Is your employer required to provide ergonomic solutions for employees who need it?

[Jugernot]

My wife works on the admin staff at a local business and types quite a bit everyday. She is starting to have problems in her wrists and circulation problems at her desk. She also has to slump over because of the crappy chair she has that has no adjustable features.

I suggested an ergonomic keyboard and new office chair. She asked her boss and was told that if she wanted something like that, she'd need to buy it. I seem to remember OSHA requiring accomidation for employees in particular jobs that require a lot of typing, etc.

Anyone know any OSHA regs or laws on the books that may help her out?

 

[spidey07]

I think so. I think she can just call OSHA and ask. They don't mess around when it comes to this kind of stuff.

I remember mentioning my back was starting to hurt and maybe because I'm tall they could do something with my desk. The next day a team of people were out measuring and replacing things. She said they take this stuff seriously because of OSHA.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Do they have an HR department?

Also, how much is one that would work for her? If it's not much, probably not worth the hassle of delaing with a boss that doesn't want to budge, I'd just buy it on my own at that point.

 

[Aikouka]

I think we can request chairs and such. I know if you say there's issues with your office, they'll come and try to fix it or see if they can find anything wrong with posture, etc., but I'm not sure if you need anything special for something like a chair. I doubt a new keyboard would be a huge issue either.

 

[KLin]

Just tell her to mention OSHA to her boss and he'll probably change his mind.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Yes, when I worked at CNET, part of your orientation was an ergonomics evaluation.

 

[KMFJD]

We do this, it has led to a lot of people complaining and receiving 19" lcd's when they have worked perfectly fine and without any complaints with 17" CRT's and 17" LCD's for years...

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Jugernot
My wife works on the admin staff at a local business and types quite a bit everyday. She is starting to have problems in her wrists and circulation problems at her desk. She also has to slump over because of the crappy chair she has that has no adjustable features.

I suggested an ergonomic keyboard and new office chair. She asked her boss and was told that if she wanted something like that, she'd need to buy it. I seem to remember OSHA requiring accomidation for employees in particular jobs that require a lot of typing, etc.

Anyone know any OSHA regs or laws on the books that may help her out?

Health and Safety is employer's responsibility. She can sic the guvernment on the employer.

 

[funkymatt]

Originally posted by: KMFJD
We do this, it has led to a lot of people complaining and receiving 19" lcd's when they have worked perfectly fine and without any complaints with 17" CRT's and 17" LCD's for years...

and then run them at 1024x768 or even worse: 800x600

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: KLin
Just tell her to mention OSHA to her boss and he'll probably change his mind.

QFT.

MotionMan

 

[shocksyde]

I was having back problems and my work was very quick to order me an ergonomic chair. My back feels 100x better! They even put my NAME on it! haha.

 

[meltdown75]

At my office, you can request pretty much anything within limits... people get keyboard trays, chairs, little ramps for their feet, etc. right now the administrator kind of has a tightwad reputation though... the supplies cabinet is locked up and if you ask for a new pen, you're lucky not to get a dirty old chewed-up pen.

well, it's not that bad but you get the idea

 

[rivan]

I'm a big guy - 6'5" and 290 lbs, and I asked for a new chair with a higher back - most of the office has aerons and they're just not built for someone my size (my hipbones actually ride on the outer plastic rim of the seat - hurts like hell). They gave me a budget and let me shop around to find one that I thought I'd like.

 

[olds]

My employer would make the accommodation.

 

[MaxDepth]

We have ergo police come by every so often to see if we are working ergonomically correct.

To the OP: some states have mandatory laws about ergonomics, some don't. I was surprised to learn that carpal tunnel originally was spotted in the food services because they repeated the same motions over and over, every day.

Check with HR to see if they can help with that. Also, if they have on-sight medical services, they will be the place to go as well. If it is a small office, then talk to someone locally who knows the city and state laws about the work place.

 

[RKS]

If we need a specific piece of eqipment we are required to get an ergo. assessment. I think someone here has a desk with adjustable height so they could work almost standing up.

 

[FoBoT]

we have to spend extra "points" from our benefits package to get a special fancy ergo chair
but the normal chair are not bad so i don't bother

 

[kt]

Buy it herself? Our company provide the ergonomic solutions to employees who need it. In fact, they would be pissed if you bring your own equipment and use it at the office.