With the spotlight shining on ergonomics issues lately, the modern workplace, or information place, has been labeled as “dangerous” by the press. Today’s office workers—manning the new frontier in wired skyscrapers and small businesses—are experiencing a new definition of danger in the information place, and simultaneously learning the hard way about work-related physical disorders.

The modern workplace is indeed full of new ergonomic dangers and pitfalls that call for pioneering safety measures. Just as the new technology of the information place is a source of these dangers, it is also part of the cure. Telephone headsets, such as the ones manufactured by Plantronics, Inc., are a prime example of a safety enhancement accessory that should be incorporated into the modern office environment.

Once worn only by telephone operators back in the 1950s, headsets are finding their way into offices across the world, and with good reason. Headsets are known to add many advantages to the workplace. According to a Santa Clara Valley Medical Study, headsets reduce neck, upper back, and shoulder tension by as much as 41 percent. An additional study by H.B. Maynard & Co., Inc. concluded that adding hands-free headsets to office telephones improved productivity up to 43 percent. Headsets are also known to reduce the chances of work-related physical disorders, specifically injuries of the neck and upper body, resulting in reduced workers’ compensation costs.

Telephone Handsets and Demands on the Neck

It is in the use of the telephone handset that the most significant work related disorders of the neck could occur. When the seemingly simple act of squeezing the handset against the shoulder and neck is performed routinely, or held for long periods of time, anything ranging from discomfort to structural tissue damage can occur.

For people with existing, non-occupational neck problems, from accidents, sports injuries or congenital abnormalities, this awkward positioning of the head, neck and shoulder while using the telephone handset could amplify the situation. This could make a physical challenge that otherwise is livable into the source of significant discomfort. For people with congenital irregularities, especially in the neck and shoulders, taking steps to avoid awkward positions of the head may be an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) issue.

The use of telephone headsets is beneficial for improving head and neck postures. With the freedom a headset provides, awkward and prolonged static postures of the head, neck and shoulders can be avoided. In an even greater sense, the freedom offered by hands-free movement allows workers extra mobility, reducing static loads on the entire body, and potentially contributing to greater worker comfort and productivity. Headsets also are known to alleviate stress on the neck for all-day users, as well as for those who use the telephone sporadically throughout the day.

Upper Body Disorders

Upper body disorders, medically referred to as “musculoskeletal disorders,” represent a variety of problems involving repetitive stress injuries of the tendons, muscles, nerves and supporting structures. They can range in severity from occasional to frequent, or from annoying to debilitating.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), “work-related” musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are those injuries that are worsened by the work environment. WMSDs can be severe and painful - ranging from tingling to numbness, and resulting in lost time from work, reduced productivity, or temporary or permanent disability. WMSDs also have been attributed to an increase in workers’ compensation costs. The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 62 percent of all work-related illness cases in 1995 were due to disorders of repetitive trauma.

The disorders of the upper body and extremities have been studied for many years. Most often, such studies have focused on the arms, hands, wrists, shoulders and elbows. Literally volumes have been written regarding the specific disorders associated with these body parts, i.e. carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrists, epicondylitis in the elbows, DeQuervains disease in the hands, just to name a few.

Fewer, but not less important, studies have addressed the symptoms associated with the neck experienced by workers performing repetitive job functions. The simple truth is that the same work exposures that affect the upper body also can affect the neck. Work exposures such as awkward postures and repetitive movements have been linked to disorders of the neck; disorders that are no less serious than those involving the hands, wrists or elbows.

A recent publication of NIOSH (1997) reviewed more than 230 research studies of work- related disorders of the upper extremities. Among these studies, 89 of them included investigations of work factors relating to disorders in the neck and shoulders. The review committee for this publication concluded that there was “strong evidence that high levels of static contraction, prolonged static loads or extreme working postures . . . increased the risk for neck and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders.” (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Musculoskeletal Disorders and Workplace Factors, Chapter 2. Washington, D.C. 1997)

Among the studies cited as providing strong evidence for the link between posture and neck and shoulder disorders, one study reported the association between time on the telephone and an increase in neck symptoms.

A Call for Awareness

Although awareness in the information place is growing, it lags behind the need to holistically revolutionize the modern workplace. Because of the extraordinary rate of change in technology, health problems often set in before the potential usage dangers are realized. In effect, employers, healthcare providers, physical therapists and employees can be blind-sided when staffers are physically impaired on the job site. The prescription: set the right direction to reduce the risks to workers by doing tasks more effectively with the proper tools, and provide the appropriate training and education so workers can use new technologies safely.