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Ergonomics Review of the Evoluent Vertical Mouse

Ergonomics Review of the Evoluent Vertical Mouse

by | Jan 22, 2019 | Ergonomic Mouse

Ergonomic Mouse Review

By Janet DeLapp, MS, CDMS, CPDM, CPE and Matt Copeland, BS, CEOE
SolutionsNW.com – Your Ergonomics Experts

Ergonomics Consultants | Solutions Northwest Inc.“The average American worker spends 7 hours a day on the computer.” – American Eye-Q 2015

There are many different versions of vertical mice. Over my years doing ergonomics assessments for office workstations, the best vertical mouse, in my professional opinion, is the Evoluent Vertical Mouse. We have not been compensated in any way for writing this review. The opinions expressed are our own.

Top 3 Reasons the Evoluent Vertical Mouse stands our as one of the best Vertical Mouse devices on the market:

  1. At Solutions Northwest Inc., we believe the overall feel of a piece of equipment is very important. The Evoluent has a very natural feel and puts the wrist in a very good neutral position.
  2. This mouse comes in left-handed and right-handed versions. Some products are made to do both but they don’t seem to fit the form of the hand as well as a dedicated left/right product.
  3. This vertical mouse comes in different sizes. Have you ever used something that’s too small or big for you? If you have, then you know how uncomfortable that can be. A mouse which is the wrong size for you can cause unnatural posturing of the hand and wrist which are risk factors. So if you must mouse, an Evoluent Vertical Mouse is an option we recommend.

In conclusion

Remember to always consult with your doctor to rule out any possible underlying cause of pain. And be sure to communicate with your staff, co-workers, or office managers/admins to see if they’d like to try any of these products.

Additionally, be sure to perform an ergonomics assessment to ensure office safety. For more guidance on all work related health and safety issues, visit your ergonomics experts at SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

3 Ergonomic Gadgets Every Office Should Try

3 Ergonomic Gadgets Every Office Should Try

by | Jan 16, 2019 | Ergonomic Keyboard, Ergonomic Mouse

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)

“The average American worker spends 7 hours a day on the computer.” – American Eye-Q 2015

If you’re like most American office workers, you likely spend a lot of time on the computer. In fact, “the average American worker spends 7 hours a day on the computer” says a 2015 American Eye-Q study.

Working on the computer for extended periods of time can take a toll on your body, especially if you aren’t proactive about researching what tools work best for your workstation.  

While it is always recommended to perform an ergonomics assessment of your workspace, this ergonomics blog will explore a few computer peripherals designed with computer ergonomics in mind.

Ergonomics Consultants | Solutions Northwest Inc.

Trackball Mouse

While no tools provide complete protection from carpal tunnel syndrome, the trackball requires much less movement and is considered by some to be a carpal tunnel relief gadget.

A trackball mouse, like a traditional mouse, is a pointing device. Unlike a traditional mouse, it remains stationary and has a ball on its top or side. In addition to the ball, a trackball commonly has one or more buttons that work like mouse buttons.

Operating the trackball with the three middle fingers reduces two ergonomics risk factors: static gripping and repetitive wrist movement.

Ergonomics experts recommend ambidextrous trackballs with a ball in the center rather than the side to minimize the risk of thumb tendonitis. Below are examples of a few ambidextrous trackballs:

Take a more in depth look at trackballs in our blog about switching to a trackball mouse.

Split Ergonomic Keyboards

There are many varieties of ergonomic keyboards such as split and contoured, but the split keyboard is a great way to reduce muscle strain and reduce the risk of carpal tunnel or other repetitive strain injuries.

Split keyboards that split into independent pieces are sometimes referred to as adjustable split keyboards. This type of split keyboard will allow you to move the keyboard into a comfortable position, allowing one to easily relax the wrist or entire hand.

When a split ergonomic keyboard is needed, we suggest taking a look at our article on the Kinesis Freestyle Pro.

Computer Glasses

You may have never heard of computer glasses, but with digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome being so common in today’s work place, products like computer glasses have started to gain interest among office workers.

Computer glasses look just like regular glasses and are usually around the $50 to $100 price range. Unlike regular glasses, computer glasses are designed with an anti-reflective coating to reduce screen glare and harsh light. Most of these glasses will also filter the blue light that your computer screen emits.

Filtering blue light should reduce negative symptoms of staring at a screen and make it easier to perform your daily computer work. Feeling headaches, eyestrain, blurred vision, dry eyes, or even neck and shoulder pain can be reduced. In fact, your posture may improve as well because you won’t have to hunch closer to the screen as much.

For an in depth look at computer glasses, check out our blog article on the subject.

In conclusion

Remember to always consult with your doctor to rule out any possible underlying cause of pain. Whether you decide to try computer glasses, split keyboards, or a trackball mouse, be sure to communicate with your staff or co-workers to see if they’d like to try any of these products.

Additionally, be sure to perform an ergonomics assessment to ensure office safety. For more guidance on all work related health and safety issues, visit your ergonomics experts at SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

Contact our Experts

Contact our Experts
Ergonomics Tips: Pros and Cons of Open Offices

Ergonomics Tips: Pros and Cons of Open Offices

by | Jan 7, 2019 | Human Resources

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)

“70 percent of US offices have some form of an open concept” International Facility Management Association 2018

While there are many issues to consider when designing the perfect workspace (ergonomics, safety issues, sitting vs standing, etc.), the open office space is a trend worth examining. In fact, according to the International Facility Management Association, “70% of US offices have some sort of open concept.” Despite so many offices adopting the open office, there has also been an increasing pushback to the idea. So, just what are the pros and cons of an open office environment?

Ergonomics Consultants | Solutions Northwest Inc.

The Pros

Tech companies like Facebook and Google helped make the open office environment popular and many other companies have followed suit. One of the major selling points of the open office is that it tears down cubicle walls and allows employees to openly communicate and build relationships.

The idea is that, without walls, office workers will be able to brainstorm and bond while working, ultimately becoming a greater team with greater productivity than their cubicle counterparts.

Additionally, open office spaces tend to be more affordable to build than cubicles as well as more attractive to look at in an office setting.

The Cons

While the cubicle wall sounds old fashioned, it was serving a few purposes. Having walls around you allows for you to work in privacy and focus directly on your task, which can be lost when exposed to the noise and distractions of the open office environment. In fact, “75 percent of office workers report frequent noise during the workday and 38 percent would change jobs to have an office door they could shut,” according to Gallup 2017.

While open offices are designed to promote more communication, the lack of privacy may have had a negative impact on communication. YouGov reports that “31 percent have had to go to a closet or hall to make a call and 31 percent have held back thoughts and opinions for fear of co-workers hearing and judging.”

Design the workspace that feels right for your workers

Open office layouts may increase face time, leading to stronger bonds, but it could also lead to negative communication or fear of communication due to the lack of privacy in the forced open space. Knowing there are pros and cons to having an open office, it may make sense to seek out alternatives.
 
The Hub and Spoke office design attempts to extract the best of the open office while maintaining some of the concepts of the private office design. The Hub and Spoke utilizes “a singular entryway into common spaces and hallways that spoke out to different individual offices” as described by ArchDaily. The concept is meant to be a mixture of the open office and the personal office, which allows workers the ability to collaborate, but also work on their own in private.

An important takeaway is that you should balance different concepts and create a custom space that works best for your needs.

In conclusion

Whether your workers work in a home office, open office, cubicle workstation, or other type of workstation, it is important to create a healthy work environment for your workers because it will lead to more productivity in the long run.

We recommend contacting an ergonomics expert to perform an ergonomics assessment on your workspace. For more tips about your workspace, be sure to visit and subscribe to our blog for more office and ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

Ergonomics Tips: Health and Safety Risks of Computer Work

Ergonomics Tips: Health and Safety Risks of Computer Work

by | Nov 21, 2018 | Ergonomics Solutions

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)

Blog: Health and Safety Risks of Computer Work

“Evidence suggests that about 3% of women and 2% of men will be diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome during their lifetime…” – The New York Times 

One may not think a desk job or computer work would have many health risks, but according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), repetitive movements (including mouse or keyboard use), sitting in awkward or uncomfortable positions, or straining the neck to look at a screen that is too high or too low can cause musculoskeletal injuries. Additionally, eye damage is a big health concern due to frequent computer screen usage.

It is important to understand the health and safety risks of computer work and how to avoid and prevent workplace injury.

What are some of the risks?Ergonomics Consultants | Solutions Northwest Inc.

Repetitive movement on the computer can put employees at risk for musculoskeletal issues. Two common musculoskeletal issues workers face are carpal tunnel syndrome and tenosynovitis. Tenosynovitis is an “inflammation of the nerve and muscle sheaths where tendons on the fingers pass through. A person with tenosynovitis will suffer from wrist pain and pain on the back of the hand” as described by medi. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel wrist bones.

In addition to hand and wrist pain, eye damage is a concern for employees that frequently use computers at work (as well as employees that use smart phones or tablets). Too much screen time can cause many eye-related symptoms such as discomfort, eyestrain, blurred vision, dry eyes, headache, fatigue, difficulty focusing, and shoulder and neck pain

What can you do to avoid workplace injuries?

Knowing the risks of computer jobs is just half the battle, it is also important to educate yourself and your co-workers on how to avoid work related injuries.

The easiest thing you can do is take a break. Rest is important when doing a repetitive job. Step away from the computer and visit the water cooler, grab a coffee, go eat lunch outside in the sun, or just restock the printer with some new paper.

Take a look at our ergonomics blog to learn easy stretches for your back, neck, or hands. Learn some desk exercises you can do while at your workstation to keep your body strong and take your mind off work.

Additionally, you may want to consider requesting that your office administrator or human resources manager order special peripherals such as a trackball mouse or ergonomic keyboard.

OSHA suggests “adapting tasks, workstations, tools, and equipment to fit the worker to help reduce physical stress on a worker’s body and eliminate many potentially serious, disabling work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).”

Be sure your office consults with ergonomics experts to provide a safe work environment and check out Ergonomics Blog for some quick tips.


In conclusion

As long as you remain proactive about your health at work, you should be able to avoid many workplace injuries. If you do suffer from an injury, be sure to always consult with your doctor first.

Hopefully these ergonomics tips can help keep your workplace a safe work place. For more guidance on all work related health and safety issues, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

Contact our Experts

Contact our Experts

3 Ergonomics Tips for Retail Baggers

3 Ergonomics Tips for Retail Baggers

by | Oct 30, 2018 | Retail Ergonomics

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)

Ergonomics Tips for Retail Baggers

“ In 2006, approximately 820,500 injuries and 581 fatalities occurred among the 21 million retail workers in the United States” Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Retail baggers (sometimes called packers, sackers, or bag boys) seem to have a pretty safe job, but it comes with its own workplace safety hazards. If you think about it, the job requires a lot of heavy lifting and body movement to put items into a bag and cart at a high rate of speed.

Workplace injury risks for retail baggers

Whether you are a retail employee or retail manager/owner, it is important to understand how to avoid workplace injury. The repetitive, laborious movement required to bag items can lead to back pain, sprains, strains, and soreness, which fall under the category of musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal pain is pain that affects the muscles, ligaments and tendons, and bones

If you are not the owner or manager of your retail outlet, be sure to speak with your employers about consulting an ergonomics expert to go over your workstation. The following OSHA approved tips are just a few adjustments every retail bagger should request to work in comfort.

3 Ergonomics Tips for Retail Baggers

1. Use bags with handles

Baggers should be using bags that have handles. Handles will make it less stressful to the body to carry and are overall easier to manage.

2. Keep everything within easy reach

Installing adjustable-height bag stands is a great way to keep bags within easy reach. Hours and hours of extended reach can take a toll on the body, the top of a plastic bag should be just below the conveyor belt height.

3. Use shopping carts wisely

Keep the shopping cart close to you, this will make it easier to load the cart and help you avoid injury from repetitive, extended reaches. If you need to carry items outside, always use the cart as a long day of heavy lifting will eventually take its toll on the body.

In conclusion

While it may not seem very strenuous to lift a bag and place it into a cart, after repeating this same action for long hours it can start to take its toll. Be sure your workplace is making use of these tips for the safety of all employees.

For professional, ergonomics guidance on all work related health and safety issues, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Kent, Renton, Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

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