| Computer furniture - what you have at our | | | | original position, plus tilt adjustment to |
| computer workstation -can if correctly | | | | support your lower back.allow you to adjust |
| selected and set up, help you avoid painful | | | | its height while seated.be adjusted so the |
| musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), and stay | | | | back crease of the knee is slightly higher |
| healthier and fitter at your PC. | | | | than the pan of the chair (use a suitable |
| | | | footrest, if required).be supported by a five |
| It's not hard to do especially when you | | | | prong caster base.have removable and |
| consider that a bad computer furniture | | | | adjustable armrests, if possible.- have a |
| arrangement will, even in the short | | | | contoured seat with breathable fabric and |
| term:create and maintain a distorted or | | | | rounded edges to distribute the weight, and |
| unhealthy posture while using the | | | | be adjustable to allow the seat pan to tilt |
| computer.give you inadequate lower back | | | | forward or back. |
| support, creating aches and pains later.force | | | | |
| you into staying in one position too long, | | | | The table/desk should :provide ample leg room |
| which would be another recipe for strain and | | | | and be height adjustable (preferably).have |
| muscular tension.make you stretch bend and | | | | enough room to support the computer equipment |
| twist unecessarily. | | | | plus space for documents.be at least 36 |
| | | | inches (90 cm) deep.have rounded blunt and |
| So what features should your screen, desk, | | | | undamaged corners and edges |
| keyboard, mouse and chair have to keep you | | | | |
| feeling good? | | | | This covers the basics of good computer |
| | | | furniture setup, but you can improve your |
| Your monitor should:swivel, tilt and elevate. | | | | protection by taking further standard |
| Fit an extra adjustable stand to adjust the | | | | precautions: |
| height if need be. Or replace it.be | | | | |
| positioned so the top line of the monitor is | | | | Ensure each user maintains their own set up. |
| not higher than your eyes or not lower than | | | | |
| 20° below the horizon of your eyes or | | | | Taking regular breaks from working at your |
| field of visionbe at the same level and near | | | | computer for a few minutes, at least once an |
| the document holder (if you use one).be | | | | hour. |
| between 20 to 25 inches (50-56 cm) away from | | | | |
| your face | | | | Alternating work tasks by mixing computer |
| | | | tasks with non computer tasks to reduce |
| Your keyboard should :be detachable and | | | | strain. |
| adjustable (with legs to adjust the | | | | |
| angle).allow your forearms to be parallel to | | | | Learning and carrying out keyboard shortcuts |
| the floor without having to raise your | | | | to reduce mouse usage. |
| elbows.allow your wrists to be in line with | | | | |
| your forearms so your wrists don't have to be | | | | Carrying out regular gentle stretching to |
| flexed up or down.include enough space to | | | | relax your body. |
| rest your rists or should include a padded | | | | |
| detachable wrist rest (or you can use a | | | | Using health support equipment such as |
| separate gel wrist rest which should be at | | | | footrests, wrist/palm rests, and document |
| least 2 inches (50 mm) deep.be placed | | | | holders if required |
| directly in front of the monitor and at the | | | | |
| same height as the mouse, track ball, touch | | | | Adopting a NEUTRAL BODY POSTURE, with hands, |
| pad, or any other pointing device. | | | | wrists, and forearms inline, straight, and |
| | | | almost parallel to the floor, body facing |
| The mouse or pointer device should :be close | | | | forward, shoulders relaxed,elbows close to |
| to the keyboard.allow you, (if possible), to | | | | body and bent approximately at right angles. |
| use both left and right hands while handling | | | | |
| the pointer/mouse. | | | | If you organise and maintain a good PC |
| | | | furniture set up, you'll be well on track for |
| Your computer chair should :support your | | | | fit and healthy computing through 2006 and |
| back, and have a vertically adjustable | | | | beyond! |
| independent back rest that returns to its | | | | |