Ergo Tip of the Month
February 2006
Sandalwood Enterprises is a consulting firm that specializes in Ergonomics, Process Optimization,
and Information Management. The Ergo Tip of the Month is offered to our customers and friends for
the benefit of the Ergonomics community. If you choose not to receive future editions, contact us at
ergotip@sandalwood.com
Taking Ergonomics Home: The Kitchen
It's hard enough for most people to consider the way
in which they interact with the environment at work. How many of us actually consider what we are doing in
the home environment? The principles of ergonomics are the same, even when the environment changes. And
yet… how many of us put those principles into action at home?
Consider the kitchen. Take a look in your pantry, or in your cupboards. The canned goods are probably
all stacked and lined up together, cereal boxes stacked neatly on the shelves. Look a little closer - what are
the heaviest items in your kitchen? Where are they located? Which items do you use the most? Are they
located near the area in which you use them? How many times do you find yourself walking across the kitchen to
get a glass, then walking back to get ice, and then some water? When you bring in groceries, where do you put
them? Do you have the right tools for the job?
Below is a quick checklist to help you be more efficient,
and safer in your kitchen:
Are your paths clear in the kitchen, especially those traveled most often?
Are the heaviest, or most frequently used items easily accessible in the working zone (refer to
the October 2005 Tip of the Month) of your cabinets, countertops and refrigerator?
Where do you prepare food? Is the location central to all the needed tools/ingredients?
Do you use a step stool when needed to reach items on upper shelves?
When doing dishes, have you considered opening the cupboard door under the sink and placing one foot on the shelf
to make standing more comfortable for your back?
Are you using the best tools for the job?
Hand tools should have larger, more comfortable handles.
Consider specially designed tools, such as knives with angled handles (shown at left),
kitchen scissors or jar openers (as shown at right). Remember to keep kitchen knives and scissors
sharpened.
Use powered appliances such as blenders, food choppers, processors and electric can openers to reduce
repetitive motions.
When you get home, take a few minutes to consider how you can apply ergonomic principles to tasks
you do everyday. Work smarter at work - and at home!
Reference: Example tools shown in pictures can be found at www.oxo.com. This is neither a recommendation nor an endorsement of Oxo.
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