There was nothing on the market. We actually designed brand-new equipment to fit the needs of the workers. Today each station has computer screens and keyboards that are fully adjustable. In fact, many of the screens respond to touch. Heating, cooling and lighting are individually controlled.
Workers can choose from three types of ergonomically designed and individually adjustable chairs.
The adjustments ease the pain, says Lloyd, who believes she would have kept losing the use of her hand and arm without the changes. There have been many other improvements that have changed the quality of worklife at the 911 center. Workers are trained to work in an ergonomically correct way, and all the training is provided on duty time. Staff rotate about every two hours depending on the type of work and call volume they are experiencing. There is a quiet room and peer counseling available.