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For comm centers, there are several areas of ergonomic concern--seating, headsets (or lack of them), video terminals, keyboards or computer mouse, and environmental conditions such as lighting, heating and air conditioning. Also check our Typical Comn Centers page for photos of consoles, keyboards and furniture. The federal Occupations Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and some states have regulations that set out the obligations of employers to prevent injuries caused by repetitive motion, lighting, seating or other ergonomic causes. For the past four years the agency has attempted to finalize new regulations that would strike a balance between business and workers--but without success. The most pertinent information about ergonomics comes from OSHA. Check:
Check these links for information on headsets, which help eliminate neck, shoulder and back problems:
Check these companies for consoles and related gear:
Also check these materials and links on ergonomics:
Video Display Terminals It's known that video display terminals (VDT), such as those used by a dispatcher working with CAD, can cause many types of maladies, not the least of which is eye strain. But terminals are also a source of electromagnetic waves, static electricity and other physical phenomona that could affect the health of nearby persons. If you work your entire shift at a VDT, you should be aware of the potential hazards and the controversy over whether they actually cause illnesses. Here are some Web sites to get you started:
Radio Frequency Energy Whenever a radio transmitter is activated, it sends out energy in the form of radio waves through its attached antenna. Depending upon the design of the antenna, the energy is transmitted in a specific direction (uni-directional), while in other cases the energy is sent in all directions (omni-directional). Arguably, the energy has an effect on any humans that are within range. Some experts claim the effects are very negative, while others say that only constant, high-powered exposures would affect a human. Either way, the FCC does have exposure limits for authorized amateur radio installations, and there is an on-line Web page to calculate them: Seating and Chairs DISPATCH Monthly isn't in the business of selling office furniture, especially chairs. On the other hand, we've heard more complaints about seating equipment during our visits to comm centers than any other issue, so we thought we'd delve into this area slightly. About a four years ago one chair appeared on our radar as "the best"--the Aeron by Herman Miller. It's tough, it's comfortable, it's ergonomic. Oh, and it's expensive. We've assembled some Web links to on-line companies that offer the chair at below list price (it's a common industry practice to discount--these are fly-by-night places), along with other sources of 24-hour, intensive-use chairs. Since then, most other office furniture manufacturers have introduced their own versions of the Aeron chair. What makes the Aeron chair so great? First, it's constructed of mesh-under-tension, which molds to your body exactly and transfers heat away. Second, it's fully adjustable to match any ergonomic requirement. By the way, unlike a regular chair, it doesn't "tilt" back. Instead, the rearward motion is compound--both back and down. It does take some getting used to! Thirdly, the Aeron chair it's durable. We've seen these chairs after a year of 24-hour use and it's barely obvious they've been used at all--they still looked good and operated perfectly. Lastly, they're attractive and available in a range of two-color schemes to match your decor. Now, about price....there are ways of getting Aeron chairs cheaper--not cheaply. Office furniture is subject to heavy discounting, and the Web has generated some excellent on-line sources of discounted prices on the Aeron chairs. Here are several Web sites that offer the Aeron chair and other intensive seating:
Lighting Check these resources for information on proper lighting:
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Be sure to read the section above on ergonomics for resources on seating.
