According to the 2020 study Impact of Computer Misuse in the Workplace, seven out of every eight workers have never had ergonomics training, while 78% suffered from eye strain while working on a computer. Therefore, computer workstation setup must focus on mitigating risks of wrist strains, eye strains, and back injuries.
Comfortable workers are productive workers! It’s vitally important to recognize that each person is different. Personal protective equipment usage increases when each worker can choose the types that fit them best. When workers participate in selecting their desks and chairs, it heightens their attention to ergonomics while demonstrating management’s care for their employees as individuals.
Methods to reduce eye strain while working at a computer workstation include:
- Reduce screen glare by adjusting screen position, screen angle, and area lighting conditions. Consider installing an anti-glare filter on monitors.
- Adjust computer settings for comfort. Adjustable computer monitor settings include contrast, brightness, text size, and color temperature.
- Use the 20-20-20 rule. After 20 minutes of computer use, workers should look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Workers should maintain a proper posture to achieve optimal strength and efficiency while working at a computer. Attention to posture should focus on:
- Keeping the back straight or slightly reclined
- Positioning the thighs parallel to the floor
- Keeping the neck in a neutrally upright position
- Positioning elbows at a 90° angle
- Working with wrists neutrally positioned
Washington L&I provides a free Office Ergonomics eTool to help set up ergonomic workstations in the home and office.
The RS Safety Library has additional information to help with ergonomics.
Our safety team is available to help members take their safety program from compliance to quality safety practices. Contact us 360-943-9198 x122, or [email protected].
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