Drive Safely Work Week promotes safe driving practices

In addition to this year's focus on safety issues related to drowsy, distracted, alcohol impaired and aggressive driving, Graciela Perez of Industrial Hygiene and Safety (HSR-5) said workers should consider driver ergonomics.

Driver ergonomics, according to Perez, promotes good circulation and reduces muscle fatigue. These factors help drivers remain more alert and able to react quickly to varying road conditions. Perez said driver ergonomics is the number one issue raised by workers at Lab Institutional Ergonomics Committee traveling ergonomics expos.

"It makes sense for us to focus on ergonomics while driving," Perez said. "If a person commutes long distances to work in a poorly designed vehicle, even the best ergonomics set up at work and home may not counter the harm that driving can do to a person's body."

Perez said that back pain and hands going numb are the two biggest complaints from people who want more information on ergonomics while driving. "More than 75 percent of these cases are relieved by ergonomic changes we suggest to them," she said.

Perez's 10 tips to improve ergonomics when driving can be found at http://int.lanl.gov/worklife/health/Ergonomics%20and%20Driving1.pdf online. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

For more information, contact Perez at 5-3642 or write to gperez@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

To learn more about "Drive Safely Work Week" go to http://int.lanl.gov/worklife/health/index.shtml online.

-- Fran Talley

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