Healthy / ergonomic computing resources
Graphic of proper computing setup.
One of the most common physical threats to people working in the information professions is computer-related repetitive strain injury. Unfortunately, many people only change poor computing practices after they have already become injured. Healthy computing is an important component of professional development, success, and overall health.
The following is a list of useful Web and Inforum resources on the topic. We hope this helps information professionals to educate themselves, and to take proactive steps towards the prevention and management of repetitive strain injuries.
Selected web resources
Laptops
Laptops violate many basic ergonomic principles. Mainly, the keyboard and screen are connected as one unit and this forces users into awkward and unsafe positions. It is best to limit laptop use to short periods of time with breaks to stretch in between, though many people now use laptops as their primary computer. It is generally recommended that full-time users plug in an external keyboard and mouse so that established ergonomic standards can be achieved. The following resources provide further information on safer laptop use.
5 tips for using a laptop computer | Cornell University
Are you using your laptop unsafely? | UC Santa Cruz
Ergonomic tips for laptop users | UC Berkeley
Laptop ergonomics | University of Minnesota
Other mobile devices
Ergonomics guidance for mobile devices
From Stanford’s Environmental Health & Safety department, this guide lays out concerns and suggested set up, work practice, and handling solutions for laptops and mobile phones/tablets. Notable is the recommendation to interrupt continuous device use with microbreaks (one – two minutes every half hour) and alternating tasks.
Ergonomic tips for the use of hand-held devices
This concise resource from UCLA ‘s Health & Safety department provides strategies for safer hand-held mobile device (e.g. smartphone) use and five preventative hand exercies recommended by the American Physical Therapy Association.
Mobile computing
This page provides suggestions from UBC Human Resources on how to minimize risk when using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone for longer periods of time, highlighting the importance of changing positions frequently so as not to rely overly on the same joints/muscles.
Smartphones and ergonomics: Hand aches and injuries
This infographic from the Selikoff Centres for Occupations Health at Mount Sinai (NY) depicts common types of strain/injury caused by smartphone use. Other takeaways include things to be mindful of when purchasing a new phone and ways to limit hand use when operating your phone.
General web resources
CANOSH: RSI Awareness Day
Maintained by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, this site contains information about raising awareness around RSI, including causes, prevention, and resources to address RSI.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: OSH answers
This section of the CCOHS web site contains very useful information and diagrams on office ergonomics, back safety, repetitive motion injuries and preventative practices.
Cornell University ergonomics web
This site includes information on topics such as proper computer workstation set-up, how to choose ergonomic chairs and other products, considerations for left-handers, and back care issues.
Deborah Quilter’s www.RSIhelp.com
Ms. Quilter, a well-known RSI author, educator and consultant, maintains this site of useful information, including checklists on the warning signs of RSI, risk factors, and prevention strategies. Some of her books are available as well (see the Inforum Books section.)
Harvard RSI Action home page
This site is maintained by the Harvard RSI Action student group at Harvard University. It contains highly useful information about preventative measures, the warning signs of RSIs, and treatment approaches. Site disclaimer: information on this website is student-originated, and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.
MedlinePlus: Ergonomics
Excellent compilation of information sources from the National Library of Medicine on proper set-up and use of computer workstations, journal articles, law and policy, clinical trials, and advice on other things that are ergonomically problematic (using a briefcase, a purse, suitcases, and backpacks).
Microsoft healthy computing guide
A 12-pg guide discussing ergonomics, with suggestions of Microsoft products, diagram of good computer set-up, and some computing workplace wellness tips.
Ontario government health and wellness: Computer ergonomics
This page provides information, essential to both workers and employers, on legal requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act regarding the use of computers or mobile technology in the workplace. It offers actionable injury prevention information and tips for both parties.
Repetitive strain injuries (CUPE)
Information from the Canadian Union of Public Employees describing causes and symptoms of the different kinds of RSI.
Wikipedia: Repetitive strain injury.
A good resource for a quick and easy-to-understand definition and overview of repetitive strain injuries and treatment options.
Books & articles
Freely available articles
How do I set up an ergonomic home office? The Guardian (August 1, 2019).
Emerging technologies in ergonomics: Will you be ready? EHS Today (March 8, 2019).
Ten ways to reduce injuries from excessive smartphone use. The Globe and Mail (updated May 16, 2018).
Me and my numb thumb: A tale of tech, texts and tendons. The New York Times (May 19, 2018).
Smartphone-related neck pain on the increase. CBC (April 14, 2017).
Text claw: How to alleviate pain from too much smartphone use. Huffington Post (December 6, 2017).
Digitial disabilities – text neck, cellphone elbow – are painful and growing. Washington Post (June 13, 2016).
Selected academic articles & documents
Adeyemi, A. O. (2010). ICT facilities: Ergonomic effects on academic library staff. Library Philosophy and Practice (ejournal). Paper 343.
Amba, S. (1998). Ergonomic factors and library automation. Information Studies 4(1), 33-40.
Atencio, R. (1996). Eyestrain: The number one complaint of computer users. Computers in Libraries 16(8), 40–43.
Bertuca, D. J. (2001). Letting go of the mouse: Using alternative computer input devices to improve productivity and reduce injury. OCLC Systems & Services 17(2), 79-83.
Butler, S. J. (1997). Common-sense ergonomics (Or, what you don’t do can hurt you!). Computers In Libraries 17(8), 35–37.
Corlett, E. N. Sitting on seats, working all day. Ergonomics in Design 15(1), 25-27.
De Stricker, U. (1997). Carpal tunnel and me: Ergonomic advice the hard way. Searcher 5(9), 8-10.
Egghe, L. (1996). The amount of actions needed for shelving and reshelving. Library Management 17(1), 18-24.
Gavgani, V., Nazari, J., Jafarabadi, M. A., & Rastegari, F. (2013). Is librarians’ health affected by ergonomic factors at the work place? Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). Paper 893.
Gehner, J. (2004). Repetitive strain injuries, ergonomic regulation, and catalogers. Progressive Librarian 23, 1-9.
Goldsborough, R. (2004). Keeping your keyboard and mouse from killing you. Teacher Librarian 31(5), 41.
James, T., & Witt, P. L. (1999). Ergonomics in the library. North Carolina Libraries 57(3), 93-99.
Junion-Metz, G. (2006). Bad to the bone. School Library Journal 52(7), 22.
Kaehr, R. E. (2010). What’s a librarian to do? Literature review: The carpal tunnel syndrome. Christian Librarian 53(2), 66-76.
Kaehr, R. E. (2008). What do meatpackers and librarians have in common? Library related injuries and possible solutions. Teacher Librarian 36(2), 39-42.
Keiser, B. E. (2004). Safety first. Searcher 12(6), 21-25.
Kusack, J. M. (1990). The light at the end of the carpal tunnel. Library Journal 115(2), 56-59.
Lingle, V. (1998). Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) on the web. Health Care on the Internet 2(1), 43-55. (Full-text article available from the University of Toronto Libraries e-journal collection.)
Murray, P. (2006). Health and safety in libraries. incite 27(11), 10.
Nektarios K., & Xenos, M. (2011). A study on how usability flaws in GUI design increase mouse movements and consequently may affect users’ health. Behaviour & Information Technology 30(3), 425-436.
Richardson, P., & Larsen, J. (1997). Repetitive strain injuries in the information age workplace. Human Resource Management 36(4), 377–384.
Robertson, G. (1998). Our vision of things: Basic eye care for librarians. Feliciter 44(4), 26-28.
Saunders, L. M. (1999). The human element in the virtual library. Library Trends 47(4),771-787.
Seckman, C. (2008). Ergonomics and indexing. Key Words 16(4), 121-123.
Switzer, T. R. (1995). Ergonomics: An ounce of prevention. College & Research Libraries News 5, pp. 314.
Szunejko, N. H. (2000). Managing repetitive strain injuries in bibliographic services departments. Technical Services Quarterly 18(1), 33–45.
Tan, W. (1996). Caution! Library work can be hazardous to health! Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 3(4), 393-398.
Thibodeau, P. L., & Melamut, S. J. (1995). Ergonomics in the electronic library. Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 83(3),322-329
Thornton, J. K. (1997). Carpal tunnel syndrome in ARL libraries. College & Research Libraries 58(1), 9-18.
Thornton, J. K. (1996). Coping with carpal tunnel syndrome in the library [at Texas A & M]. Texas Library Journal 72, 90-93.
Turchin, Curtis. (1992). Taking action against job-related injury. Information Systems Management 9(3), pp. 75.
Wright, C., & Friend, L. (1992). Ergonomics for online searchers. Online 16(3), 13-27.
Yuan, L. (2015). Reducing ergonomic injuries for librarians using a participatory approach. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 47, 93-103
Books
Bertolini, R. (1990). Carpal tunnel syndrome: A summary of the occupational health concern. Hamilton: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Find it in print.
Butler, S. J. (1995). Conquering carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries: A self-care program. Berwyn, PA: Advanced Press. Find it in print.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. (2003). Section IV: Ergonomic concerns in the library workplace. In CCOHS, Health and safety guide for libraries (pp. 45-88). Hamilton: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Find it in print.
Godnig, E. G., & Hacunda, J. S. (1990). Computers and visual stress: How to enhance visual comfort while using computers. Charlestown, RI: Seacoast Information Services. Find it in print.
Harwin, R., & Haynes, C. (1992). Healthy computing: Risks and remedies every computer-user needs to know. New York: Amacom. Find it in print.
Lang, A. (Ed.). (1994). Keyboard grief: Coping with computer-caused injuries. Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Find it in print.
Pascarelli, E. F., & Quilter, D. (1994). Repetitive strain injury: A computer user’s guide. New York: J. Wiley. Find it in print.
Quilter, D. (1998). The repetitive strain injury recovery book. New York: Walker & Co. Find it in print.
Schofield-Bodt, C. K. (2000). The new library demands a closer look at ergonomics. In P. Ensor (Ed.), The cybrarian’s manual, Ed. 2 (pp. 24–32). Chicago: American Library Association. Find it in print.
Sellers, D. (1995). 25 steps to safe computing. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press. Find it in print.
Stigliani, J. (1995). The computer user’s survival guide. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly & Assoc. Find it in print.
University of Toronto — Office of Environmental Health & Safety. (1998). Office smarts: Health, safety and ergonomics for the office. Toronto: University of Toronto. Find it in print.
Vasi, J. (1998). Computer ergonomics for library staff and users. In C. LaGuardia (Ed.), Recreating the academic library: Breaking virtual ground (pp. 107–120). New York: Neal Schuman. Find it in print.
Compiled by Nalini K. Singh; last updated by Madison Stoner, Inforum Student Assistant (2019 November)
