Culture & Entertainment
10 steps to an ergonomic workspace
Culture & Entertainment
10 steps to an ergonomic workspace
A senior web editor's work demands lots of time in front of a computer; in a typical workday, there is plenty of typing and mouse-clicking and scrolling. And when you're focused on deadlines, it's far too easy to sit for hours on end without stretching, resting or moving your body more than a few inches in any direction. Office workplace hazards might not seem as obvious as the threats that endanger a construction worker, an electrician or a police officer. But health hazards at the office can be stealthy little buggers that can lead to a whole lot of pain. [caption id="attachment_13981" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Photo by blary54/
sxc.hu[/caption]
10 steps to an ergonomic workspace Is your workspace ergonomically sound? To make easy work of protecting your body from
repetitive strain injury
, consult this checklist and adjust your workspace if needed.
- When seated, knees bend at about a 90-degree angle. Use a foot rest if needed.
- Work surface is at elbow level.
- The top of your computer monitor is at eye level.
- Your monitor is no closer than 20 inches away from your eyes; 16 inches if you wear bifocals. The size of your monitor can factor in so pay attention to your head and neck. A comfortable viewing distance allows you to keep your head relaxed rather than craned up or down, and your torso is straight rather than leaning forwards or back.
- Your wrists remain flat when typing, forming a straight line from your forearms to your knuckles.
- When standing behind your chair, the top of the seat aligns with the area just below your knee caps.
- The chair back rests into your lower back's hollow.
- Your monitor is free from reflections from overhead lights or incoming sunlight from nearby windows. Tilt your screen at a 10- to 20-degree angle to avoid glare.
- Chair armrests just skim your forearms when you bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle.
- The keyboard is low enough so you can naturally place your arms at your sides while typing and your wrists and hands remain flat.
Comments