I work in Environmental Health and we get requests to perform an ergonomic evaluation all the time. Most of the time people call us thinking that we'll simply be able to get them a more expensive chair and that's the extent of what's required to work ergonomically. First, get out of the mind-set that you need to spend a lot of money to create an ergonomic work environment. Many people think that in order to have a workstation that is "ergonomic" then you need to have a piece of furniture that's been stamped ergonomic by the manufacturer. But that's simply not the case; you can create a completely ergonomic work setup with standard furniture without the need to pay a premium to buy an "ergonomic" workstation. You can do a lot to improve the ergonomics of your workstation by simply rearranging where you keep your equipment. If you have your monitor to your side so you constantly have to look over when you type, then move it in the middle. The top of the monitor should be at your eye level (it's more comfortable to look down slightly while you're typing than it is to look up or straight ahead for extended periods of time). If you're constantly leaning over to see your screen, bring it closer to you. Try and get away from wrist-rests; despite what you might think, having your wrists constantly sitting on those "ergonomic" wrist rests is actually terrible for your wrists and your typing technique. If you spend a lot of time on the phone, use a headset instead of picking up the phone and awkwardly holding it in place with your neck. Make sure your feet are flat on the floor...really all you need in a good chair is firm lumbar support and the ability to adjust its height so your legs aren't dangling or bent awkwardly (use a footrest if you're short and can't touch the ground with the chair all the way down). Buy a simple document holder to hold documents you are reviewing while you work, rather than have them laying flat or holding them in your hands. Take frequent breaks from your work (5 minutes every hour is usually recommended). This all will work wonders to improve your productivity and also reduce your risk of developing any type of repetitive motion injuries.

Given the technical specifications provided by the manufacturer, the NOHD for the 1W 532nm laser is 149 meters (~488 feet). Anyone that is closer than 488 feet from you, if they were to have intrabeam viewing of the beam or a specular reflection would exceed the MPE for this laser and would experience a very severe retinal burn. There's absolutely no reason for anyone other than a researcher to own a laser like this. If you were foolish enough to purchase this laser, make sure whatever goggles you purchase have an OD of at least 4.

There have been NO radiation-related deaths due to what has happened at Fukushima, despite all the BS you see on TV. Two people died in the tsunami (due to water).

You apparently want job training...not a college degree. A bachelor's degree is not training for a job. It's to teach you how to think and solve problems for yourself. How to absorb knowledge, interpret information and apply it to a variety of situations. Part of that involves studying the subjects you seem to want to avoid. Find a trade school. A college degree is apparently not for you if all you want is job training.

OSHA has no jurisdiction over state or federal government entities. :-D

You are paid a certain amount of money per month/year. There is a minimum amount of time/week you are expected/required to be at work. If your position is "exempt," then they are not required to pay you overtime for any hours of work over 40. So basically, you're paid for the job you do, not for the amount of time it takes you to do the job. A salaried exempt employee would make the same amount of money if they worked 40 hours or if they worked 60 hours a week.

Um, a cold is caused by a virus so there's nothing going to the ER or any physician or clinic could do to treat you. You suck it up and wait for it to run its course. And a scraped knee you should be able to use common sense and say to yourself: "clean and disinfect the wound and then cover with some type of bandage." That wasn't too hard was it?

The only thing that democrats do is complain and point blame, so sounds like a job right up their alley...

I'm a conservative, voted against BHO, and I wouldn't vote for Palin for President. First, I don't like quitters, and the way she quit her governorship, that's not a characteristic I want from my president. Second, I don't think we really need a president to talk to America or other world leaders with stories about the way things are done in Alaska. She was a bad choice for VP and she's a bad choice for the top spot.

One of Carter's biggest problems was that he was an idiot president and has left nothing of a legacy.

They're democrats. All they do is sink to lower levels.

Where have I been? We're out of a recession? Unemployment numbers have returned to normal? We've reduced our deficit and no longer owe our grandchildren to China? Wow...that's news to me. I'm gonna get my Barack Obama voting fingers ready in 2012 if that's all true...

If students want to waste their money and their education updating their facebook status, let them. For those of you that think what's going on in rows ahead of you is distracting: START SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW. Problem solved.

Let the students devalue their own education. When they enter the real world and realize they wasted their time in college, they'll realize their mistake. If what goes on in rows ahead of you distracts you, then move to the front row. Problem solved.

If they have the money to afford a laptop to go sit in a government building and get online, then they have the money to pay for internet at their home. There are plenty of ways to get online (public libraries for example) if you lack a home internet connection or a computer at home. No need to get all federal government facilities wired with free public wifi.