Barista

ergonomics

By Sarina Thomas
A presentation to benefit employees
at my company.

Physical activity
(Ergonomics at work)
Often times at Starbucks, we find ourselves moving quickly, and
in routine. Unfortunately, we are not always moving correctly.
Ergonomics is the idea that workplaces should be arranged in
such a way to reduce work-related in juries, keeping employees
moving their joints and muscles in health fashions.
Ergonomics takes a few areas of data into consideration when
creating techniques to move smoothly. This includes
Biomechanics (muscles)
Psychology (skills, learning)
Anthropometry (body shapes and sizes)
(Dohrmann Consulting, n.d.)

Why is physical activity

important?
The way we walk, move, stand, even sit has more than just an
effect on our joints.
Science tells us that sitting up straight helps us to remember
positive memories.
Amy Cuddy says posture also has the power to change our
hormone levels (as cited in Widrich, 2016).
Physical activity is one of three aspects of ergonomics (Usability
Professionals Association, 2012).

Where have we gone wrong?

Barista wrist is a real condition, caused by
lack of attention when performing daily
routines.
Sometimes this is also known as repetitive
strain injury.
Depending on the nature of the coffee
shop, temping (or pressing) coffee can
cause this
If youre getting it, you probably are using
a tamping method thats slightly offbalance. Your entire arm should be in a
position where the pressure is evenly
distributed so that your wrist is hardly
getting any pressure at all (Martineau,
2011).

How can we improve?

As pictured on the left, the barista is performing the correct

movement by keeping her write straight.

She is displaying a posture where she is not utilizing the

extreme range of motion (Office-Ergo, 2016).
Our company needs to include an ergonomics course in the
training modules.
(Photo: Crisp, 2015).

Repetitive Strain Injury as a

Disability
In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court discussed whether or not RSI
could fall under reasonable accommodation, referring to the
Americans with Disabilities Act (Michael, 2001).
Accommodation refers to job restructuring, reassignment, and
most relevant to being a barista and the one that seems easiest
to change quickly, modified work schedules.
Example: This looks like limiting the time per shift somebody
with a disability spends in one place. By moving around the
joints will be less likely to overwork themselves.

Mental Health
(Stress at work)
We nee do believe that investing in mental health is just as
important as physical health.
Mental health, although more difficult to observe, effected 18%
of Americans ages 15-54 in the last month (Harvard Medical
School, 2010).
Also according to Harvard, when companies invest in treating
depression, job-related injuries, sick days, and turnover will also
decline.

Where have we gone wrong?

The Alliance on Mental Illness tells us that health insurance

policies discriminate against mental health (As cited in Leonard,
2015).

Our company, like many others, have feared mental health

coverage through insurance would create high expenses, but...
Studies have found that equalizing specialty behavioral health
and general medical benefits will either not increase total
healthcare expenses at all or will increase them by only a very
modest amount of total healthcare premium The real cost lies in
not treating behavioral health disorders (MHA, 2016).

How can we change it?

Starting by asking powerful questions will help management get
a feel for what their employees need, such as
How can we help you do your job?
Its okay to ask for help.
Do you want to talk about it?
DuPont is leading by example by having developed an educaion
program that encourages employees to reach out to co-workers
that seem to be in emotional turmoil (Meinert, 2014).

References

See below.