[PADG:1886] Preservation Ergonomics at Princeton

["Robert J. Milevski" <milevski@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I will not be al ALA, but I do want to share with you what Princeton has 
done over the years regarding ergonomics and staff safety issues as well as 
making accommodations for collections conservation staff who have may have 
injured themselves on the job.

First, all collections conservation staff have a 1-inch thick pad at their 
workstations to stand on when they choose to, versus choosing to sit and 
work.  The pad does not cover the entire floor area of each workstation but 
only part of it.  Our floors are vinyl tile over concrete and the pad 
allows for much comfort during long periods of standing.  The staff seem to 
divide their work and space up to accommodate whether or not something can 
be done sitting (eg sewing) versus standing (eg case making).  These pads 
are available from McMaster-Carr.

Second, we have purchased weights with handles.  Grasping a handled weight 
is different from grasping a wrapped weight of an odd dimension.  These 
weights are available from McMaster-Carr.  We modify them by padding the 
bottom of each with felt.

Third, we have purchased step stools of various sorts for staff to rest 
their feet on while standing or to stand on while retrieving books from the 
higher shelves of the stacks in our office holding books waiting for repair 
or for return.  Staff use these stools as well to gain advantage when 
screwing down the bars of our desktop standing presses.  Short staff would 
otherwise have to raise their arms above shoulder height to tighten the 
screws, thereby opening themselves up to shoulder injury from the twisting 
motion.  (This is also true when staff have to pull books down from shelves 
above should height.)  Related to this, we have purchased, when available, 
wheels to replace the straight bars on these presses, as the wheels are 
grasped differently and allow grasping in multiple places along its 
circumference.

Fourth, we have purchased scalpels with large plastic handles that are 
easier and less stressful to grasp than regular scalpel handles.  Also, 
scissors with bent/angled tips that allow cutting at a less acute angle 
than straight-blade scissors.  There may be other examples as well that I 
do not recall at the moment.

Fifth, our carpenter shop fabricated a portable work surface that can be 
adjusted/pivoted to a range of angles for a staff member to bring the work 
closer but at an angle that took the stress off her wrists during 
operations such as cutting with the scalpel.

Finally, staff have had training from occupational health and safety staff 
in the proper methods to work.  Staff who may have injured themselves from 
work-related activities have received treatment and physical therapy from 
our health services folk on campus as well.

Robert


 At 12:29 PM 1/2/03 -0500, you wrote:
Tom: I think that both workstation setup and repetitive stress ought to be 
addressed. The topic came up last year in the Library Binding Discussion 
Group (perhaps that's one of the groups you attended). The main concern 
voiced in that group was that the tasks of our support staff within our 
bindery units has changed significantly since we started using automated 
systems. I know I want to find ways to help educate my own staff and help 
them make the necessary adjustments to avoid getting hurt on the job. I'm 
really glad to hear that you're addressing this really important issue! Emily

Emily Holmes
Assistant Preservation Librarian
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Sq. South
New York, NY 10012-1091
Phone: (212)998-2518
Fax: (212) 995-4583

----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Teper <tteper@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Thursday, January 2, 2003 12:02 pm
Subject: [PADG:1882] Preservation Ergonomics Questions?

> All:
>
> Over the past two ALA meetings, questions about ergonomics and
> work spaces
> have come up in at least two meetings that I have attended. With
> that and
> PARS DG's efforts to reach outside of the normal PARS retinue, I
> have
> contacted someone involved in LAMA that specializes in library
> renovation
> and management - more specifically, workspace design and
> occupational safety.
>
> In preparation for the meeting in Philly, she would like to know
> if
> individuals have any particular questions. For example, are we
> interested
> in ergonomic issues with workstation and workbench design,
> repetitive
> motion problems, or both? Specific questions are as good as those
> that are
> more generalized, but she would like to know how to best target
> her
> preparation.
>
> Please reply directly to me, and I will pass the questions on to her.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom Teper
>
>
> Head of Preservation
> University Library
> 246F Main Library
> 1408 West Gregory Drive
> Urbana, IL      61801
>
> Telephone:      217-244-8755
>
> Fax:            217-244-4358
>
>

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Robert J. Milevski
Preservation Librarian &
Manager, Typography Studio
Princeton University Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544
(609) 258-5591
Fax:  (609) 258-4105
Email:  milevski@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Preservation Office website:
http://libweb2.Princeton.EDU/preservation/ccu/PO-IntroPage.html
***********************************************