Many of us sit at our computers for hours each day. Office ergonomics focuses on providing a computer workstation that allows for a comfortable working environment.
The resources in this section can assist you in achieving that comfortable working environment.
If you need further assistance, EHS staff will perform an ergonomic evaluation and make recommendations for the workstation.
Workstations should be ergonomically designed to accommodate the full range of required movements among employees. Moreover, they should be designed so that they accommodate the employees who are actually using them to perform the job, not just for the “average” or “stereotypical” employee.
To understand the best way to set up a computer workstation, it is helpful to understand the concept of neutral body positioning. This is a comfortable working posture in which your joints are naturally aligned. Working with the body in a neutral position reduces stress and strain on the muscles, tendons, and skeletal system and reduces your risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The following are important considerations when attempting to maintain neutral body postures while working at the computer workstation:
Regardless of how good your working posture is, working in the same posture or sitting still for prolonged periods is not healthy. You should change your working position frequently throughout the day in the following ways:
