Thursday, February 10, 2011

Top 5 Tips for comfort in Office workstations

Most people are under significant pressure at work to perform according their targets, meet tight deadlines and give their clients and customers the results that they need. All of these responsibilities place enough mental and physical strain on employees that they shouldn’t also have to deal with an uncomfortable office workstation for the average seven to ten hours a day that they spend at their desks. Fair enough, right?

There are many ways in which office workstations can be made more user-friendly, ranging from the design, to the furniture choice and adjustable accessories. Here are our top five tips for making your office workstation a comfortable and productive place:

1. Make sure that your office workstation provides enough desk-top space to position the computer monitor directly in front of you. If your office workstation is cramped and you are forced to turn to one side to view your computer screen, you are likely to experience extensive muscle stress and possible headaches or permanent muscular damage when you are at your desk for extended periods.

2. Your office workstation should provide enough space and mobility to ensure that you do not have to lean in too far or strain to see your computer screen. As a general rule, the monitor should be placed around 16" from your chair to prevent unnecessary eye strain.

3. The desk-top and below desk area of your office workstation must allow enough room for the hard drive unit of your computer to be placed within your easy reach. This will allow you to insert CDs, USB sticks and memory cards without experiencing unnecessary strain.

4. In a properly designed office workstation, your desk should be at a height that allows your legs adequate room to fit comfortably below it. Your feet should be flat to encourage you to maintain a straight spine and enable a relaxed flow of blood to your legs and feet.

5. To prevent repetitive stress injury, your office workstation should incorporate a chair that is adjustable for your height to ensure that your computer keyboard is positioned at an appropriate level. This level will vary between individuals, but should be a height at which you are able to type while maintaining relaxation in your upper arms with your elbows at right angles and your wrists as straight as possible.

These top tips are a great way to start making your office workstation in Melbourne a comfortable and efficient space. However, at the end of the day, nothing will beat an office workstation that has been ergonomically designed with precisely you in mind. If you are a manager or in charge of work safety, you may consider consulting an office workstations ergonomic expert who can work with each employee individually to build their office workstation according to their specific needs.

No comments:

Post a Comment