Backgrounder Index

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The word "Situs" is Latin for "Natural Position". It defines the company’s philosophy of training employees and providing the workstations that put workers in good position so they may work safely and productively.

PHILOSOPHY:

Situs specializes in creating healthy and safe workplace environments by reducing the incidence of Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) and other repetitive motion injuries. These account for 61 percent of all workplace illnesses, according to the Center for Information on Cumulative Trauma Disorders. CTDs include tendonitis, tenostenovitis, tarsal tunnel and carpal tunnel syndrome. These often stem from poor posture and/or repetitive twisting, turning, lifting or other motions by certain parts of the body.

Situs is just the opposite of the typical market-driven company. Instead of building a product and creating a need for that product, Situs identified the need first, then discovered the solution. Situs is a company founded on research and proven ergonomic theory. The company's principals spent more than a decade in the fields of occupational therapy and rehabilitation researching, analyzing and testing the relationship of body position and posture of individuals who experienced injuries severe enough to keep them from working in the standard working world. It was from this research that Situs’ philosophy of natural positioning and the company itself were born.

Situs refers to itself as a "new company with old ideas" because it takes a basic educational and preventative approach to workplace injuries. The company adopts the view that Cumulative Trauma Disorders are 100% preventable, but it acknowledges that both employers and employees must take responsibility - employers by providing a safe environment and employees by educating themselves and practicing proper body mechanics.

Situs does not advocate buying a new truckload of office furniture to achieve natural positioning. Although the company offers a full line of ergonomically engineered furnishings and accessories for the work environment, it focuses on providing simple and long-lasting solutions based on the principals of ergonomic science.

The Situs Prescription for a healthy work environment is an integrated educational approach. Situs educates employees so they can use the knowledge of natural positioning effectively for a lifetime of productivity at work and at home. In most cases, modification of existing office equipment is all that is required. A simple adjustment of hand, torso, and head position can prevent an injury and reduce discomfort.

KEY PRINCIPALS:

Situs was incorporated in Alaska in December, 1992 and expanded to Portland in April, 1993. The company was founded by Liz Dowler and Greg Pemberton.

Liz Dowler is a registered occupational therapist and certified rehabilitation counselor who spent more than a decade working with major corporations in the areas of training work efficiency, safety, and injury prevention. She is a frequent speaker and published author on ergonomic issues and is currently studying for a Ph.D. in safety science/ergonomics.

Dowler has spent more than two decades in the field, helping people with severe back, neck, and arm pain that made it difficult - and sometimes impossible to work. She has met some of the leading ergonomics specialists worldwide, conducted extensive research, and published papers that show a clear link between posture, seating position, and workplace injures known as cumulative trauma disorders.

Greg Pemberton has experience in the engineering and construction fields and has done extensive research on the ergonomic theories and practices in use today. His focus for the past three years has been on workstation evaluation and modification using modern ergonomic theory. His design for a negative-sloped keyboard tray has been patented (U.S. Patent No. 5,273,250).

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:

Situs provides a full range of training and consulting services designed to reduce repetitive motion injuries. These services include management training/consultation, employee training classes, workstation assessments, ergonomic job analysis and classes designed to train employees to be designated ergonomic specialists within a company, often referred to as "Train the Evaluator" programs.

Situs also markets a wide range of ergonomic office furniture, including adjustable height chairs, tables, and workstations. Accessories such as computer monitor arms, computer palmrests, slantboards, and footrests are recommended on an individual basis.

Situs manufactures a negative sloped keyboard tray that is patented and has designed ten types of chairs that are manufactured in Oregon. Situs also distributes the Bambach Saddle Seat, a unique office chair invented in Australia that achieves a natural spinal curve and reduces pressure on the lower back by placing body weight on the hip and pelvis.

Situs Consulting Services is based in Anchorage, Alaska and maintains an office in Portland, Oregon. Situs independent product representative for the Central U.S. is Situs Office Ergonomic in Denver, CO. For the Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA area the product representative is Harris WorkSystems. Associated companies are in Seattle, WA, Eugene, OR, Medford, OR, LeGrande, OR and New York, NY.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:

Adjustments work. "I wanted to let you know how well the adjustments to my office area are working for me. The change is just remarkable! The negative slope keyboard is probably the single most important improvement that was made for me. Within a week or so the tendentious was abating in my arms - I could hardly believe it.... Other things that made a great difference are the electric stapler, foam pen grips, spring scissors, and the glare/guard. However, one of the best things was the knowledge that you both appeared to really 'care' that these things got done and that I was comfortable, and for that I thank you most of all."

- Villi Valentine, Portland Community College

Dramatic recovery. "I have very low blood pressure and have had a continuing problem with carpal tunnel syndrome, which has greatly increased in the last five months.... Since I got the (keyboard) drawer, the persistent pain has gone completely away (though I feel a little if I test for it). Also I don't have a tension knot on my neck or a burning sensation on my back.... This is a dramatic recovery in my book.... I believe the keyboard drawer to be a major contributor to my recovery; and I highly recommend it for use by others with CTS problems."

- Pam Moore, City of Portland.

THE CONCLUSION:

Cumulative trauma disorders are virtually 100% preventable if proper body positioning is practiced. The problem is that most office equipment does not encourage proper positioning and most workers don't know what proper positioning is. Situs fills this void by taking a pro-active approach to injury prevention through employee education, workplace evaluation, and workstation modification.