Desk work is a big part of daily life for most of us. Whether we’re fully back in the office, working remotely, or alternating between the two, getting work desk ergonomics just right is essential for our long-term health.
Best desk ergonomics practice aims to reduce the amount of strain across various points of your body, helping you avoid discomfort and, in some cases, even pain.
Here, we explore desk health and safety advice, focusing on correct equipment setup, posture, and more.
Work Desk Ergonomics
What is ergonomics? Broadly speaking, the term encompasses the particular design strategy focused on creating products and environments with the users in mind.
In the context of work desk ergonomics, this means ensuring your work place setup is tailored to your body and your needs.
In addition to looking at the best desk ergonomics for your workstation, workplace ergonomics includes the wider environment (things like lighting and noise levels) and lifestyle (tasks distribution and regular breaks).
Desk Health and Safety
To avoid injury caused by an improper workplace arrangement, make sure the following elements of your work desk ergonomics are properly adjusted:
• Desk chair – Making sure your desk chair is set up properly is the basis of achieving the best desk ergonomics. With the correct setting, you should be able to rest your feet flat on the ground, while keeping your knees at a right angle.
Ideally, you want a chair that also provides lumbar support, and armrests you can adjust for height, so your shoulders aren’t straining. Here, as with the legs, you should aim for a 90-degree angle.
If you find you need extra adjustments, you can invest in things like a footrest and lumbar support pillow.
• Monitor – The way your screen is positioned is also super important for work desk ergonomics. The two key elements to look out for are distance and height. You want the top of the screen to be aligned with your eye level to avoid excessive head tilting.
The monitor should also be about an arm’s length from you, so you don’t have to strain your eyes or constantly tilt forward; though keep in mind larger monitors might need to be positioned further back.
For those who use dual monitors, best desk ergonomic practice is placing them at the same height, with the primary screen centred in front of you.
• Mouse and keyboard - Desk health and safety also includes setting up your additional accessories in a way that helps avoid issues ranging from light wrist strain to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Keep your keyboard well within reach, so you can type without stretching your arms forward, and make sure your wrists can stay straight. Similarly, your mouse should be as close to you as possible, with its sensitivity on high; if you can, invest in an ergonomic mouse for optimal wrist comfort.
• Screen and lights – When considering work desk ergonomics, you should also think about protecting your eyes. The best-case scenario is having good natural light and a screen brightness which matches your surroundings. If outside light is not an option, soft desk lamp light is preferable over bright lights that can cause glare.
• Posture – Get the best out of your work desk ergonomic setup by fine-tuning your desk height. The perfect position allows you to keep your elbows at a right angle and arms parallel to the floor.
You should also lean with your back fully against the chair, aligning your head, neck and torso, as slouching or leaning can strain your muscles.
Standing Desk: Work Desk Ergonomics Hero
Standing desks have dominated the best desk ergonomics debate in recent years, especially since the working from home revolution. Offering the best of both worlds by letting you swap between sitting and standing, this desk health and safety hero is an excellent solution for cutting down on fatigue and boosting blood circulation.
When standing, follow the same posture guidelines as you would for a sit-down desk. You should also choose comfortable shoes, so your feet don’t get tired, and still take breaks from your desk in addition to alternating positions.
Workplace Health And Safety In The Office
It falls within the employer’s duty of care to ensure workplace health and safety in the office, including setting staff up with the best desk ergonomics. This way your workforce will be more productive, healthier, and happier in the long run.
In addition to going through the work desk ergonomics set up as part of your onboarding process, having a desk safety sign in an accessible spot in the office can help your employees make any necessary adjustments later down the line.
View our desk health and safety posters or contact us to learn more about our range of signage.
