2. Workspace Concerns
• Wrong Height for Table and Chairs
• Banging Knees on Keyboard Tray
• Cramped Space
• No Back Support
• No Elbow Support
• Improper Sized Chair
(Occupational and Environmental Health Center)
3. Workspace
Work practices
• Beyond the workspace
you need to observe good
work practices to elevate
stresses on the body while
work.
• Don’t cross your legs
under your chair.
• Sitting on the edge of your
chair means no back
support.
• Tensing muscles.
• Bad posture.
• You need to move through
out the day.
• Have good type
techniques.
Source: http://zapnext.com/2011/12/23/modern-office-furniture-
design-ideas-for-your-workplaces/office-furniture-1/ (Occupational and Environmental
Health Center)
4. Workspace
Wrong Height for Table and Chairs
Table surfaces and chairs need to be
at the right height for the user to place
his/her feet flat on the ground.
Keep the elbow angle greater than 90
degree.
Easily maintain straight wrists.
(Occupational and Environmental Health Center)
5. Workspace
Banging Knees on The
Keyboard Tray
• Some keyboard trays
have attachments or
adjustments that
extend below the
level of the tray, so
that you bang your
when you move in or
out. Only way to
avoid this situation is
avoid purchasing
trays with such Source:
http://www.smartoffice.net/images/thumbs/0
attachments. 000736_300.jpeg
(Occupational and
Environmental Health
6. Workspace
Cramped Space
• Monitor lifts give additional
desk space under the monitor
and can thus allow non-twisted
posture.
• Reduce clutter under desks.
• Put the computer vertically on
the floor or in mounted under
the desk to free up desk
space.
Source:
•
http://www.stamfordofficefurniture.com/images/DualMonitorArm.jp
Move printers out of the
g immediate area, this has 2
benefits: more space and
opportunity move throughout
the day.
• Experiment with different set-
ups using phone books and
other home-made solutions
can reduce crowding.
Source: http://www.comfortchannel.com/images/VE-CPUS_B.jpg
7. Workspace
• There is no acceptable
No Back Support substitute for a good
chair that is properly
adjusted.
• Experiment with the
back of the chair set to
different heights. You
may find yourself
leaning away from the
back support due to
other workstation
deficiencies, for
example:
1. the chair is so high
that your feet are
dangling off the floor,
2. the monitor is too far
away or small,
3. glare makes the
screen difficult to see-
the tilt or height of the
lumbar support is not
set correctly.
Source: http://www.ergonomicofficechairs.com/Images/Ergo_Image_1.gif
(Occupational and
8. Workspace
No Elbow
Support • Armrests are useful in giving
support to the shoulders, but they
can discourage you from moving
your whole forearm while
typing, causing you to twist your
wrists more.
• A hard armrest can also put
pressure on the elbow and
compress the ulnar nerve.
Source: http://www.simplyergonomics.com/wp- • Long armrests can prevent you
content/uploads/2011/12/Armrest-Height-Adjustment.jpg from pulling in close to the
keyboard, which can result in
long reaches.
• Non-adjustable armrests can
result in your shoulders drooping
too low or being pushed up. Or
they may place your arms out too
much to the side, thus increasing
twisting of the wrist.
• Newer, padded elbow rests that
Source: http://www.simplyergonomics.com/wp- are adjustable both horizontally
content/uploads/2011/12/Armrest-Angle-Adjustment.jpg and vertically give the best
9. Workspace
Improperly Sized Chair
It should allow the feet to be flat on the floor, provide good lower
back support, be adjustable so that positions can be changed over
the course of the day
It should not push against the back of the knee (proper pan depth
and curved front), be adequately padded, and have adjustable
elbow supports.
Most furniture is designed to accommodate about 95% of the
population. This means that 5 people in 100 are too large or too
small for typical furniture. This is particularly true of chairs and table
heights. Some chair manufacturers make "papa bear" and "baby
bear" chairs that that are designed to fit larger and smaller workers.
(Occupational and Environmental Health
10. References
Occupational and Environmental Health Center. (n.d.). Retrieved
June 20, 2012, from University of Connecticut Health Center:
http://www.oehc.uchc.edu/ergo_officeergo2.asp
