipment and machinery.

[5150PLB1]

5 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

I have never heard of anything quite this extreme, I don't really see how they think they can control people's behavior that closely, like forbidding the crossing of legs. Even if there is sound science to it, how are you going to control that? You can buy all the fancy ergonomic stuff in the world, but you can't make people use it.

As a former (and maybe future) "safety guy" at work, I like to think I strike a good balance between putting everybody in bubble wrap and practicality. The creation off OSHA (or its equivalent elsewhere) was a major step in protecting the ordinary worker from unscrupulous employers, but like most things of this nature, it can become absurd. Having said that, I have to admit that I kind of laugh at "office safety." I know there are serious concerns, some of which have been addressed here, but honestly, I work with my hands over my head much of the time, and there is always the potential of being killed violently by chance at any given jobsite, particularly projects with large equipment and machinery.

I regularly deal with MSHA- the OSHA people that deal with mines and quarries. Yes they do go to extremes. The inspectors are very full of themselves. I have only met 2 kinds of MSHA inspectors- those who think they are gods, and those who know they are gods. 

[nzfreestyler]

7 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

I have never heard of anything quite this extreme, I don't really see how they think they can control people's behavior that closely, like forbidding the crossing of legs. Even if there is sound science to it, how are you going to control that? You can buy all the fancy ergonomic stuff in the world, but you can't make people use it.

As a former (and maybe future) "safety guy" at work, I like to think I strike a good balance between putting everybody in bubble wrap and practicality. The creation off OSHA (or its equivalent elsewhere) was a major step in protecting the ordinary worker from unscrupulous employers, but like most things of this nature, it can become absurd. Having said that, I have to admit that I kind of laugh at "office safety." I know there are serious concerns, some of which have been addressed here, but honestly, I work with my hands over my head much of the time, and there is always the potential of being killed violently by chance at any given jobsite, particularly projects with large equipment and machinery.

Well they're not forbidding crossed legs, we're not supposed to sit and work at a computer with crossed legs. Those of us wearing skirts will definitely still cross our legs elsewhere at work because well, without stating the obvious we need to.

In terms of lifting things over shoulder height - that and stretching out in the same way, apparently that is only an issue if we are wearing our high heels. If we wear flats its ok in our situation! The guys weren't impressed when I challenged them and said whats the difference between standing on tip toes in flats and putting something on a shelf overhead, or doing the same wearing high heels. Perhaps there is some truth to it, and its to do with posture changes and muscles used etc when wearing heels? What is annoying and makes me suspsicious is the inability of the supposed experts to be able to communicate why these are issues. If they could do that then it would be more widely accepted I think.

[Heelster]

As Mlroseplant can tell you, OSHA doesn't write regulations, but adopts what has been created by industry. A lot of the early regulations were created by UAW and USW safety committees to address injuries in the work places that they were involved in. Since then, the amount of regulations created has been astounding although most do have a purpose.

What baffles me about the example nzfreestyler has mentioned is that the solution taken by most work places would be to eliminate heels, and suggest slacks over skirts and dresses. Now I don't know the industry nzfreestyler works in, but I would wonder if this would be the cost effective solution. Granted, I'm not happy with the solution, but I'm also wondering why the attention if there isn't a history of issues at this facility, or what prompted the review by the local officials (other than playing god as these folks often do).

[nzfreestyler]

Over here the employers face massive fines and are required to actively encourage staff and invite OSH specialists in to look over the facilities. By doing this many industries are entitled to ACC premium reduction of up to 50% per annum if they have a very active H&S system within their businesses. This I understand is why it is pursued. Of course it also fuels the prescription of some nonsense, but if its cost neutral for a company then at least they're compliant I suppose. Nothing worse than adding costs for no benefit! NZ is one of only a few countries in the world that have an ACC system, so any accidents we have at home or work we public can claim against the govt for treatment etc, so this is funded via workplace ACC levies and general taxation. Of course an employer who has a lot of ACC claims lodged as happening in their workplace get increased levies, and the more you do to improve processes etc you can reduce your levies. Generally the bigger the company the more they're into H&S.

 

On one hand eliminating high heels would be an option, this in its own right is discriminatory. I would be gutted if heels were not allowed in the workplace, even if they had to be chunky heels or worse still 1-2inches I would be gutted. There's almost nothing that I can't do in high heels and its not fair that the shoes be eliminated on the grounds of them alone being the issue. Its more the wearer thats the major factor. There have been many cases of business/local bodies being sued for accidents where the complainant was in high heels, and these cases are more often being won now, although the shoes are often tried to be pinned as the cause. I think its great that more focus is put on design and standards of buildings/facilities/transport to allow for our high heels. Here in NZ if they were to ban High Heels in the workplace, then the way our laws for H&S work, the businesses would have to ban the public from wearing high heels in their premises, also any visiting employees in work capacity would have to be banned etc,.. so even a sole company policy or an industry wide regulation wouldn't be viable without a nationwide high heel ban !

 

Edited July 24, 2017 by nzfreestyler

[Shyheels]

That is something I could imagine happening in future - a full-on ban

[nzfreestyler]

Next thing we'll be getting an annual reinspection to see how we're going.... or not going!

Actually I hope not, its creepy enough having to put up with these guys around/under my desk, and holding my ankles etc .. Its not so bad watching them sort out someone else, it sort of makes sense what they're doing when you see someone else being arranged... but its creepy when its done to you....

Its also peculiar when guys are telling me about high heel posture and issues related to heels. I'm sure most heel wearers (obviously mainly women) aren't going to listen to men telling them how & what to do in heels and take it really seriously, they're not convincing, they won't understand how high heels really work. Women delivering the same messages might be taken more convincingly.

[blueparrot]

Around here the big thing now are standing work stations.  I don't have one but the boss does.   Last job they would allow heels but banned in labs and manufacturing areas.  Only 2" or lower allowed there.  I frequently worked in labs so I had to curtail wearing heels. 

[nzfreestyler]

5 hours ago, blueparrot said:

Around here the big thing now are standing work stations.  I don't have one but the boss does.   Last job they would allow heels but banned in labs and manufacturing areas.  Only 2" or lower allowed there.  I frequently worked in labs so I had to curtail wearing heels. 

Yep, standing desks are big here, we are getting several, but we're away from our desks enough during each day for it to be not so bad. What you say about 2 inch heels with standing desks is pretty much what we were told too. 40mm block heels were max recommended heels for standing desks, Yucky.

[Rockpup]

Nzfreestyler: set the desk to your maximum heel height? You ought to bring in your red ballet pumps to break their minds

[nzfreestyler]

6 hours ago, Rockpup said:

Nzfreestyler: set the desk to your maximum heel height? You ought to bring in your red ballet pumps to break their minds

Now that would be interesting!

Seriously now - while fun because the red would look stunning with my suits I wouldn't enjoy having to wear ballet pumps for a day !! Give me a measly 4 inch heel for work anyday !

[Heelster]

On 23/07/2017 at 11:07 PM, nzfreestyler said:

Here in NZ if they were to ban High Heels in the workplace, then the way our laws for H&S work, the businesses would have to ban the public from wearing high heels in their premises, also any visiting employees in work capacity would have to be banned etc,..

Not unusual. In the steel industry, you, the visitor, consultant, or contractor have to abide by all of the rules as set by the company, and required of their employees. If I want to see the General manager at corporate HQ, I have a hard hat, steel toe boots, and all the other gear. I may never get to the actual plant - - doesn't make a difference.