Remove Risk From Your Workspace

A recent study done by Fellowes found that 9 out of 10 people suffer from pain linked to the way they work at their desks. Hunching over a computer is one of the main reasons why four in five people end up with crippling back pain at some point in their lives. But they have outlined a checklist of simple changes you can make in the four main problem zones.

Zone 1: Back Tension 

Almost 7 out of 10 people experience back pain while working at their desks.

The Solution:

If your chair does not provide proper lumbar support, use a backrest with a foot support to maintain correct posture.

CHECKLIST ZONE 1

Seating & Posture

-  Chair Height - Keep feet on the floor or on a foot support
-  Seat Pan Depth - Back of the knees should not touch the seat
-  Back Position - Back should contact as much of the chair as possible
-  Neutral Posture - Work in a position that requires the smallest amount of muscle activity

 

Zone 2: Wrist Pressure

Almost 4 out of 10 people experience pain in their wrists, hands &/or arms while working at their desks.

The Solution:

Wrist supports help to align your wrists and redistribute pressure points to help relieve pain and prevent potential injury.

CHECKLIST ZONE 2

Correct Keyboard & Mouse Position

-  Position keyboard and mouse closer and lower
-  Position keyboard flat or tilted away - negative slopes
-  Keep forearms approximately parallel to the floor with elbows at a 90-110o angle

 

Zone 3: Neck, Shoulder & Eye Strain

Almost 5 out of 10 people experience neck pain, eye strain, &/or headaches while working at their desks.

The Solution:

Keyboard managers position your keyboard and mouse lower and closer to your body, allowing you to adopt and maintain a neutral working posture. Monitor and laptop supports position your monitor or laptop at a comfortable viewing angle, while Document Holders place your documents in a more ergonomically correct viewing position.

CHECKLIST ZONE 3

Finding Your Optimal Viewing Range

-  Height: Position top section of the screen "just below eye level"
-  Distance: Viewing distance should be about "an arms length away" or approximately 500-800mm away from the screen

Document Placement - Avoid the following risk factors

-  Neck Flexion
-  Extreme Neck Rotation
-  Repetitive Eye Movements

Check Your Posture:

-  Head, neck and shoulders are positioned forward and upright (not bent or turned)
-  Shoulders and arms are approximately perpendicular to the floor; elbows are held close to the sides
-  Keep hands and wrist in a straight line with forearms (not bent up or down)

Zone 4: Environment:

Your Indoor Air may be 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outdoors

The Solution:

Fellowes® air purifiers safely remove 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including pollen, ragweed and other allergens, viruses, germs, dust mites, mold spores and odors.

CHECKLIST ZONE 4

Indoor Air Quality Facts

-  Your indoor air may be 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outdoors
-  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution among the top 5 environmental risks to public health
-  The World Health Organization estimates that 30% of buildings in the United States may experience indoor air quality problems, which can lead to Sick Building Syndrome
-  The EPA estimates that Sick Building Syndrome costs businesses some $60 billion annually