Occupational health comes with
comfortable environment

Homes Base
By Michael Becker

COMFORT in the workplace
is a matter of good health
for most of us,

Ray East has been in the business
of ergonomics for four years.

He entered the field looking for
an opportunity. East found it in the
glare coming from computer moni-
tor screens,

He has found himself a business
niche with a home-based business in
North Vancouver. It’s called
Ergonomic Advantage.

“Pm a 60-year-old py. I’ve been-

working all my life and I’ve just got
myself a new career and it has been
the best thing that I've ever donc —
not that I’m getting rich, bur ir feels
good,” said East. ‘
” » During his first year and a half he
spent a lot of time addressing com-
puter screen giare issues and solving
ighting problems in the office com-
puter environment.
_», 2. Ergonomics involves the study of
the: interaction between workers and
“their immediate work environments.
“As I perceive my job, it’s making
the. work station fit the user, rather
_. than the user having to adapt’to an
** uncomfortable work environment.”
“He makes work stations fit their
“users in ‘an effort to prevent repetitive
strain injury. a
-» East is focusing on the office envi-
ronment primarily. :
+: Thé introduction of the computer
. tothe workplate has brought many
ergonomic challenges.
3. “Fifteen, 20 years ago when word
'. processing started to come in, that’s
where , the* computer really ‘got its
\. first toe-hold in. the office. At’ that
~ time it was pretty well thought out as
far as seating and desk environments.

“Then ‘what’ happened; manage: -

nicnt looked around and said, ‘Wow
this‘is really going great. Everybody
is’ working super: fast. They started
buying computers by the wain-car
* toad and’ putting them. wherever
there. was a: vacant spot and. that
~ became a-computer station,” East
)” Many offices East sces have com-

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puters situated in places where they

are just not meant to be. “They hap-

pen to be there because it was conve-
nient,” said East.

He assesses office needs, orders
and installs equipment. East brings in
physiotherapists and ergonomists for
the bigger projects.

Proper seating is of prime impor-
tance. Articulating keyboard trays
that accommodate the mouse on the
same level as the keyboard, anti-glare
filters for computer monitors, proper
lighting and reduced glare from out-
side sources all add to the mix of
advantageous ergonomics.

East also offers educational mate-
rials and provides awareness sessions
for employees.

The simple act of correct mouse
placement is paramount, for example.

“In. a-lot of cases people are -
putting their mice on their desk tops
and reaching way ahead. People
don’t realize what they are doing to
themselves until some guy like. me
comes in and stirs.up the mix a little
bit,” he said. ;

In recent years attention to
ergonomics has gained in acceptance
as an’ important element of human
resource management. ; ;

People at work who suffer from
eye strain, neck and ‘shoulder strain

‘and headaches often dismiss such dis-

comfort as a cost of doing business.

If the pain is eventually reported . °

to a doctor or other medical profes-
sional it may be acknowledged, but
the source of the problem may not be
dealt with. a

Said East, “A lot.of them. don’t
know what’s out there, They say, ‘Oh
ya you’ve got sore parts in your

ody, you need to change your com-

puter station.” And then they walk:
away from it. ‘Then a guy like me
comes in.”

Contact Ray East at Ergonomic
Advantage at 986-3542. . :

RAY East operates Ergonemic

Advantage, a North Vancouver
‘ home-based business. His job «
- js to help make working envi-

ronments more comfortable

“and healthier. Call 986-3542.

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