Employees
encounter several risk factors at sewing workstations, such as awkward arm, neck,
trunk, and leg postures. These postures are influenced by the size of the worker
and the design of the workstation. This section explains potential hazards encountered
at the workstation and a general description of a proper workstation design.
- Chair
- Table
- Treadle/Pedal
1. Chair:
Potential
Hazards:
Workers often maintain awkward shoulder, elbow, and
wrist postures (Fig. 1) while sewing because of improper chair height or
position.
Employees must sit or stand for long periods in the
same position, resulting in soreness of the back and neck, and/or buttocks, and
reduced circulation to the legs.
Possible
Solutions:
Use
easily adjustable chairs (Fig. 2) to minimize awkward postures, and provide training
on how to properly use them.
1.
Chairs should have: - Easily adjustable height, seat tilt, and backrest position;
- Padded back rest with rounded edges that supports worker's lower back;
- No wheels, or wheels that lock;
- A gently sloped or "waterfall" front edge to help prevent the chair's edge from pressing into the back of the legs; and
- A cushioned/contoured seat, which distributes the worker's weight so no body part gets all the pressure.
To
choose a proper chair, consider the amount of movement the task requires, and the
size of the worker. For tasks that require a lot of twisting, Fig. 2 is
desirable.
- Chairs should be placed at an appropriate distance from the workstation, so workers can perform tasks without pulling their elbows away from the body (Fig. 3).
- Motor placement should not interfere with proper chair distance.
- Chair height is correct when the work surface is at
elbow height. Ideally, in this posture, the entire sole of the foot should rest
on the floor, and the back of the knee should be slightly higher than the seat
of the chair (Fig. 4). (This illustrates the importance of also having an
adjustable table.) The seat may be slightly lower when the worker uses a
treadle or pedal.
