Table 5
Measurements of the PC Workstation in the Home
Laptop
19 in.
DesktoQ ____ _
Chair height (from seat pan
to floor)
Chair height (from top of
backrest to floor)
Incline of backrest
Back of knees to seat pan
Desk height
Keyboard tray to floor
Keyboard away from user
Bottom of keyboard tray to
top of thighs
Eyes from monitor
Top of monitor to work
surface
Incline of monitor
Angle of arms (while
typing)
Angle of legs
Placement of feet
Research Objective #2
38 in.
108°
3.5 in.
29 in.
24 in.
7 in.
1.5 in.
32.5 in.
13 in.
73°
Feet not flat; one foot
resting on chair legs; no
footrest
20 in.
42 in.
107°
1 in., minimal clearance
30.5 in.
26 in.
7 in.
3 in.
26 in.
21.5 in.
81°
Feet flat or crossed
To identify and assess the extent of potential ergonomic issue(s) for the
individual(s) operating the PC at home, an ergonomic survey was used as well as the
RULA. Participants were physically observed by the researcher to complete the RULA
assessment.
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment
The RULA (See Appendix A) was performed on one-third of the participants; the
participants that allowed home access to the researcher. The RULA furthered analyzed
positions of the body while operating the PC. The RULA produced four levels of scoring
for the final score:
• 1 or 2 = acceptable posture,
• 3 or 4 = further investigation, change may be needed
• 5 or 6 = further investigation, change soon
• 7 = investigate and implement change
The results of the RULA are as follows:
Table 6
RULA Scores
Arm & Wrist analysis
Step 1: Upper arm position
Step 2: Lower arm position
Step 3: Wrist position
Step 4: Wrist twist
Step 5: Posture
Step 6: Muscle
Step 7: Force/load
Step 8: Wrist & Arm score
Neck, trunk, & leg analysis
Step 9: Neck position
Step 10: Trunk position
Step 11: Legs
Step 12: Posture
Step 13: Muscle
Step 14: Force/load
Step 15: Neck, trunk, & leg
score
Final score
Ergonomic Issues
Laptop
2
1
1
1
2
1
o
3
1
1
2
3
1
o
4
4
Desktop
2
2
1
1
2
1
o
3
1
2
1
2
1
o
3
3
The final questions of the ergonomic survey asked the participants if he/she
experienced any discomfort while operating the PC. If discomfort was experienced, the
33
participants were asked where he/she experienced the discomfort. The following areas of
the body were questioned:
• Hands
34
• Wrists
• Arms
• Shoulders
• Neck
• Back
• Legs
• Eyes
The participants were also asked to provide a brief description of the discomfort that was
experienced. One-half of the participants indicated that he/she experienced no discomfort
while operating on the PC. The other half of the participants experienced discomfort in
the eyes, back, shoulders, and hands while operating the PC in the home. Table 7 lists the
descriptions of the discomfort experienced: