Workplace Injury Prevention: 12 Tips to Keep Focused and Body Healthy

Workplace injury prevention is an important part of any office setup. It’s no good to you or your employer if you get injured, so there needs to be measured in place to stop that from happening. 

This goes double for if you work an office job where how to prevent workplace injuries isn’t exactly clear. 

That’s why we’ve put together a series of 12 workplace accidents prevention tips to help you stay healthy and focused while you’re on the job.

List of 12 Work Injury Prevention Tips

1. Get a Standing Desk

The other side of the ergonomic chair coin is a standing desk. Remember when we said that you should be taking stretch breaks? Well, a standing desk is going to allow you to do that while you’re still working. 

Office desk is going to improve your productivity and energy levels, as well as coming with a range of other benefits. If there’s one single cure-all style tip on this list, it’s this one. 

2. Get an Ergonomic Chair

We cannot stress this one enough. If you’re going to take any of the tips from this list into account, make it this one. 

As the original office worker generation ages, what we as a society are discovering is just how bad sitting for 40 hours a week really is. It wreaks havoc on your back and spine and can seriously affect the way you age. 

Getting an ergonomic chair - like ErgoChair 2 is going to prevent all of that. 

These chairs are specifically designed to give your back and spine additional support that mimics the natural shape of your spine, preventing bending and keeping you from getting back pains. 

3. Lighting

Speaking of lighting, watch what kind of light you’re working with in your office, considering SmartDesk Lamp. 

When you’re working at a desk with a computer, you’re going to want to be making the most out of diffused light. 

Try to avoid harsh light bulbs, and if you work next to a window, then watch out for glare. 

4. Computer Posture

We’re all guilty of having terrible posture. Some of us are terrible for slouching, while others sit on their chair at an angle. 

If you’re sitting at your desk for eight hours a day, five days a week, this is going to have an effect on your body. To combat this, make sure you’re sitting with both feet planted firmly on the ground, keep your back up straight, and make sure your elbows are at a 90-degree angle. 

5. Keyboard Positioning

Getting a split keyboard design is going to help with wrist strain. Make sure you have a long enough cord to position it in a variety of different depending on what works for you. 

If you feel uncomfortable using your current keyboard, invest in another one that’s a different size. Experiment until you find one that you like. 

6. Monitor Positioning

Workplace injury prevention isn’t just for your back; it also has to do with your eyes. Staring at a monitor for hours on end is going to take a toll on your vision, so you want to minimize the damage as much as possible. 

Keep your monitor 20 to 40 inches away from your face to prevent straining your eyes and keep the top of your screen at or below eye level. 

7. Eliminate Blue Light

This tip is related to the last one. Blue light is a type of light that is mixed into the LED lights on your phone, monitor, or any other screen you use. 

This type of light seriously damages your eyes, makes you tired, and decreases productivity. In fact, it’s so bad that a lot of devices come with the option to filter blue light out entirely. If yours doesn’t, consider getting yourself a pair of blue light glasses. 

8.  Stretch Breaks

Take regular stretching breaks while you’re at work. If you’re at a desk, get up and just move around every so often. You don’t need to bust out a yoga mat and start hitting the downward dog, but just take a walk around the office, getting your legs stretched. 

If you’re working from home, make a point of standing up and doing a slight walk every hour so. It’s going to go a long way to keeping you focused and keeping your body from getting stiff and your bones from getting crunchy. 

This is one of the best tips we can give for workplace injury prevention.

9. Get a Footrest

This might sound counterproductive, but it makes sense. You want to be sitting with your feet flat on the floor and your hips at a 90 to 100-degree angle. This isn’t possible for everyone, and for office workers that already have poor posture and are easy to get unluckily injury-free workplace, it’s incredibly uncomfortable. 

An adjustable footrest is going to give you the best of both worlds in this regard. 

10. Hand Stretches 

This tip only applies to some office workers. If you’re in a profession that requires you to type a lot, then one of the most common tips for workplace injury prevention that you should be following is hand and wrist stretches. 

Stretch out your fingers and keep the muscles from cramping up. This isn’t just going to help you type faster, but it is going to keep your hands from developing arthritis for as long as possible. 

11. Keep Your Desk at Elbow Height

One tip to tie everything here together is to keep your desk at elbow height. This is going to dictate your monitor, chair, and everything else, making it the center of your ergonomic setup. 

12. Don’t Overdo It

Last but not least, don’t overdo it. Unless you’re working on sending humans to Mars, there’s no job worth injuring yourself over. 

Therefore, if you feel burnt out, sore, stiff, or you’re aching, and you can afford to take a break, do so. 

Your body and your mind are going to thank you for it. 

Pros and Cons of Workplace Ergonomics 

Workplace Ergonomics

• Better for your body
• Increase productivity

• It can be expensive to set up
• It takes some getting used to