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Ergonomics in the healthcare setting

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, August 6, 2004

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Question: Sandra is a nurse researcher employed at a large teaching hospital in a major metropolitan area. She spends a significant amount of time at her computer to correlate data, conduct Internet research, and compile findings. She and her colleagues have recently moved to a new office building on the hospital's campus. The computers are state-of-the-art and great attention was paid to select ergonomically correct office furniture. There are no windows in the office areas assigned to the nurse research group, and the area is lit by fluorescent lighting. Soon after moving into the new office, Sandra began to experience severe headaches and difficulty seeing her computer screen. A visit to the ophthalmologist failed to find any clinically significant vision-related problems that would cause her headaches.

What ergonomic issue may be influencing Sandra's health?

Answer: Inadequate lighting can result in a significant ergonomic problem. The lack of natural light and the effects of florescent lighting may be the cause of Sandra's headaches. Although several key ergonomic issues were addressed as the new office area was planned, the importance of proper lighting was not taken into consideration.

Editor's note: The above case scenario is from the new online course, "Ergonomics in the healthcare setting." For more information on this and other courses in our Safety library, go to www.hcprofessor.com and click on Safety/Infection Control.

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