Case Study $2$ OFFICE WORKSTATION

The Admin Assistant located at a factory does work involving the use of a telephone to take

messages and redirect calls to appropriate staff. She uses the computer to make appointments,

record messages, respond to e$-$mails, and write reports. She uses the computer for most of the

day $($approximately $6-8$ hrs$).$

Among other practices, the Assistant would often hold the telephone between her shoulder and

ear while talking on the phone and typing a message on the computer. She regularly adopted this

awkward, static, strained posture during her working day. During the summer her computer

screen was difficult to read because of glare and reflections from light through the window. This

meant she struggled to avoid making mistakes and would repeatedly adjust her posture to view

the screen.

After working at her desk for $1$ year she began feeling discomfort in her back, thighs and neck.

She also found she was leaving work with an aching shoulder, sore eyes and a headache. In

addition she was experiencing severe pain in her wrists. The Admin assistant was convinced that

the design of her work station was contributing to her discomfort. Based on her previous

complaints, there is a strong possibility that her chair, desk, computer screen, and keyboard are

all contributing to the problem.

Describe in detail how you would go about conducting an office computer workstation

assessment, and outline in your write up all the possible areas for improvement: