Ergonomics

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week_05_work_space_planning.ppt
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Work Space Planning

Part of the Organizing function of management

Work Space Planning

  • Organizing and managing space
  • Includes arranging work space so that procedures can be accomplished efficiently
  • Creating a comfortable and productive work area

Things to consider:

  • Work flow
  • Traffic patterns
  • Functions performed in the work space
  • Need for confidentiality
  • Shift workers sharing work space
  • Flexibility for the future
  • Personal needs
  • Safety needs
  • Social needs
  • Esthetics

Work Flow

  • The most important consideration in planning an office layout
  • Well designed work flow is critical to achieving optimal efficiency and productivity
  • Considerations
  • Smooth transition from one task to another
  • Little duplication of effort

Traffic Patterns

  • Consider both employees and visitors
  • Location of entrances
  • Look at teams and work groups
  • Employees should be close to the equipment and materials that they use most often
  • Employees who work together should be in close proximity to one another for ease in communication
  • Supervisors close to the staff they supervise

Traffic Patterns

  • Trip Frequency Chart
  • Look at employees who move around often and have to leave the area
  • If the chart shows much movement between two groups, those employees should be located next to each other
  • Helps decide which functions should be close to one another
  • See example in your assigned reading this week.

Functions Performed

  • Reception area
  • Attractive, neat, uncluttered
  • Out of the way of the work flow
  • Functions that create a lot of noise or activity vs. functions that need quiet
  • Transcription
  • Coding
  • Doctor’s chart completion/dictation area
  • Functions that are related should be located close together

Need for Confidentiality

  • Controlled access
  • For example, the file room
  • Privacy for conversations
  • Privacy for dictation/transcription
  • Fax machine
  • Computer screens

Shift Workers

  • Shift workers often share a desk with the person who works the shift before or after them
  • Consider personal space needs
  • Personal drawer, lockable
  • Own bulletin board, etc.
  • Adjustable chair and other equipment
  • Each employee can adjust to fit as needed

Flexibility

  • Modular furniture
  • Partitions, cubbies, instead of permanent walls
  • Power strips and outlet locations

Personal Needs

  • Territoriality
  • We are creatures of habit
  • We want to have the ability to control the areas where we work
  • Privacy
  • Age
  • Medical conditions/disabilities

Safety Needs

  • Fire extinguishers

  • Step stools, non-slip surfaces

  • Wheeled carts

  • Counters to lay things on

Social Needs

  • Positive environment
  • Motivates people, fewer sick days and increased productivity
  • Team approach
  • Work stations in clusters enable employees to easily ask questions and discuss their work
  • Social opportunities

Esthetics

  • Color
  • Lighting
  • Temperature
  • Auditory impacts
  • Sound conditioning, soundproofing
  • What do you think about music?

Effective Space Planning

  • Has the following characteristics:
  • Keeps costs to a minimum
  • Contributes to the quality of the work
  • Contributes to employee satisfaction
  • Contributes to services provided by the department

Space Need Can Change

  • Space and layout should be reevaluated periodically to determine any needs for changing the layout

Ergonomics

  • The science concerned with the relationship of people to their work environment
  • Good ergonomics helps to prevent injury
  • Affects performance and morale
  • Considers the following:
  • Adjustability of furniture
  • Breaks and changes in jobs with repetition
  • Equipment and tools within reach

Poor Ergonomics

  • Can result in cumulative trauma disorders and repetitive strain (or stress) injuries
  • CTD: cumulative trauma disorders
  • RSI: repetitive stress injuries

  • Common injuries or disorders
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Upper back and neck strain
  • Eyestrain

Ergonomic Management

  • Education of staff
  • Hourly stretch and eyestrain breaks
  • Simple and inexpensive equipment modifications

Recommended Activity

  • Perform a Web search to find out more information about ergonomics

  • This will also help you to successfully complete this week’s Professional Practice Activity