Table of contents:
2. What is computer workstation ergonomics & why is it important?
3. Checklists on how to set up an ergonomic computer workstation
4. Environmental conditions relating to ergonomics of computer workstations
5. Ergonomic tips for computer users
Do you have employees who often complain of back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, or headache? Have you checked whether your computer workstations are correctly set up? Considering the ergonomics of your computer workstations can help you discover the causes of the pain and discomfort and how to solve the problems.
According to the Department of Health under the Victorian Government, computer-related injuries include back, neck, and shoulder/arm discomfort, and one of the things that exacerbate muscle and joint issues is poor workstation design.
Your employees sit in front of a computer for hours every day without knowing what it does to their bodies. Little do they know, they injure their bodies by extending their arms, slouching, and squinting to look at computers that aren’t in the right place.
These practices can result in cumulative trauma illnesses or injuries, impacting their health. But don’t fret! It’s still possible to provide an ergonomic computer workstation. It will provide benefits not only for them but also for you and your company.
As you continue reading, you will learn proper computer workstation ergonomics, its importance, how to set up workstation components, the environmental conditions that affect the workstation, and some tips for computer users.
If you are not yet familiar with or have forgotten about the definition of ergonomics, you can read this to understand computer workstation ergonomics better.
Meanwhile, an ergonomically correct computer workstation means the setup of your computer desk protects you from computer vision syndrome, neck and back pain, or carpal tunnel syndrome. It also prevents you from getting other problems with your muscles, back, and joints.
You might think it’s enough for your employees to have spacious desks, monitors in front of them, and mouses and keyboards to feel “comfortable.” However, unless their workplaces undergo an ergonomic assessment, you can’t be sure they have good DSE workstation ergonomics.
Several studies have discovered that improper workstations cause musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) and eyestrain. MSD symptoms include back pain, neck pain, hand, arm, and leg tingling, and more. Eyestrain symptoms are headache, eye dryness, blurred vision, changes in perception of colours, and eye fatigue.
These unwanted injuries and discomfort may be inevitable, but this is where computer workstation ergonomics intervenes. Implementing an ergonomically designed computer workstation is important because it helps prevent risks and protects your employees’ health. Eventually, your employees will enjoy working, be more productive, and lessen their absences.
We know you need a guide on the proper ergonomic setup of a computer workstation, so keep reading to discover what you’ll need to do.
A computer workstation setup has several components, so you also need to consider each item to achieve an ergonomic computer workstation.
As you read the following computer workstation checklists, remember that each employee is unique. You must not assume that each item suits everyone in your workplace.
Here are the guidelines to achieve workstation ergonomics using them.
To learn more, read our article about an ergonomic chair.
These computer workstation ergonomics self-assessment checklists are meant to be used by you and your employees. However, these are only some general points. You can check our other blogs to learn more about each component.
Putting lights in the right places and choosing the proper brightness can help you see monitor images better. For instance, if the lighting is too bright or makes the monitor screen glare, you may get headaches or eye strain and have to work in unnatural positions to see the screen.
At the same time, ventilation and humidity levels in your workplace may affect how comfortable and productive people feel there.
Because of these situations, you must consider an ergonomic workstation environment, which means the provision of the right temperature, ventilation, and lighting in the workplace in order to provide comfort and reduce hazards.
The following are the ergonomic checklists for a workstation’s environmental aspects.
These are just general checklists about the environment for good ergonomic practices in using computers. You can learn more about ergonomic program management here.
Ergonomic principles include encouragement for workers to take care of themselves while working. We all know that regardless of the lightness of one’s job, their postures, physical efforts, the items they use, and the environment play big roles in their health condition.
Here are the following ergonomic computer tips for your employees who work with computers all day.
They can always add more stretches, depending on their bodies’ needs. But of course, the stretches need to be based on the standards that prevent them from injuring themselves.
As you have learned about some requirements for computer workstation ergonomics, it’s time to implement them and share the tips and checklists with your employees.
Ergonomics for the computer workstation may have given too many things to follow, but there are many studies that prove how important they are for your employees’ safety.
Moreover, you will love seeing them healthier, happier, and more motivated to work and to be productive once they consistently follow the DSE ergonomics tips.
Wait no further, and contact us for any questions about workplace ergonomics!
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