Ergonomics & Safety When Working Remotely Environmental Health and Safety

To this end, key ergonomic concepts can be summed up with one word ‘N-E-W’. Remembering this acronym will help people working at an office or home maintain productivity and more importantly, reduce injury risk. Place your feet on a few books or boxes under your desk, so that your thighs are nearly parallel to the floor and your hips are slightly higher than your knees.

• Some organizations continue to seek hybrid options, while others see fully remote options as talent retention and recruitment tools.
• If you’re not used to standing all day, don’t jump into the first day of a standing desk by using it for eight hours straight!

While it’s best if you can buy the right equipment, that doesn’t mean you have to. Sometimes simple works, so we’ve included some DIY work-from-home ergonomic hacks you can use with things you’ve probably got at home. While working in an office, workers naturally move around the room to attend meetings or speak to a colleague. When working from home, there are fewer opportunities for movement.

Adult health

If you are the only person using the space, customizing will reduce the time and discomfort of sitting at a station that does not fit you. Take the time to carefully consider your home office ergonomics when working remotely. Your back, your arms, and every other part of https://remotemode.net/blog/10-remote-work-ergonomics-tips-to-use/ your body will thank you. While working on a laptop for a short time is fine, using one for longer periods (like the full workday), will not do wonders for your body. However, there are things you can do to improve laptop ergonomics when you work on it for long periods.

Consider using a wrist rest to help achieve proper keyboard placement. If you don’t have one, a sock filled with rice will do, as will a rolled-up towel. If you can see the screen just fine when it’s straight, leave it.

Basic Ergonomics Tips

If your desk has a hard edge that’s not rounded, pad the edge or use a wrist rest. This protects your wrists from a problem called contact stress that can happen as a result of extended contact with a hard edge. Ongoing reminders allow employees to reflect on their progress, receive refreshers on the importance of certain ergonomic adjustments, and prioritize their mental and physical health in more bite-sized ways. Over time, microlearning enables greater awareness of ergonomics concerns to reduce injuries and keep those instances low.

Under the desk, make sure there’s enough room for your legs and feet. Don’t store items under your desk, as that can shrink the amount of available space and make it hard to sit correctly. If the desk https://remotemode.net/ is too low and the desk height can’t be changed, put sturdy boards or blocks under the desk legs to raise it. If you don’t have a footrest, try using a small stool or a stack of sturdy books.