What to Look for When Shopping for the Best Ergonomic Workstation

What do remote work and office work have in common? They both carry the same risk of suffering a strain injury.

We are, of course, talking about ergonomics. Without a workstation that keeps the body in a neutral position, staying comfortable is all but impossible. The only question is which part of your body will start hurting first.

Not sure how to create the best ergonomic workstation for your needs? Start by investing in these three essential ergonomic upgrades!

Comfortable Ergonomic Chair

Let’s do a small test. Sit in your chair and press your back against the backrest. Are there any gaps between the chair and your spine?

If the answer is yes, you need a better office chair. Your back has a natural S-curve, and the chair needs to support it. An ergonomic chair will also have lumbar support for your lower back and a comfortable cushion.

These desks should be considered a long term investment as it will pay off with increased comfort and safety as well as improve productivity.

Related Article: “Why Every Business Needs an Ergonomics Assessment”

Ergonomic Standing Desk

When you’re working at a desk, your wrists and arms should be parallel to the floor. At most, they need to be slightly angled down toward your lap.

The issue: most desks are 28-30” high, which puts people who are 5’10” or above in an awkward position. One solution: raise your chair to keep your wrists above the desk. You can also mount a keyboard tray under your desk.

No matter what you do, though, you won’t find the optimal height for all five main office tasks. These include:

• typing
• writing
• viewing your screen
• using the mouse
• reading documents

Since these all require different heights, your best bet is to get an adjustable-height standing desk. That way, you can switch between sitting and standing to stay comfortable throughout the day.

Related article: “Standing vs Sitting at Your Desk”

Responsive Peripherals

The mouse and keyboard are also key parts of any ergonomic workplace. If they’re not comfortable, they’ll put stress on your wrists and shoulders.

A good mouse should fit your hand and be smooth to maneuver. If you can’t find a mouse that doesn’t cause you fatigue, consider another input device. For instance, a trackball will keep your hand in a neutral position.

As for the keyboard, look for a split model. Standard keyboards force your hands inwards, which causes you to hunch your shoulders. Split keyboards allow you to space each half and keep your shoulders relaxed.

Not a fan of split keyboards? Get a standard keyboard that either tilts forward or has a low, flat profile. Both types will help keep your wrists neutral.

Related article: “5 Benefits of Using an Ergonomic Mouse and Keyboard”

Setting up the Best Ergonomic Workstation

Do you or your employees spend a big part of the day working at a desk? If so, neglecting workplace ergonomics can harm one’s health. Follow the above guide and begin your journey into creating an injury free workspace.

At Solutions Northwest Inc., we understand that ensuring that you and your employees are following ergonomic workstation guidelines can be tricky. Generally, best practice is to have an ergonomic assessment done by an ergonomics consultant – and our consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. are here to help! Contact us here to schedule an ergonomic assessment or learn more about our services.

We can even help you if you have a lot of remote workers by setting up their workspaces with an affordable, virtual ergonomics assessment, which can be done remotely (all you need is access to e-mail or a smart phone).

For more information contact us at SolutionsNW.com, we will be happy to help you!

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

4 Tips from Ergonomics Experts to Improve Office Workstation Ergonomics

How you approach office workstation ergonomics has a massive effect on employee health and morale.

If you’re going to have a productive workplace, you need your employees to feel comfortable. An employee with a cramped desk and poor lighting isn’t going to be as effective as one that has enough space and safe lighting. Poor ergonomics can also result in workplace injuries that cost your business.

Thus, improving office workstation ergonomics should be a major priority for every office. In this post, our ergonomics experts will give you 4 tips for enhancing your workplace ergonomics so that your productivity is always stellar.

1. Promote Work Breaks

Create a culture of comfort and watch how it improves morale as well as worker productivity. Beyond office management, you often need to save workers from themselves by promoting frequent breaks as a policy or a workplace culture.

For example, it is vital that workers get up and walk around when their job involves them sitting at a desk all day. Performing back and arm stretches will stave off nagging injuries. Taking breaks from looking at the computer monitor will help them avoid eye strain as well.

Related article: “Break Time: 5 Reasons Work Breaks Boost Productivity”

2. Prioritize Good Lighting

Harsh office lighting is bad enough, but when there are screens in the equation, the glare can really start to affect people’s ability to work effectively.

Ergonomics consultants suggest you position your office workstations near windows to help with eye strain. That said, be sure to note that workstations should not be positioned directly in front of the window, as this could cause eyestrain from the sun while you work.

Provide your workers adjustable blinds to adjust the lighting as they see fit. It’s all about providing options for your employees to succeed.

Every office is different and every detail matters regarding ergonomics. We highly recommend hiring an ergonomics consultant to perform a professional ergonomics assessment as a best practice for office workstations.

Related article: “Set the Mood with the Right Office Lighting”

3. Teach Posture

Promoting proper posture in the workplace, whether it’s when employees are sitting at their desks or lifting heavy objects, will go a long way. When a worker has a cramped desk or has to do manual labor, it can lead to awkward positions, which lead to injuries.

When sitting at a desk, a worker should have their arms supported by the desk, their back and head should be upright, and the top of the monitor should be at eye level. When talking on the phone, your employees should use hands-free technology or make sure to hold the receiver up to their ear without straining the neck.

Related article: “The Ergonomic Way to Sit at Your Desk and View Your Monitor”

4. Invest in Ergonomics

Staying educated and proactive about ergonomics is just the first step. It is highly recommended that one invests in ergonomics for the workplace.

Investing in ergonomics for your workplace pays off by preventing workplace injuries, improving employee morale, and by boosting productivity.

Furthermore, your employees can file a workers’ comp claim for injuries that result from ergonomic failures. It’s in your best interest to give them the resources they need to succeed.

There are many details to consider when setting up an ergonomic workplace and it is always best practice to hire an ergonomics consultant company for this task.

Get an Office Workstation Ergonomics Assessment

These 4 office workstation ergonomics tips will help your employees maintain physical health at work. If you feel like your workers aren’t happy with your ergonomic situation, it might be time to get an ergonomics assessment from Solutions Northwest Inc.

We specialize in ergonomic consulting, office assessments, and ergonomic training, so contact us to find out how we can improve your office today.

We can even help you if you have a lot of remote workers by setting up their workspaces with an affordable, virtual ergonomics assessment, which can be done remotely (all you need is access to e-mail or a smart phone).

For more information contact us at SolutionsNW.com, we will be happy to help you!

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Guidelines for Creating an Ergonomic Workstation at Your Office

Office design has a huge impact on an employees’ mental and physical health. From the decor on the walls to the number of windows, to the types of chairs and desks you have – every detail matters.
One of the most important aspects of ergonomic office design will be creating a safe and productive, ergonomic workspace for your employees. Designing a workstation with ergonomics in mind takes workers’ needs into account and improves the setup of the office to fit those needs.

In this post, the ergonomics consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. are going to help you by giving you some ergonomic workstation guidelines designed to help worker’s maintain proper posture and avoid injuries while working.

Keep reading and you’ll know exactly how to set up your workstations to boost morale, maximize productivity, and maintain employee health.

Ergonomic Workstation Design – Posture

You can have the perfect ergonomic setup for your employees, but if they don’t have good posture, problems will still arise. It’s crucial to keep bones and joints aligned in a neutral position so that the muscles function normally. Good posture also decreases the amount of stress on the spine and ligaments.

This is how an employee should sit:

• The back should be straight with the neck and head upright
• The bottom and thighs should have equally distributed pressure
• Feet should be flat on the floor
• Minimal bend of the wrists, which should not rest on hard edges
• Shoulders and arms should be relaxed and perpendicular to the floor

Creating an ergonomic workspace will help make it easier for a worker to feel comfortable sitting with correct posture. Every workplace is different, so investing in a proper ergonomics assessment for your employee will be crucial when trying to achieve proper workstation ergonomics specific to your needs.

Ergonomic Desk Setup

Each workstation will have to be set up a bit differently for each worker. Filling your office with fully adjustable ergonomic equipment will make it easier to accommodate everyone’s needs.

For a basic desk setup – give the computer monitor a 10-20 degree tilt so that it’s centered in front of the eyes, about 20-30 inches away. The keyboard should be positioned an inch above the elbows for the most comfort.

The goal is to maintain the posture as effortlessly as possible.

Your employees should have everything they need within arm’s reach so that they’re never awkwardly bending or moving, which can cause injury.

Invest in Ergonomic Equipment

The furniture and equipment you give your employees should take ergonomics into account.

When it comes to an office chair, for example, it should be comfortable and supportive of the spinal curve. An ergonomic chair will be adjustable so that the worker can assume the correct posture with ease.

An ergonomic desk is also fully adjustable so that the worker can get enough clearance between the desk and their knees. If the worker prefers to stand, adjustable standing desks should also be made available.

Computer monitors should have plenty of swivel and tilt capabilities, as well as anti-glare screens. Stock your workstations with ergonomic keyboards and mouses, and make sure lighting is available at every desk.

Following Ergonomic Workstation Guidelines

Ensuring that you and your employees are following ergonomic workstation guidelines can be tricky. The best practice is to have an ergonomic assessment done and give your employees the proper ergonomic training.

An investment in ergonomics pays off in the long run. Not only will it benefit their long-term health, but it reduces the likelihood of workplace injury and boosts worker productivity.

At Solutions Northwest, Inc., we offer ergonomic consulting, education, and training. To get an ergonomic office assessment from one of our experts, contact us today. We can help you set up a plan to examine and analyze your space.

We can even help you if you have a lot of remote workers by setting up their workspaces with an affordable, virtual ergonomics assessment, which can be done remotely (all you need is access to e-mail or a smart phone).

For more information contact us at SolutionsNW.com, we will be happy to help you!

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below: