| About The Company "This company is all about delivering effective on-site training and consulting services for manufacturing & service companies. Companies that invest in effective safety programs not only save money in this area, they also significantly reduce risks for the company and employees. Our approach is to tailor programs to the specific needs of the client... We bring focus and common understanding to personnel at manufacturing plants, helping clients move forward with every visit." Joe Eudy President |
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| Impact Safety, Arlington, Texas (817) 465-4300 office joe@safeimpact.com |
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Beware of the Mouse
That's right - your cursor controller could become a curse to your well-being! It turns out the
common computer mouse requires us to twist our wrist 90 degrees. Good ergonomic
practice is to keep the wrist in a neutral position when "mousing" - which means we should
move the mouse with our arm, keeping the wrist straight.
Evoluent has offered a "handshake mouse" for several years. You don't twist your wrist much
with a handshake mouse. Now Microsoft offers a wireless mouse with a handshake-type grip
at your local office supply store. It’s called “the Natural” and runs around $80.
Over 35% of worker comp costs are for ergonomic problems. You may know someone who
is having carpal tunnel symptoms related to their mouse usage (fingers tingling at night, pain
at the inner wrist). If so, here are some actions that may help:
As I conduct ergonomic assessments in office environments, I’m amazed at the high
percentage of people who are having wrist problems. In many cases, they suffer as pains
increase, do not inform their supervisor of the problem, and do not know the basic steps
listed above.
That's right - your cursor controller could become a curse to your well-being! It turns out the
common computer mouse requires us to twist our wrist 90 degrees. Good ergonomic
practice is to keep the wrist in a neutral position when "mousing" - which means we should
move the mouse with our arm, keeping the wrist straight.
Evoluent has offered a "handshake mouse" for several years. You don't twist your wrist much
with a handshake mouse. Now Microsoft offers a wireless mouse with a handshake-type grip
at your local office supply store. It’s called “the Natural” and runs around $80.
Over 35% of worker comp costs are for ergonomic problems. You may know someone who
is having carpal tunnel symptoms related to their mouse usage (fingers tingling at night, pain
at the inner wrist). If so, here are some actions that may help:
- Sleep with a wrist brace for 6 weeks. When having carpal tunnel symptoms, the
symptoms tend to get worse if your wrist is not in a neutral position at night. WalMart
has a good brace (a Mueller wrist stabilizer) for around $18. - Set up your workstation so your elbow is down near your side (not extended), keep the
elbow bent 90 degrees, and your wrist straight. In many cases, people may need to
raise their chair and move the mouse and keyboard closer. - Keep your wrist straight when moving the mouse. In other words, your elbow action
should move the mouse, not your wrist. - Consider purchasing a safer mouse. Some alternatives to the traditional mouse
include the following: handshake mouse, trackball you move with your fingers (not the
thumb), and graphic tablets. - Any time you have pains that persist, consult a doctor.
As I conduct ergonomic assessments in office environments, I’m amazed at the high
percentage of people who are having wrist problems. In many cases, they suffer as pains
increase, do not inform their supervisor of the problem, and do not know the basic steps
listed above.
Cover Story:
Don't let your mouse do you in.
Don't let your mouse do you in.
