Ergonomics Program
Ergonomics is concerned with the "fit" of the user with equipment and their work environment. The proper ergonomic design and setup of the work environment including furniture and other equipment is necessary to prevent musculoskeletal injuries caused by repetitive actions or awkward positions. Poor setup and work practice can lead to injuries and long-term physical health effects. Good work station design and equipment is key in the prevention of long term health effects due to musculoskeletal injuries and repetitive strain.
Every employee plays an important role in supporting their own ergonomic well-being. To help you make effective adjustments, here are some helpful resources you can start using right away:
- – A 90-minute self-paced ergonomics learning module
- – Practical tips for setting up your workstation
- – Simple stretches you can do at your desk
Please take some time to review these resources and adjust your workstation where possible. If you experience discomfort after making adjustments or have unresolved ergonomic concerns, please complete the request form here: Workstation Assessment.
Good Habits and Good Health
A large part of ergonomics is practising good habits. Pay attention to your personal health. Just as exercise and a balanced diet are vital in keeping a healthy lifestyle, habits of good posture are vital to ergonomics. These factors are connected and support each other. Proper posture is just as important as how your workstation is set up.
寻花论坛 Athletic Therapy has many resources for individuals working remotely who would like to maintain good posture and range of motion while working from home and may not have access to a gym or equipment. Find it here.
90 Degrees of Posture
The following are general guidelines of good posture. Keep in mind that there is no one “best” way to set up a workstation ergonomically. Just as each person is different, so will be their work set up.
There are three areas of your body that will be well served if you can maintain a neutral position of 90 degrees. These are your knees, hips and elbows. Keeping your feet supported on a firm surface can help as well. This can take the form of having your feet flat on the ground, or using a foot rest, but the important part of this is supporting the bottom of your feet so that your knees are supported to sit at around a 90 degree angle. Neutral and natural postures are the best practice to avoid strain and pain. Keep your keyboard in front of you so that you are not reaching to the side to use your keyboard, similarly, make sure that your monitor is directly in front of you so that you do not have to constantly look to the side to view your monitor.
No Pressure Points
When sitting at your workstation, be aware of pressure points, particularly at the backs of your knees, at your elbows, along your forearms and at your wrists. Pressure points can restrict blood flow to your extremities and cause pain or discomfort. Also be aware of repetitive motion strain which can occur from your wrist being irritated by the edge of the desk - particularly when using the mouse.
Set the Monitor to Avoid Glare
A good guideline of where your monitor should be, is to have the top edge of it just below your eyeline. This will keep you from craning your neck forwards too much. Use solids objects that you have around the house to raise the level of your monitor if necessary. Position your monitor to eliminate glare from light sources. To help with this, avoid sitting with your back facing a sunny window. Too much light entering your eyes can contribute to eye strain and fatigue.
Try to take the "Lap" out of Laptop
Laptop computers were designed for convenience, not ergonomics. Their design inherently counters or prevents good ergonomic adjustment. Try and meet the above recommendations of monitor level and elbow angle. Where possible, use an external keyboard so that you can fit both guidelines of monitor height and elbow angle.
Follow the 20/20/20 Rule
A good ergonomic practice to help with eyestrain due to prolonged screen use is to look:
- 20 feet away
- For 20 seconds
- Every 20 minutes.
It is important to vary your activity, and it's a good time to do some chair stretches, or to get a drink of water.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
Above all, listen to your body and do what is comfortable. If your set up is comfortable, it is less likely to be causing you any harm.
Pay attention to strain on your neck. In today’s world of smartphones and handheld devices, we are constantly looking down and craning our necks forward. This can easily cause strain and pain in your neck. Do not add to this by using a laptop computer directly on your lap.
Keep your blood flowing! Get up from your workstation at least once an hour to relieve stagnation and rest your eyes. Do some light exercise and stretch to relieve tension in your legs, neck and shoulders.
Employees should access the available resources above and discuss their needs with supervisors regarding the replacement of furniture or equipment prior to requesting a workspace assessment.