Spending hours at your workstations daily, improper posture, and unhealthy habits could trigger neck and back pain. You could have aching wrists and fingers that will compromise your health. Ergonomics is studying ways of improving employee comfort and productivity, health, and safety in a work environment. Thus proper ergonomics can allow you to work comfortably. A little adjustment of your workstation, furniture, habit, and the environment could make you healthier and more productive. Below are ways to make a workstation ergonomic.
Methods for Making Your Workstation Ergonomic
Some ways to arrange your office workstation and make it ergonomic include proper positioning of the computer monitor, chair and desk, keyboard, and mouse. Others as you can find here ball bearing are proper positioning of the telephone, taking breaks, using an ergonomic laptop, ideal ventilation, etc.
The Work Desk
Your work desk’s height should let you sit upright and allow you to slide in and out of your chair without knocking your feet on it. It should also let you place your computer monitor close enough to prevent you from leaning forward as you work.
The Computer Monitor
Put the computer screen at arm’s length and adjust it so that it is about 3 inches over your eyes’ level while sitting. Ensure the screen allows you to look straight ahead to prevent eye strain and stretching the neck forward while working. It will equally reduce back and neck pain and lower the glare of the monitor and extreme tiredness.
The Keyboard and Mouse
Position the computer keyboard and mouse straight in your front to enable you to place your elbows over 90 degrees when using them. Keep your shoulders, wrists, and fingers relaxed to prevent overexertion and low blood circulation that can cause continuous injury to the joints. Use keyboard shortcuts and substitute the arm used to work on the mouse to reduce excessive use of that one hand.
The Positioning of the Chair
An ergonomic chair supports your back, legs, buttocks, and arms. It lessens bad postures, stress, and clumsy stance. Sit properly by resting the spine totally on the back support of the chair. Bend the seat to allow your feet to rest squarely on the floor. Next, keep the knees parallel to the hips or a bit lower.
Obtain a footrest if needed. Use the regulator on the chair to make changes any time but keep the lower and upper back supported. In addition, the chair’s armrest must keep the shoulders comfortable and your elbows at 90 degrees when you place them there. Add a cushion for extra support of your back if required.
Ergonomic Work Environment
Keep the telephone near you so that reaching for it frequently will not strain your hands and fingers. Use a headset or put on the speaker phone to lessen constantly placing of the headset between your neck and shoulders, causing you pain.
As for lighting, fluorescent lighting could either be too bright or too weak in some cases. These extreme situations cause incessant headaches to you and other employees. Get a table lamp that will suit your work environment. Lastly, for your blood to circulate well, take short breaks of 5 minutes hourly. You can also take 30 minutes to stretch your body and eat lunch.
The above mentioned methods and tips are more than enough to enhance your workstation ergonomics.
