Accessories, or ergonomic tools, mobile work, office design and training are all part of the work in progress under the scope of the advisory council. Training is particularly important to the successful application of ergonomics in the workplace. IBM's strategy is to continue delivering timely educational programs to help make ergonomics a regular part of its work culture. The Remote and Mobile Sourcebook and the National Mobility Guide. These guides, and the Healthy Computing web site, provide comprehensive information from workstation setup to work organization.
Effective solutions require a thorough understanding of how employees are working.
In 1997, IBM Brazil and IBM Japan evaluated employee's work habits and practices while working at computer workstations. IBM Japan found a decrease in claim rates since 1989, even with an increase in hours spent at a workstation. A number of factors affect these findings, the results of which will be used to redesign or affirm current approaches to their ergonomic programs. The results of the IBM Brazil evaluation emphasized the importance of teaching good posture while at work, in addition to the practice of self-evaluation. Training has been provided to the hundreds of employees evaluated to-date.