IMPACT: International Journal of Research in

Humanities, Arts and Literature (IMPACT: IJRHAL)

ISSN (P): 2347-4564; ISSN (E): 2321-8878
Vol. 6, Issue 5, May 2018, 443-446
© Impact Journals

ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPUTER WORKSTATION IN EDUCATIONAL

INSTITUTION – A CASE STUDY

Akshata. M1 & D. Ratna Kumari2

1
Research Scholar, Department of RMCS, College of Home Science, Saifabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
2
Professor, Department of RMCS, College of Home Science, Saifabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Received: 10 May 2018 Accepted: 23 May 2018 Published: 02 Jun 2018

ABSTRACT

In the present days most of the students are using a computer for their educational and entertainment purposes.
This they are spending a lot of time in using the computer. Due to this,the students are facing lot of work-related upper
limbdisorders (WRULDs). To analyze the effect of computer workstation for students, this study was taken up.
The survey results showedthat majority (76.66%) of the respondents involved in the study had a pain in the upper back,
shoulders or neck after using the computer due to the improper computer workstation design.

KEYWORDS: Ergonomics, Assessment, Computer, Workstation, Students, Educational Institution

INTRODUCTION

Ergonomics is the science and technology of fitting the activities and environment to the abilities, dimensions, and
needs of people to improve performance while enhancing comfort and health and safety (Salvendy, 2001). Ergonomics is
the field of study that seeks to fit the job to the person, rather than the person for the job. This is achieved through the
evaluation and design of workplaces, environments, job tasks, equipment, and processes in relationship to the human
capabilities and interactions in the workplace. Effective use of ergonomic practices will assist in maintaining high levels of
productivity, avoiding painful and costly employee injuries, and increasing worker satisfaction. The use of computers is
increasing rapidly in the present days. There are lots of health issues coming up due to the continuous use of computers.

The health problems associated with computer use are generally musculoskeletal or vision disorders such as
computer vision syndrome. Computer vision syndrome is a term used to describe a variety of vision related symptoms,
including eye strain, tiredness, headache, blurred vision, double vision; dry or irritated eyes, temporary myopia and
increased sensitivity to light that may be caused or aggravated by extended computer use. Good design in computer
workstation can be helpful in reducing the occurrence of health problems.

The design of computer workstation should begin with an analysis of tasks to be performed, the consequent
equipment and material required and the anthropometry of the operators. The efficiency of human–computer interaction,
comfort, health, and the user’s safety can be improved by applying ergonomic principles.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

This study mainly focuses on the computer workstation design. The literature suggests that in any workplace,
the furniture and equipment should be arranged to suit the variety of tasks to be performed to avoid undue twisting of the

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 444 Akshata. M & D. Ratna Kumari

neck or trunk and to avoid unnecessary stretching or lifting. It is recommended that all the operations required to do with a
computer user should be within arm’s length and direct view. Often used items should be placed within comfortable reach
and there should be sufficient space available for laying out copy and using a computer mouse.

Chairs used by computer operator should be easily adjustable for height and back support should be provided in
order to achieve correct support. If the work involves sideways movements, a swivel chair should be used to avoid
unnecessary twisting of the upper body. Australian standards recommend that chairs have a firm, well-padded seat to help
distribute body weight and the front edge of the seat be curved or waterfall shaped to avoid pressure under the thighs.
The height of the chair should be related to the size of the operator and the height of the work surface.

As a general rule, the top surface of the seat should be the same distance from the floor as the length of the lower
leg plus shoe hole so that the feet rest fully on the floor and the seat does not press on the thighs causing discomfort.
The length of the operator’s forearm will determine the reach to the keyboard and the position of the chair.
It is recommended that where hand rests are, provided they should be of adequate width, padded and of a height above the
seat that does not result that does not result that does not result in the elevation of the shoulders and the risk of pinched arm
nerves. Sirajudeen and Siddik (2017) conducted a study on knowledge of computer Ergonomics among Computer Science,
Engineering and Information Technology Students in Karnataka, India. The results showed that the majority of the subjects
were unaware of ergonomics (32.8%), cumulative trauma disorders (18.6%), healthy postures related to elbow (34.4%),
wrist & hand (39.5%), level of monitor (35%), Position of mouse (47.4%) and importance of Mini breaks (42.9%).

Lorussoet al. (2009) conducted a study on “musculoskeletal disorders among university student computer users”.
The results showed that neck pain was the most commonly reported symptom (69%), followed by hand/wrist pain (53%),
shoulder pain (49%) and arm pain (8%). The prevalence of symptoms in the neck and a hand/wrist area was significantly
higher in the students of the fourth-year course.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

• To study the design features of existing computer workstation in a selected educational institution.

• To identify the musculoskeletal pains in the students using a computer workstation.

METHODOLOGY

An exploratory research design was used for the present study. Location of the study is College of Home Science,
Saifabad, Hyderabad. The study sample comprises of 30 students studying at the selected institution. The random
sampling technique was adopted to select the samples for the present study. A Self developed questionnaire was used to
collect the data for the present study. The questionnaire consists of 20 questions. The questions were based on Yes/No
pattern. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The results related to the design features of the computer workstation in the selected educational institution and
the musculoskeletal pains faced by the students due to the computer workstation design are discussed in the Table 1,
which is presented below.

The results showed that, among the 30 respondents, the majority (86.00%) of the respondents expressed that their

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 Ergonomic Assessment of the Computer Workstation in Educational Institution – A Case Study 445

feet were placed flat and firm on the floor while working with the computer and this feature is more comfortable for
working. Majority of the respondents gave positive response for the following features in the computer workstation design,
thighs supported by the chair (90.00%), lower back supported by the chair (63.33%), chair adjustable for the height of the
user (53.33%), adjustable armrests according to the user’s height (73.33%), mouse near to the keyboard and at the same
height (76.66%), wrists in neutral positions while typing and using the mouse (73.33%), keyboard resting on the same
height as elbows (66.66%) andeyes at a comfortable distance from the monitor (86.66%). The negative responses were
recorded by majority (56.66%) in the case of chairs not having a foot rest and no plenty of room space available to stretch
out the legs under desk during the work (60.00%).

With relation to the discomfort faced due to the use of computer workstation, among the 30 respondents,
majority (60.00%) of the respondents faced with pain, tingling, coldness, numbness, stiffness or burning in the fingers,
hands, wrists or arms after long periods of work at the computer. Apart from this, majority (76.66%) of the respondents got
a pain in the upper back, shoulders or neck after using their computer for a while. The majority of the respondents
(46.66%) did not suffer from clumsiness or loss of strength and coordination in their hands while working.

Table 1: Distribution of Respondents Based on the Design Features of the Computer Work Station and Musculo
Skeletal Problems Due to the Design
Frequency
Design Features/Musculoskeletal Problems
Yes % No %
Are the feet placed flat and firm on the floor? 26 86.00 4 13.33
Do the chairs have the foot-rest? 13 43.33 17 56.66
Are the thighs supported by the chair? 27 90.00 3 10.00
Is the lower back supported by the chair? 19 63.33 11 36.66
Is the chair adjustable for the height of the user? 16 53.33 14 46.66
Do the chairs have armrests adjustable for their height? 22 73.33 8 26.65
Is the mouse near to the keyboard and at the same height? 23 76.66 7 23.33
Are the wrists in neutral positions while typing and using the mouse? 22 73.33 8 26.65
Is the keyboard resting on the same height as elbows? 20 66.66 10 33.33
Are the eyes at comfortable distance from the monitor? (Usually 1.5 to 2 feet) 26 86.66 4 13.33
Is there plenty of room space available to stretch out your legs under desk? 12 40.00 18 60.00
After long periods of work on your computer, is there any kind of pain, tingling,
18 60.00 12 40.00
coldness, numbness, stiffness or burning in the fingers, hands, wrists or arms?
Do they ever suffer clumsiness or loss of strength and coordination in their hands? 14 46.66 16 53.33
Do they get pain in their upper back, shoulders or neck after using their computer
23 76.66 7 23.33
for a while?

CONCLUSIONS

The result obtained showed that the majority (76.66%) of the respondents involved in the study (30 respondents)
had a pain in the upper back, shoulders or neck after using the computer. This might be due to the probably assumed bad
postures when working on the computer as evidenced by the poor common computer working environment observed in
this study. Good posture is one, which most naturally suits the body, and it is the basis of good workstation ergonomics and
the best way to avoid a computer-related injury. Even though the computer workstations observed in this study had chairs
and tables with proper heights and angles, they were still not up to standard in literature because most of the stations had
less than five casters and no footrest, which are basic part requirements for computer chairs and table. According to Caple
(2007), a footrest is useful to address lower back fatigue when sitting for long periods. Sixteen (60%) out of the subject
claimed to not have a plenty of room space to stretch out the legs under the desk.

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 446 Akshata. M & D. Ratna Kumari

It was concluded that only a few of the computers had standard casters and foot rests. The computer stations,
however, met expected standard for seat and keyboard heights, monitor and seat back angles. Computer users experienced
pain, mostly in the lower back followed by pain in fingers, arms and wrists.

This study found that computer users at the college of Home Science experienced pain in the eyes, neck,
wrist but majority experienced pain in the back. Pain experienced by computer users in this study was high. The most
common complaints by computer users were low-back pain (77%), finger pain and wrist pain (60%). All these were -
identified with poor designed inappropriate furniture as the cause of pain among the participants studied. There is an
upsurge in computer usage with a consequent increase prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the neck, upper
extremities and low back.

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