***Safety, think about it and do it.***

  

Ergonomic and Human Factors Considerations for the Office

 

COMPUTER MONITOR                                       

Center of sitting area

no twisting

            No corner placement

Viewing area at or just below eye level

            Do not tilt head up or down

                        Monitor may need to be lower for bifocals

Eliminate Glare

Glare can cause: eyestrain, headaches, nausea, blurred vision & impaired depth perception.

            Lighting placed above (ceiling) Use a reduced level of lighting

            Place tabletop light at a right angle to the monitor

A flat screen is less likely to produce glare than an older curved screen.

            Screen flickering can cause eye strain.

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KEYBOARD

Shoulders down and relaxed

Wrists flat

            Negative keyboard slant

Arms on arm chair rest

Sit close to desk—mouse/tracking arm goes off arm rest onto desk

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CHAIR

Back of chair

Vertical or slightly reclined

Back support at lumbar spine

   

Seat height

feet flat on floor

Seat cushion deformation

Seat pan

            Allows sitting fully back for back support

            Legs extend 2 – 4 inches off front of seat

            Allow legs to tilt down slightly

Chair arms

Slightly below elbows

            Does not cause shoulders to raise

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DESK

Desk height

Equal to arm height

            Raise seat and arms if necessary

                        Use foot rest for raised seat

  

Keyboard placement

Allow elbows to be at sides of body

            Elbow angle 90○ or slightly greater than 90○

Forearms supported on desk without pressure that impairs circulation

Wrists flat and straight—negative keyboard slant

            Tilting keyboard trays are an excellent choice

Pointing device close to keyboard

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Desk organization

Limit leaning. Place frequently used items within arms reach.

Prevent bending and twisting

  

Document reading

Place hardcopy documents on a stand close to monitor

            Move eyes, not head to go between document and monitor.

Create consistency in desktop and toolbars

            Reducing the need to “hunt” for icons reduces mental and physical stress.