Ergonomic Workstation Supplies

Sitting At The Computer Health Risks

On the surface, working at a computer seems like a risk-free activity. You sit in your air-conditioned office typing away on your touch keyboard, looking at your color-enhanced 21-inch computer monitor or state-of-the-art laptop. You are surrounded by stylish office furniture, your all-in-one printer/scanner/fax machine, and other modern office amenities. But as people spend increasing numbers of hours in front of their computers, they are quickly becoming aware of the occupational hazards of computer use.

In fact, there are a host of computer-related injuries common in today’s office environment. Among these health hazards are Carpal tunnel syndrome, eye strain, chronic neck, back and shoulder pain, worker’s fatigue, and more. How do these injuries come about?

The chief culprit is poor circulation due to prolonged sitting, causing stiffness and cramps in the muscles and joints. Another key component is poor lumbar (lower back) support and improper sitting posture.

A computer monitor positioned too high or too low leads to neck and eye strain caused by improper head-neck-shoulder alignment. And to top it off, prolonged hours of sitting in front of a computer screen leads to sore eyes, blurred vision, repeated headaches, and worker’s fatigue.

Fortunately, office ergonomics has arrived to save the day – and your health. If you’ve never heard of ergonomic furniture, it is specifically constructed to support the natural makeup of the human body. Ergonomic furniture for offices is constructed so as to increase comfort and safety in the workplace by providing support in all the right places.

An ergonomic office chair, for example, conforms to the contours of your back, making to feel like it is custom designed for you. An ergonomic computer desk has every one of its components accessible to you within easy reach, causing the least amount of strain on your body.

 

Features of an ergonomic office desk include ample shelving space stacked in close quarters, a pullout keyboard with safety stops, and special compartments to house the CPU and a printer. Additional elements you might see are shelves for office telephones, a CD rack, drawers to hold office supplies, spaces for paperwork, and more.

While you might envision ergonomic computer desks as large and roomy, they are in fact compact spaces where everything you need is readily available. Instead of buying each item separately, a great idea is to purchase an all-inclusive ergonomic computer workstation. Features of this unit include an ergonomic mouse pad and keyboard, ergonomic armrests, an adjustable ergonomic chair, and more.

Also included in this category are computer screens with multi-function glare filters, designed to protect the LCD display surface as well as your eyes. Finally, the world of office ergonomics includes proper office lighting and good use of natural light.

All this being true, even the latest office gizmos and gadgets are no substitute for natural body movement. To reduce office-related aches and pains, make sure to take regular breaks from your desk, to stretch, walk around the office, and walk around the block a few times during your lunch hour.