Ergonomic Tips for Your Workspace

All full-time employees spend at least 40 hours a week at work. Generally we associate aches, sprains, and tension headaches with physical and labor oriented jobs. Yet with many workspaces, you can obtain the same type of ailments from the office environment. Ergonomics is the study of people in their working environment. As a result, we know have many ways to make working areas more productive for workers.

When studying the office environment, posture is very important. After a long day many of us tend to slouch in our office chairs. Many desk dwellers have chairs that easily lean back. This type of body positioning is bad for your back. You should try to get a chair with good lower back support. The body should be at an angle with your thighs 90 degrees from your spine. Feet should be flat on the ground. Arms should be at your side and also at a 90-degree angle. The tips for posture are designed to create a flow that will not place any unnecessary stress on your back, limbs, or neck.

Protecting your eyes is also a part of improving your workspace. Your monitor should be arm's length away and positioned at an angle that is directly within your line of view without causing you tilt your neck in any particular direction. The key is to be able to look straight ahead, preventing undue stress on your neck. You may also want to adjust your office lighting or ask your supervisor for an anti-glare screen. If you find your eyes hurting or you begin to have headaches regularly, you should start your ergonomic upgrading with the lighting and screen. You may even need a bigger screen or to adjust your font. When you realize that you are getting or have a headache. Cut out your office lights and work from the screen light alone. You may also want to practice the 15-minute rule. This is where you get up and walk around for 15 minutes allowing your eyes to get a break from the computer screen.

With the rise in workspace complaints and employees who feel that they may have CTS or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, you should also research keyboard trays. Keyboard trays should have cushion or foam that allows your wrist to rest comfortably while typing. If your job requires you to be on the phone constantly, invest in a headset. A good headset will prevent the neck cramping, by allowing you to maintain your productive body position.

If you are unsure about what type of upgrades will be most effective for you, you can always contact your company's safety officer, employee health nurse, or risk management department. It may seem like a little improvement in some cases. Changing the position of your screen or rearranging your desk may not be the upgrade that you had in mind, but it's possible that it may save you from eventual back problems. With the amount of time that most of us spend at on the job, being comfortable should not be extra work.