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The Human Side of Automation is one of the optional programs being offered the afternoon of March 7. Jane R. Gardner, PhD, CIC, PHR, a partner in Empowerment Concepts, Inc., a Flemington, New Jersey, consulting firm, will facilitate the seminar. To introduce that seminar, Gardner provides these observations.
Agency owners have computerized, gone paperless, interfaced, rotationally serviced clients, uploaded and downloaded, added telephone headsets for CSRs and instituted a myriad of procedures to maximize the use of automation. An unwelcome result is the host of health-related problems which have cropped up for automation users.
Because you have had no complaints from your staff does not mean there are no problems in your agency. Many of the injuries associated with the use of automation and workstations are subtle and can take long periods of time to manifest themselves. Working smarter and using equipment wisely helps staff members protect themselves against possible injuries.
Most common are cumulative trauma disorders which arise from repetitive motions, such as keyboard operation, long-term telephone usage, or continual work in front of video display terminals. The most frequently mentioned is carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the "tunnel" connecting nerves from hands to the forearm gets compressed. Hands and wrists then tingle or become numb and may even be difficult to control. Doing stretching exercises with...