RAM | Reseller Advocate Magazine: Issue 55

by William Van Winkle

PERHAPS you've never had carpal tunnel syndrome, but you've probably had a sore back. And eye strain. And headaches. And any number of repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) brought on by taking our sublimely strong and flexible bodies and forcing them to sit at desk for months on end performing minuscule movements over and over.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1981, only 18% of all illnesses reported at work were related to RSIs. Ten years later, that number bordered on 50 percent, and today the estimates place RSI illnesses at over 70 percent. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that RSI injuries within the U.S. cost $15 billion to $20 billion annually. A 10% drop in RSI claims in a company of 500 computer users would yield approximately $700,000 in savings.

Dig through the Bureau of Labor Statistics site (www.bls.gov) and you'll find some interesting 2002 data on repetitive motion injuries with typing or keyentry numbers broken out separately. When it comes to typing-related injuries the clearest risk group is white women in their 20s to 50s working in management, sales, or administration, and the longer one is with an employer, the higher the risk. The median number of days taken off from work for typing injuries is 20.

Personally, a $1,200 office chair from a specialty store plus a Fellowes mouse pad with gel-filled wrist wrest eliminated most of my traditional RSI issues. Now, I don't expect PC resellers to start stocking $1,200 ergonomic chairs, but there are plenty of other ergonomic product categories in which you can participate and carve out a respectable niche. Some of these niches may not be immediately obvious. For example, you wouldn't necessarily pick noise as an ergonomic concern, but VIA has compiled a short list of studies showing a clear relationship between noise, stress, and office productivity declines. A Cornell University team in 2000, for instance, demonstrated the relationship between constant, low-level noise and how the resulting stress impacted workers' motivation toward problem solving.

There are plenty of ways to address noise in a PC, ranging from picking optical drives configured for running in a slower "quiet mode" to replacing the stock heatsink fans with more efficient third-party units. BTX is supposed to be more effective at cooling than ATX, and thus quieter. Also don't ignore the power supply. Cheap PSUs tend to run loud; a high-effiency unit with variable speed fan(s) will likely save on decibels. Keep in mind, too, that the more PCs you're deploying in a space, the greater the cumulative noise effect. Many organizations don't spec out their bids with noise considerations, but if you can convince them that noise will adversely effect their operation, perhaps you can give yourself a competitive advantage through specialization in this space. Also consider that stress is the leading cause of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a jaw-area condition that can become so painful that sufferers have difficulty eating and talking. Reducing noise may help prevent a host of problems, although dependable studies on this point are few and far between.

There are plenty of ways to address noise in a PC, ranging from picking optical drives configured for running in a slower "quiet mode" to replacing the stock heatsink fans with more efficient third-party units.

Sometimes the key to unlocking ergonomic sales is taking a fresh look at vendors you already purchase from. Take Targus, best known for its many lines of high-quality notebook carrying bags, security devices, and power products for travelers. However, take a peek at the Workspace Enhancement category under Accessories and you'll find some interesting options. Active Noise Cancellation Headphones for $49.99? You bet. No, the fidelity probably isn't going to rival the Bose QuietComfort, but the set is more comfortable than most in the $50 range, and the closed-air design passively blocks stress-inducing noise. If you've never experienced the relaxation benefits of NC headphones on an airplane, try it. You'll never fly again without them.

The Targus Notebook/LCD Monitor Ergonomic Stand ($19.99) can accommodate up to 80 pounds and is adjustable by raising the top tray with up to three spacers. There are caveats to watch out for in ergonomics, though. Monitors are not like wall art; you don't want them at eye level. The center of the monitor should be between 15 and 50 degrees below the horizontal level, with more distance between the screen and the viewer translating to a smaller angle. There is no one-size-fits-all angle or distance. Ergonomics is about adapting people to their work environments, and obviously no two environments or users are exactly alike. As a rough guideline, shoot for arm's length with the top of the screen being level to the eye.

Targus also has a new product, the Ergo D-pro ($99.99; $119.99 with port replicator module), that should be welcome news to the growing ranks of those who use notebooks at their desk rather than a desktop PC. The Ergo D-Pro is a slick little number that sandwiches the opened notebook between an adjustable platform and a document holder. By raising and tilting the platform, users can select a proper ergonomic screen height and angle, plus the unit is outfitted with docking support, cable management, and a swiveling base. Without this kind of arrangement, notebook-on-desktop users tend to hunch for long periods.

Before we leave Targus, realize that prolonged carrying of notebooks is one of the leading RSI culprits. Ultralights are great, but then we pile on papers, AC adapters, external drives, and so on. All that weight dragging on one shoulder can take a serious toll. That's why I recommend a good notebook backpack, such as Targus' Global Executive Backpack ($89.99), which is what I use on the road. No, a backpack doesn't have the same professional air as a conventional over-the-shoulder attache, but a good notebook backpack not only distributes the weight better between both shoulders but may also have a hip strap so that some of that weight can be taken on by the pelvis. Targus also builds in little ergonomic perks, such as a top handle shaped to conform better to the hand and padded mesh backing. I hate backpacks that seem to accumulate sweat and then bang uncomfortably against your spine.

Speaking of ergonomic caveats, let's consider keyboards. Microsoft rose to early prominence in the ergonomic keyboard space with the launch of the Microsoft Natural Keyboard in 1994. Some people swear by fixed split keyboards rather than straight designs, my wife included. Because I hunt and peck, split QWERTYs drive me insane. Microsoft has maintained at least one full-time professional ergonomist on staff for years, and studies touted by Microsoft clearly show a reduction in wrist and hand pain following months of using the Natural design. And why not? Most of us bend our wrists unnaturally outward on a straight keyboard, and the Natural remedies that. However, as Steven Rudnik, CEO and president of ergonomic software vendor Magnitude Information Systems (www.magnitude.com), points out, in order to get that proper wrist alignment, split keyboards force users to keep their elbows extended outward, putting more strain on the upper arms, shoulders, and neck. Split keyboards may fix one problem only to cause another.

And here's another damned if you do/don't situation. Soft-touch keyboards tend to promote a higher-number of strain injuries because there is less tactile feedback telling users when they've struck a key hard enough. Thus some users tend to type with too much force. A tactile, "clicky" keyboard can help remedy this, but then we're back to the old noise problem again. Given the considerable prevalence of soft-touch units available today, apparently market share may decide the issue for us.

Magnitude's software, ErgoEnterprise, is an intriguing add-on for resellers. We all know that it's healthier to get up from our desks every so often, do some stretches, walk around, and so on—just get the blood flowing, as it were. But most of us don't. We need to be babysat and reminded to get off our butts. Thus a little software niche evolved for programs that would help users do exactly this, and ErgoEnterprise is reputed to be one of the best of the bunch. According to Magnitude, workers who make regular use of the software measure a roughly 60% increase in efficiency and an average 50% reduction in computer-related OSHA claims. You begin to see why larger businesses should have an interest in adopting proper ergonomic practices and products.

OSHA estimates that the average cost to ergonomically retrofit a work station and make it safe is only $150, but I suspect there's a lot more opportunity for resellers. Check out 3M's ergonomics site (www.3m.com/ergonomics) for a gold mine of ideas: trays and drawers, gel wrist rests, task lighting, foot rests, screen filters, and much more. I really like the idea of having a keyboard tray that slides out flat during seated use then swings up and into a negative tilt configuration for standing use. With these in mind, you might want to turn to alternate brands, such as Fellowes and Belkin, for comparison. I used a 3M polarized task light for years, but when it finally broke, I replaced it with a similar $20 no-brand model from Home Depot, which I now like just as well.

Professional ergonomists charge $175 an hour for their consultations. Without a suitable pedigree, you may not be able to garner quite so much for your time and input, but libraries and the Web (start with OSHA's Ergonomics landing page at www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics and guides from reputable organizations, such as Cornell's page at http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ergoguide.html) can offer you a wealth of free training and insight you can then charge to pass on to clients. And help your accounts to understand that OSHA requires employers to create a workplace free from known hazards, including hazards that can cause "serious physical harm."

Just as Sarbanes-Oxley requires safeguards for data protection, OSHA requires employers to provide physical protection, and it's in employers' own interests to do this if only from a productivity and ROI standpoint. You can help fill this need by becoming knowledgeable about and offering the right selection of ergonomic solutions.