ergonomics — Office Worker Health

How Ergonomics Can Help You Thrive at Work

Think about how you feel during your workdays. Maybe you have pain in your neck or back and feel stiff and sore when you stand up from your desk. Perhaps fatigue and irritability set in as you try to focus on projects or meeting discussions.

While there are many factors that influence how we feel during the day, the configuration of your work area – the place where you spend most of your time working, has a major effect on our overall health and well-being.

Take a close look at your work area; the place where you spend the most time working. Now think about how you sit while working. Do your shoulders hunch forward? Is your keyboard so far from you that your arms are extended while typing? Is your chair so low that your low back is rounded over, or so high that your feet are not flat on the floor? Does the lighting seem either too bright or too dim? Do you use a sit-stand desk, but still feel fatigue, aches and stiffness during and after your work days?

Understanding Ergonomics at Work

Why are ergonomics so important in the office?

Ergonomics encourage people to have a comfortable experience whilst at work by reducing any injuries that may be caused due to awkward posture and straining of the muscles due to repetitive tasks. Injuries can go unnoticed and employees do not realise that they can have long term effects on their health, ongoing exposure to these risks can cause stress to the mind and body and therefore lead to ergonomic injuries.

First Aid Guide for Computer Users

Working with a computer can be detrimental to your health. Have you ever given your workspace a first aid check? My friends at Alsco Australia have provided me with an excellent six step guide on how to avoid risks while working with a computer and on the adjustments you can make so that your work day (or night) is that bit healthier.