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The Oakville Beaver, W e d n e s d a y M a y 1, 2002 - B 3 A comfy workforce is more productive Years ago, businesses finally began making rad ical progress in cutting down work-related injuries. Partly through decisions by OSHA, and partly through rising insurance costs, employees per forming demanding manual labor received better equipment and training to make their jobs safer and their firms more productive. Unfortunately, that concern hasn't always made its way to a com pany's inner office workers. We've all heard a lot about the importance of ergonomics in the inner office, but many business es don't believe that it extends beyond a comfort able chair. Office workers by the thousands com plain of repetitive stress ailments, eyestrain, headaches, etc., every year, and it all means a loss in productivity. To keep the work flowing and office personnel happy, ergonomic comfort is the key. The first step is to look at the "big picture" of the office environment. Temperature plays a big part in a worker's comfort; in fact, cold hands can actually cause injury (due to improper circulation) in people who constantly use a keyboard. The office should either be kept warm, or special typist gloves should be provided to those with chilly fin gers. Lately, the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui has become popular in the workplace, pleasing its practitioners. Feng Shui deals with arranging fur niture. and people, in a way that creates a positive energy flow. In an office, it can be accomplished in a number of ways, but primarily is the practice of allowing workers to face outward, toward win dows and doorways rather than facing a wall. No one likes to feel caged, and the human mind is known to begin to drift and daydream when faced with a confined space or comer. For those who do a lot of filing, thank goodness old-fashioned, heavy metal cabinets are quickly becoming obsolete. Nothing promotes backstrain faster than bending down to pull out those massive drawers, and have you ever tried to move one of those behemoths? Smart bosses are opting for modem cabinetry that uses the bottom half to hold equipment and supplies, while the files remain in easily reached upper cabinets. Anytime an office worker can be spared having to bend over (or use step-stools for out-of-reach items) is a pain-saving measure. So many large firms have numerous employees manning computers for most of their workday, with their comfort often compromised. All com puter monitors should be fitted with detachable glare protector screens, and monitors should be positioned at a height where the user isn't bending "I like to show my appreciation to the stafffor what they do for me. They're wonderful and Queens Ave. has everything I need!"boasts Ken. Ken Steen " I've got no worries here, "says Joe. "My apartment gets cleaned, my meals are cooked, it' s friendly ad CQmfortable. I'm very happy here. " Joe K aufm an their neck to see it. The ultimate in ergonomic monitors are LCD units on adjustable arms that allow the user to position it at their personally opti mum height. To cut down on shoulder, forearm, wrist and hand pain, office chairs should have contoured backs with enough height to support the shoulder blades. Arms are a must on keyboard user's chairs, and they should be adjustable not only to height but also to angle. Keyboards should be level with the arms of the chair, and putting them in retractable drawers is good for both the user and the equipment. The new wave of mouse pads with gel wrist rests and contoured mouse devices are far easier on the wrists and hands than their predeces sors. The cost to a firm in retooling to a more userfriendly space is negligible when compared to lost hours and productivity due to employee injury, dis traction and low morale. Upgrading to more ergonomic settings, furniture and equipment will make the workforce more comfortable and happy, and in the long run. benefit the bottom line. " I have always been delighted in my sunny treed top corner home." Sheila O 'Brien "The staff make it a happy home at all times. " T h e Ellerkers The Queens Avenue R etirem ent Residence 1056 Queens Ave., Oakville, ON (905) 815-0862 website: www.caretendersinc.com It just doesn't get any better! January 1/01 Kitchens T h is is o n ly o n e r e a so n w e w e r e v o ted B e st Kitchen & Bath Store in O akville! Dear "Canac Kitchens" I would like to express how happy 1 am with my new kitchen. The level of service was spectacular, particularly the installer & L installation on the whole. Thank you, Canac Kitchens! I haven t had this muchp driving? EVER in my life. *-- hfun * v m m # v * v To: Sent: <Info@LockwoodChrysler.com> F .D . Burlington, Ont. April 25, 2001 11:31 PM Subject: Att: Sheldon Simpson - Sales Hey Sheldon, This is Nick Evans writing you. Just have to let you know that I absolutely love the car. I haven't had this much fun driving EVER in m y life. I'm so delighted to have found this car, and I have to stress that I appreciate everything you've done for me and my dad. Just thought I' d get back to you instead o f you having to call me. T he car runs beautifully, very sm o o th , very quiet (except for the stereo o f course...), overall I'm more than pleased with this vehicle. It has surpassed my expectations o f it, and it has made driving once again fun for me. Even my dad loves to take it out for a spin, I catch him trying to sneak out in it. Getting used to the car was easy, as the manual transmission is so smooth and easy to navigate around, much easier that the car I was testing myself on. I have stalled it a few times, as expected, but am much more confident driving it now, I always try to find an excuse to leave my house, so that I can go crusing in it. Thank you for working things out with my dad so that I could get this car. I don't know how I could compare it to the standard Neon, having driven this one now. Everything on it is perfect, and it was a pleasure gening to know you some what, seeing as you are an extremely friendly person. Anyways, instead o f boring you with my words, I will sign off now, but again, T H A N K YOU. If ever someone wants to buy a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep, I know who to reco m m en d ...= ) Thanx a lot for your time and effort, A FEW FACTS ABOUT CANAC: e 'v e been in b u sin e ss sin ce 1966. O u r k itc h e n s s ta rt as lo w as $ 2 ,5 0 0 In s ta lle d w ith c o u n te rs . W e a re ty p ic a lly 1 0 -2 0 % le ss e x p e n s iv e th a n b ig b o x s to re s o r b u ild in g c e n tre s o n c o m p a ra b le p ro d u c t! W e have th e w id e s t s e le c tio n o f d o o r s ty le s and c o lo u rs . In th is s to re a lo n e w e have m o re th a n 5 0 y e a rs c o m b in e d d e s ig n e x p e rie n c e . Free in -h o m e d e s ig n s e rv ic e . A ll o f o u r c a b in e ts a re m a n u fa c tu re d in C anada. Nick Evans Extremely S atisfied Chrysler N eon R /T O wner Every year, the 5000 volunteers of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) participate in more than 1700 search and rescue missions, resulting in over 200 lives saved. Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary 200 Kent St, 5th Floor Ottawa. Ontario K1A 0E6 To reach all those that need help, we need your financial support. For more information, call (613) 991-5714 or visit us at www.ccga-gcac.org Registered Charity 87029 8494 RR 0001 &&&&& F IV E S T A R L