ERGONOMICS IN THE WORKPLACE

Many of us spend more than 40 hours a week at work, more time than we spend at home or play. We understand that with our busy schedule it is important to eat right and exercise regularly in order to remain healthy. What we often forget or do not know is that the way we work each day can have detrimental effects on our overall health as well.

While some jobs allow you to be on your feet and moving around throughout the day, many sit behind a desk for the majority of the day, looking at a computer screen. For this group of people, it is important to keep in mind the ergonomics of our office setting.

A few weeks ago, Dr. Jim Schaffstall of Schaffstall Chiropractics visited the Chamber to assess the ergonomics of each employee's office. We learned that every staff member was doing at least one thing wrong when it came to the correct ergonomics of our desk or chair. He made suggests for each of us and helped us to understand the reasons for adjusting various things around our office.

Dr. Schaffstall focused on four main areas: desk chair, keyboard, mouse and computer monitor. Improper ergonomics can lead to various health problems including lower back pain, repetitive stress injuries and carpal tunnel. The following ergonomic guidelines are recommended to enhance our overall comfort and efficiency. These adjustments can also prevent repetitive stress injuries. Here are a few of the tips Dr. Schaffstall gave the Chamber staff that can be implemented in your office:

Desk Chair:

• Feet should completely touch the ground

• Thighs should be at a 90 degree angle to the ground

• Chair should have arm rests

Keyboard:

• Arms & hands should line up directly with the keyboard

• If possible, use the keyboard tray on your desk

Mouse

• If possible, place mouse on keyboard tray

• Do not have mouse out of reach

Computer Monitor:

• Top half of the screen should directly line up with your eye level

• Keyboard and mouse should be placed directly in front of the screen

Along with the four main areas, it is important to keep in mind your overall posture when sitting at a desk. You should always sit up straight and attempt to not cross your legs as much as possible as well as make an effort to stand up and walk around for a few minutes each hour.

Proper ergonomics is just one way you can help yourself stay healthy in the hectic world we work in today. For other ways to lead a healthy life, make sure to check out the other articles in this month's Health Care Corner!