A Complete Desk Ergonomics 101 | Autonomous Guide

The comfort level of employees has a high impact on their work efficiency and productivity. Most employers are reluctant to invest in chair and desk ergonomics, etc. So, they compromise on the health and safety of their employees. Employees often slouch during their work. They sit in an uncomfortable posture that creates fatigue, muscle pain, musculoskeletal disorders, etc.

While seated in an inaccurate position, the employees don’t feel the pressure on their back, neck, bones, and muscles, etc. However, gradually the pain transfers into something more painful, like Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD). This results due to the mismatch between the physical capabilities and the physical requirements for a certain job. It possesses many risk factors in different body parts, especially shoulders, hands, legs, fingers, arms, and back.

Therefore, spending a few bucks on ergonomics can enhance productivity and make the work environment better. We have discussed some key information about desk ergonomics in the following paragraphs, including ergonomic desk height, ergonomic desk posture, and more. Let’s find out the best way to have ergonomically correct desks and proper proper desk ergonomics to boost your work performance.

Are the Training Programs Effective?

While hearing of training, most people may raise a question on their effectiveness. Most employers conduct training sessions for the employees to teach them about ergonomics in the workstation. However, research conducted by the National Institute of Health has proven that these training programs do not do much to motivate employees and make the environment productive and comfortable for them. Despite attending many training sessions, employees in most offices still complain of pains and aches in various body parts. For your ease, we have discussed some highly effective adjustments for the workplace and desk ergonomics to prevent MSDs and make employees productive.

Posture

As children, we often hear phrases like sitting in a good posture, sitting straight, not slinging, etc. As soon as we heard these words, we lifted our chests, put our chin up and shoulders back; that felt like we were volunteering for any military. This posture is very effective for all humans. However, it is a little unrealistic and impractical because sitting all day in this posture is hard to maintain. Realistically, we all slouch after maintaining a good posture for desk ergonomics for like 5 or 10 minutes.

Practically, the right posture is all about protecting the curves on your spine, which is the most affected area of your body. You must maintain an inwards or concave curve in the lumbar spine, the lower back of your body, to get proper ergonomics sitting at a desk. For maintaining the curve, you must sit back to support your back until it feels supported. For this, make sure to select a good office ergonomic chair with lumbar support or an extra cushion space. If your chair lacks it, you can roll up a towel, sweatshirt, sweater, etc., and place it on the lower back area. Make sure the roll is right adjusted against the curve. With time, you will feel the difference and the comfort level.

However, if you still feel uncomfortable and slouchy, try lifting your breastbone for about 1 inch. This will also give you a very comfortable posture, making you capable of working for hours.

Chair

Another important component in desk ergonomics is the chair. Right chair adjustment can give you a comfortable working experience if the chair is built well and has good adjustability. Spending hours to correct our posture without proper adjustment of your chair can leave everything ineffective. However, most employees do not realize its importance. So, you will always find their chairs unadjusted. Most ergonomic accessories like the chair are built considering ergonomics in mind. So, adjusting such chairs to your comfort level won’t be a problem. The best position is to lower your chair to make your thighs and floor parallel and your feet flat on the floor. Make sure to unlock the back of your seat. This allows your upper body to move well and comfortably.

Desk

Whether you use an ergonomic corner desk or an adjustable standing desk, the desk is always an important part of office ergonomics. While adjusting the desk, make sure to find adequate space for your thighs, knees, and feet; as arrow spaces, and no room for legs can cause discomfort and irritation while working.  Most desks do not offer adjustability, so you should look for alternative methods. For instance, placing blocks under the legs of the desk. This will raise the desk to a suitable height. Do not store anything underneath your desk because taking it out can cause pain in your muscles. To support desk ergonomics, place all accessories and other items on the desk to avoid unnecessary stretches in your muscles. Try to maintain your natural ergonomic desk posture to save yourself from any health trouble.

Computer Monitor

Let’s be real, it is now a digitalized world. Almost all work involves computers these days. Employees work most of the time while working on the computer. This also causes pain in most of our body parts, especially the neck and eye area. So, what is the best way and position to support desk ergonomics, i.e., height and distance, to arrange them? For this, find a suitable distance according to your comfort level, extend your arms until the tip of your middle finger touches the monitor. That would be a suitable level for placing your screen. Through this method, you can prevent neck craning. For height, close your eyes and find the perfect height. As soon as you open your eyes, you should see the address bar with ease. All these techniques add into a comfortable working space at home or in the offices.

A comfortable workplace has high importance in maintaining the higher productivity of your employees. Proper ergonomic desks, chairs, and other accessories play a vital role here. So, go to the wholesale office furniture store and get some high-quality equipment for your office. Teach your employees how to maintain the right posture, desk height, chair, and computer monitor to maintain desk ergonomics and good working conditions. Never compromise on the health of your employees if you want to have a profitable business because only a happy and healthy employee can make your business profitable and growing. So, follow the above tips and make your workplace better for working.