Case study

Please read the case study below and then address the questions.

Answers should not be too short.

The existing complex issue for resolution

In the last year, your training organisation has seen a number of injuries in the workplace due to a lack of knowledge among staff members regarding desktop ergonomics.

These injuries are related to the following:

Posture-related injuries from computer use

Back and neck pain, headaches, and shoulder and arm pain were common computer-related injuries. Such muscle and joint problems were caused or made worse by poor workstation (desk) design, bad posture and sitting for long periods of time.

Reason: Although sitting requires less muscular effort than standing, it still causes physical fatigue (tiredness), and you need to hold parts of your body steady for long periods of time. This reduces the circulation of blood to your muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, sometimes leading to stiffness and pain. If a workstation is not set up properly, these steady positions can put even greater stress on your muscles and joints.

Computer-related overuse injuries of the hand or arm

Pain, swelling, stiffness of the joints, weakness and numbness due to overuse of computers and long working hours. This is known as 'overuse injury' and typically occurs in the elbow, wrist or hand of computer users.

Eyestrain from computer use

Focusing your eyes at the same distance point for long periods of time caused fatigue. The human eye structurally prefers to look at objects more than six metres away, so any work performed close up puts extra demands on your eye muscles.

The illuminated computer screen also caused eye fatigue. The workers have blurred vision, temporary inability to focus on faraway objects and headaches.

Feet posture

Some employees were observed sitting with their legs not touching the floor or crossed beneath the chair. This position can place a high amount of stress on the popliteal arch that runs through the thigh and knee underside and can result in serious discomfort and injury.

There should also be room under the desk to extend the legs and feet comfortably. Many workstations used the space beneath the desk for storage of files, printer paper and other office supplies. This has caused the employees to tuck their legs and feet under the chair, which could eventually lead to the problems mentioned above.

Keyboard and Mouse Arrangement

The keyboards at many of the workstations were at the incorrect height for the user. The result was ulnar deviation and flexion of the wrists. The hands and wrists' use in these deviated postures places a large amount of stress on the hands and wrists' tendons and nerves.

Improper keyboard position can lead to such cumulative trauma disorders as tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. These disorders are caused by injury to the tendons and the median nerve at the point where they pass through the carpal tunnel of the wrist.

In all of the workstations, the mouse was placed too far to the right of the user. This caused a large amount of stress on the arm, shoulder and neck. As the user reached to the side to grasp the mouse, the arm became abducted, placing significant strain on the shoulders and neck.

Desk Height

Incorrect desk height was a problem found at many of the workstations. Desk height refers to the desk that the computer is on as well as any desk used for writing and other activities. The desk should be at the correct height to allow the user to position his hands, wrists and arms in a neutral position. Improper desk height can cause arm abduction and flexion or extension of the wrists. It is also important that all work surfaces used by the employee are the same height.This will allow the chair to be adjusted at a height that will promote proper sitting posture at both desks.

Screen Glare

Screen glare was a significant problem for many of the users in this facility. This glare can cause eyestrain and headaches. To reduce glare, the monitor should be placed so that the screen is flat (not tilted) and directly in front of the user. Tilting the screen up or down can increase the glare on the screen and can also contribute to improper head and neck posture.

Reason for the complex issue

The management has identified that most of the injuries were due to a lack of knowledge of desktop ergonomics.

They have requested the Health and Safety Committee (HSC) to look into the issue and come up with a viable solution. The following are the task objectives:

• To consult with the Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) to identify viable solutions to the problem.
• Assess the advantages and limitations in the development of formulated solutions and select the most viable solution based on the evaluation conducted.
• Ensure the developed solutions meet the constraints specified.

Constraints

• The management has allocated a budget of $5,000 to resolve the issues.
• Timeframe for the implementation of the solution is three months

Your team members and your role

You are working as a Work Health and Safety Officer in the Health and Safety Committee (HSC). You have five (5) Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) in the Health and Safety Committee (HSC).

As part of your job role, you have the following job responsibilities:

• Identify complex issue for resolution within the scope of job role and in consultation with relevant stakeholders
• Document task objectives and risks involved in pursuing the identified issue
• Research legislative frameworks and organisational policy or procedures applicable to the identified issue
• Calculate the resources required for the solution development process
• Facilitate ideation session with relevant stakeholders and facilitate others in idea generation for possible solutions
• Evaluate formulated solutions for advantages and limitations using critical thinking techniques and apply decision-making processes to select the most viable solution
• Prepare a brief on the proposed solution according to organisational policy and present to key stakeholders and present the proposed solution to key stakeholders
• Develop a feedback register and systematically record feedback according to organisational requirements
• Refine proposal based on analysis of feedback and seek necessary approvals to implement the solution

The roles and their responsibilities: Relationships with stakeholders such as team members and Manager

The assessment task requires you to communicate with a number of organisational stakeholders. The main roles applicable to the assessment task includes:

Role number 1: Manager:The Manager is the individual who supervises or is in charge of the organisation. They belong to a higher rank or status. Their job role and responsibilities are:

• Assign a team to you to complete the project.
• Assist you in understanding the task requirements.
• Provide you with information about job roles and responsibilities.
• Supervise you in completing the assessment task and requirements.
• Review and assess student/candidate performance and provide them with constructive feedback, as necessary.

Role number 2: Team members (HSC committee): The Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) are student's co-worker or workfellow. They are associates that the candidate works with. Their job role and responsibilities are:

• Participate in ideation session and provide suggestions regarding solutions to the complex problem.
• Participate in a healthy and open discussion.
• Communicate and collaborate with you for the required assessment activity.

Note:

• The trainer/assessor will take on the role of Manager.
• The trainer/assessor will assign Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) to the student for each activity.
• Each student will be assessed individually for all assessment activities.

Timeframe to complete the project:

Two weeks (You have two weeks to complete the project)

You must document the scope problem-solving process using 'Template 1'provided.

• Scope problem-solving process

Scope problem-solving process

Complex issue for resolution

Task objectives and risks involved in pursuing the identified issue

Legislative frameworks and organisational policy or procedures applicable to the identified issue

Resources required for the solution development process