Why Ergonomics Matter for SOC Design

When it comes to occupational health, ergonomics is defined as the design of work tasks and job demands to fit a worker’s capabilities. The goal is to prevent discomfort and injuries for workers while they are on the job.

When designing a space, such as a security operations center (SOC), it’s important to consider the functions of the SOC and then look at it from a design perspective, according to J. Kelly Stewart, an enterprise risk and security management consultant at Newcastle Consulting, LLC. When designing a SOC, organizations should consider best practices that enable personnel to work effectively and healthily.

“Not only how they are sitting down, performing their jobs and duties, but also (keeping employees) refreshed,” says Stewart. Good design helps keep SOC staff alert and healthy so they are better able to coordinate and provide support and keep an organization secure.

The Risk of Workplace Strain

Ideally, a work environment should fit employees’ physical capabilities and limitations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Workspaces that fail to take these into consideration can contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), which are disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, or spinal discs. WMSDs can be caused by a sudden or sustained force, vibration, repetitive motion, or awkward postures; they are not caused by slips, trips, or falls.

These disorders can develop from various risk factors, including:

• Physical, such as tasks that involve pushing, pulling, or lifting—especially irregularly-shaped objects
  
  
• Psychosocial, such the impact on an employee’s mental health
  
  
• Personal, such as an employee’s age, sex, and body mass index
  
  

Some work conditions can make WMSDs worse, including maintaining awkward or unnatural postures; withstanding cold temperatures; withstanding vibrations from machinery and tools; or increasing the intensity, frequency, and duration of activities, according to the CDC.

And in office settings or in SOCs, WMSDs can occur when employees are largely sedentary, sitting for two hours or longer at a time.

“There is mounting evidence linking ill health to a sedentary lifestyle, which has increased the importance of tackling prolonged static sitting in the workplace,” according to a 2021 report from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Prolonged static sitting at work.

Health impacts linked to prolonged sitting include:

• Low back pain
  
  
• Neck and shoulder pain
  
  
• Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  
  
• Obesity
  
  
• Certain types of cancers, in particular breast and colon cancer
  
  
• Mental health issues
  
  
• Premature death
  
  

In settings where employees’ responsibilities involve sitting at a desk, there are some general guidelines that can mitigate ergonomic issues, helping ease stress on the body and protecting joints while staying comfortable during work hours.

• Make sure that your chair supports your spine and that its height allows for your knees to be level with your hips.
  
  
• The top of the computer monitor’s screen should be at or slightly below eye level, while the screen should be about an arm’s length away from your face.
  
  
• Your desk should allow for sufficient foot and leg space. It should also have either rounded or padded edges where your wrists can rest, protecting them from contact stress—the result of extended contact with a hard edge.
  
  
• Put your computer keyboard in front of you, allowing wrists and forearms to line up and keeping your shoulders relaxed.
  
  
• While using a computer, keep your wrists straight, your upper arms close to you body, and your hands slightly below the level of your elbows.
  
  
• If you can, adjust your mouse or pointer’s sensitivity so that it only requires a light touch.
  
  
• If you’re using a laptop, consider using an external keyboard, laptop stand, and external mouse.
  
  
• Any objects that you use frequently throughout the day, such as cell phones or walkie talkies, should be kept within close and easy reach. If you can’t easily or comfortably reach it while sitting, stand up to get it.
  
  

“Remember, no matter how well your workspace is set up for proper ergonomics, sitting in the same position for hours at a time isn’t good for your body,” the Mayo Clinic noted in an article addressing adult health. “Get up and walk around as often as you can throughout the workday. If possible, do some work standing up. While you’re seated, stretch your hands, fingers, and arms from time to time. Shifting your position, standing up, and moving will ease strain on your body and help you stay healthier.”

Prevalence of WMSDs

In general, the likelihood of developing a WMSD increases with age, although younger people can be affected, which could impact their peak income-earning years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Globally, WMSDs range in their prevalence across the world, depending on the industry. For example, in the healthcare industry WMSDs affect nurses working in North American facilities by a range of 35.1 percent to 47 percent. In Asia, the range runs from 78.6 percent to 88 percent. In Africa, the prevalence runs from 44.1 percent to 94 percent, with low back pain indicated as the most prevalent issue throughout African nations.

Globally, “WMSDs account for nearly 70 million physician office consultations annually, with an estimated 130 million healthcare encounters,” according to a 2023 Healthcare article.

Among EU member nations, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work estimated that roughly 60 percent of all workers with a work-related health problem identify a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) as their most serious issue, regardless of whether it is linked to activities performed on the job. However, MSDs significantly impact not only workers’ well-being, but also the larger economy, “as they lead to a loss of productivity at work and social expenses, for instance, sick leave expenses,” according to the agency’s 2020 report, Work-related musculoskeletal disorders—Facts and figures.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) determined that these disorders are frequent in the European Union, with nearly 150 million Europeans experiencing an MSD in 2019, or roughly 30 percent of the European population. “This burden was spread quite evenly over all countries, with Denmark and Portugal reporting the highest rates at 34.6 percent and Norway the lowest at 28.2 percent,” according to an article included in The EFFORT White Book: Orthopaedics and Traumatology in Europe.

In the United States in 2015, there were an estimated 74.7 million adults who were diagnosed with arthritis (17.79 percent), lower extremity joint symptoms (23.31 percent), or upper extremity joint symptoms (15.84 percent), according to the most recent data from the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

However, recent data regarding U.S. populations indicate that there has been a gradual decrease in the incident rates of MSD. In 2011 there were 311,840 cases involving MSDs while in 2018 that number had dropped to 272,780, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Adaptations

To prevent or mitigate these issues in SOCs or any workplace, it is recommended that organizations consider ergonomics programs that can provide guidelines for reducing workplace risk factors, which can lead to a reduction in workplace injuries.

Workplace elements that should be considered can include tools, equipment, and lighting. In fact, facilities should be reviewed periodically with consideration of ergonomics, which can help identify problems. The review process should include:

• Reviewing records or reports of any injuries or illnesses
  
  
• Observing workplace conditions and determining any risk factors for employees, such as the need to exert excessive force (like lifting heavy objects), repeatedly performing similar tasks, working in awkward positions or maintaining the same position—including sitting—for long stretches of time; applying pressure to a specific part of the body; cold temperatures; vibrations; or any combination of these risks
• Encouraging and using early reports of any injuries
  
  

Sara Mosqueda is an associate editor for Security Management. You can connect with her via LinkedIn or by emailing her at [email protected].