Table 2.
The highest assessed computer workstation ergonomic deficiencies using the OSHA Ergonomic Computer Workstation Evaluation Checklist [14] for the university employees involved in the study on evaluating computer workstation ergonomics, Jordan, September 2019–January 2020
| Ergonomic deficiency | Participants (N = 231) | |
|---|---|---|
| n | % | |
| Workstation | ||
| the thighs are not parallel to the floor and the lower legs are not perpendicular to the floor | 171 | 74.0 |
| the feet do not rest on the floor nor are they supported by a stable footrest | 170 | 73.9 |
| insufficient places (trapped thighs) | 121 | 52.3 |
| the legs and the feet do not have sufficient space | 119 | 51.5 |
| insufficient forward clearance for the legs and the feet | 119 | 51.5 |
| the head and the neck are not in an upright position | 40 | 17.3 |
| the trunk is not perpendicular to the floor | 40 | 17.3 |
| the shoulders and the upper arms are not relaxed (elevated or stretched) | 26 | 11.2 |
| the upper arm and the elbows are not close to the body (extended outward) | 25 | 10.8 |
| the wrists and the hands are not straight (bent up/down or sideways to the little fingers) | 24 | 10.4 |
| the forearms, wrists and hands are not straight in line | 21 | 9.0 |
| Seating | ||
| the seat has no cushioning and is not rounded | 168 | 72.7 |
| the seat width and depth are not accommodated to the worker’s size | 155 | 67.1 |
| the seat front presses against the back of the knee and the lower legs | 147 | 63.6 |
| the backrest does not support the lower back | 136 | 58.9 |
| Keyboard and input devices | ||
| the input devices are not easily activated (size and shape hand fits) | 180 | 77.9 |
| the wrists and the hands are rested on sharp or hard edges | 92 | 39.8 |
| Accessories | ||
| the telephone cannot be used with the head upright (not bent) and the shoulders relaxed (not elevated) if computer tasks done at the same time | 190 | 82.3 |
| the telephone is not positioned close to the work to avoid excessive reaches generally, within 45–50 cm | 182 | 78.8 |
| General ergonomics | ||
| insufficient adjustability of the workstation and equipment | 154 | 66.7 |
| inadequate maintenance for computer workstations | 49 | 21.2 |
| computer tasks are not organized in a way that allows workers to take a break | 45 | 19.5 |
| Monitor | ||
| light reflection from the screen to the user’s eyes | 153 | 66.2 |
| the top of the screen is not at the eye level | 149 | 64.5 |
| the monitor is not directly in front of the user, so the user needs to twist his/her head and trunk | 67 | 29.0 |
| the monitor distance does not allow the user to read without leaning his/her head, neck or trunk forward or backward | 55 | 23.8 |