Enabling Access Blog

I just can't help myself from asking people if the demands of their job cause them discomfort and follow this by providing them with possible solutions to reduce the risk of injury, as I come across them. I suppose you could compare it to how a Psychic must feel as they walk into a room and are compelled to share the messages they are receiving from the dead with those who they encounter, whether they asked for it or not. In both cases our subjects get the information we think will change their lives, in my case....maybe only their work life.

I can think of many scenarios where my approach may have appeared odd,  but arguably may have proven helpful, even from an onlooker's point of view. The first was in a hotel bar, after wrapping up a conference where I presented.  I noticed that the bartender who was serving me my meal and a well deserved Frangellico Liqueur, was a shorter lady standing at 5 foot 3 inches. (Yes, I did asked her how tall she was). As I sat at the bar, she had to reach across a deep counter and up about 2 feet from her shoulders to serve me the heavy plate of food.  I also noticed her struggling to get a bottle of what looked like expensive scotch whisky, down from a shelf by standing on an unsteady crate. As I watched her tally up my bill, on the computer which was fixed to the counter at the end of the bar, all I saw were her elbows up near her ears as she typed on the keyboard that was at neck level. You don't have to be an ergonomist to see that there were some major hazards for this poor lady. Of course I couldn't control myself as I sat sipping my drink, watching her work and instead I found myself asking her if her upper back and shoulders get sore and explained how I would redesign her workstation, so that it would better fit her and the other bartenders. She agreed that my suggestions would be helpful, but admitted nothing was going to change around there.

The other scenario that comes to mind is my last 6 month teeth cleaning check up, with my mouth open wide and instruments hacking away at my teeth, I was chomping at the bit (in this case the dental hygienist's hand) to get the words out of my mouth that I have been thinking about since she started cleaning my teeth." Why don't you raise my chair up so you don't have to lean over so far and flex your neck so deeply?". Of course the next 10 minutes are taken up by our conversation involving what I think she can do differently to prevent the aches and pains I knew she must have each day.  Turns out she made some adjustments with where she kept her tools and how she positioned herself and me for the remainder of the procedure and I was able to keep my mouth shut (actually in this case I had to keep it open) so she could do her job.

I finally had the insight to realize this might not be the best approach to preventing injuries for those I meet along my journey and perhaps a more formal method for sharing the information would be to contact the employer of these folks and their associations  to provide a presentation on ergonomics specific to their workplace. I can tell you that I have had wonderful success! I have presented now to Dental Hygienists (after getting my teeth cleaned) Nail Technicians (after getting manicures) Lab Technicians (After visiting a friend at work) Janitors (After visiting a client in a nursing home and observing the janitorial staff cleaning the tub) Car Dealerships (after purchasing my new car) oh and the list goes on!

So if I come across you at your place of work and notice poor ergonomics, you might be lucky to only get a tidbit of body mechanic advice, but most likely I will ask for your manager's card and the next time you see me will be when I'm presenting "How to Prevent Ergonomic Injuries" at your workplace. Folks, this is what happens to an OT who can't take off their "Fix'n hat". 

Marnie Courage, OT Reg (MB)

Managing Director 

Enabling Access

marnie@enablingaccess.ca