Desk and Chairs
· Ensure
that your chair and workstation are adjusted properly.
· Place
frequently used items within an easy arm’s reach and items that are used less
often further away.
· Avoid
long periods of working in one position and repeating the same motions.
· Vary
tasks to change body position.
· Eliminate
monitor glare by properly positioning your desk
Computer System
· Keyboard
height should allow straight wrists and a 90-degree angle between the upper arm
and the forearm.
· The
keyboard height and angle should be adjustable.
·
The
keyboard and mouse should have a wrist rest and /or mouse rest available for
support when taking mini-breaks.
· The
standard keyboard should be replaced with an alternative keyboard and
alternative mouse if a musculoskeletal disorder develops.
· The
keyboard should be able to support short cut software.
· The monitor should be set at proper eye height.
·
The
monitor should be placed perpendicular to the windows or in such a location
that the windows are not directly in front of or behind the monitor.
· The
monitor should be placed on a solid, stable surface directly in front of your
chair and directly over the center of the workstation knee well.
· The
monitor’s contrast and brightness controls should be adjusted to improve the
screen image.
· The
monitor should be placed so that your eyes are at least an arm’s length from
the screen.
· The
monitor should be supported so that the top edge of the screen is at your eye
level.
· Excessive noise may increase staff
stress and fatigue. General noise may be reduced by floor carpeting and by
locating office areas away from sources of external noise.
· Hard surfaces such as glass walls or
white boards will act to increase the reflection of noise.
· Telephone or other conversations can
be distracting in open plan offices. Sound absorbing barriers may be considered
if such noise is a problem.
· Some office groups follow their own
"low noise rules".
· Some office machines have high noise
levels. Supervisors should ensure their location, patterns and vicinity to
staff are such as to prevent problems
Lighting
Overhead light
may cause glare and can be reduced by the use of a panel diffuser.
Lighting with a dimmer control should be used with
supplemental task lighting.
·
Cover polished
work surfaces with pads or blotters to reduce glare.
Temperature
- Task lighting is designed to boost lighting levels in
a highly localized area, so that overall lighting can be reduced to cut glare.
§Reduce
direct sunlight by placing blinds or curtains on all windows.
§ Reposition the angle and/or slope of the computer
screen to reduce glare.
§ A non-glare screen overlay should be considered to
reduce unwanted glare.
·
Maintain
a comfortable temperature, good air quality and adequate circulation in your
workstation at all times.
- Temperature, air movement and humidity influence how
comfortable an office becomes, particularly when sedentary tasks are
performed. There are considerable differences between individuals in their
preference for thermal comfort and it is unlikely that one temperature
will suit everyone.
- Locating workstations so that the individual is not
sitting close to, under, or in front of an air conditioning outlet may
prevent staff being affected by draughts.
