How to Make an Office Ergonomically Correct in Milwaukee
5 Easy Steps for Using Ergonomics to Support Employee Health
Office ergonomics is important for long-term employee health. Bern Office Systems has some easy to follow tips for Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Brookfield area businesses to encourage ergonomically correct offices. Companies with ergonomic furniture and practices are often more productive and have happier employees. Follow these 5 steps to improve your office with ergonomics.
1. Align Hips, Knees, and Wrists
You should keep your feet flat on the floor, allowing your knees and hips to stay aligned. This is one of the largest problems employees face in the workplace. Sitting for hours on end can lead to long-term joint pain and other health problems. Lining up the knees and hips is the easiest way to prevent many of these issues.
Keep your wrists even above your knees. You won’t want your wrists to be constantly bent for several hours a day. Over a prolonged period, this can lead to tendonitis or other wrist injuries.
Adjustable chairs are a must to stop discomfort. Ergonomic chairs allow you to select the right height to keep your feet flat while still comfortably reaching your desk and keyboard. Some desks are adjustable as well.
2. Adjust Your Seat During the Day
Recline or lean forward throughout the day. Be careful your knees and hips stay aligned. Use the back of your chair to rest against or lean forward without hunching your spine. Adjust the height of your seat to keep your feet as flat as possible.
Many ergonomically designed chairs also have custom arm rests, angles, and more for ergonomically correct seating. This allows you to have complete comfort without sacrificing your health. You have complete control over how much you lean in your chair and how high your elbows rest.
Use lumbar support cushions if you need them to avoid slouching. Avoid crossing your legs as this can cause deep vein thrombosis and temporarily raise your blood pressure.
3. Try Working while Standing
Standing for small amounts of time, especially after sitting, will give your body a much needed break. While standing, it is important you follow the same ergonomic principles as if you were seated. Keep your wrists even while typing and make sure your monitor is at an appropriate height and angle. Many of the manufacturers we work with offer standing workstations to make your workday easier.
Move from your chair at least once every hour. Whether this means refilling your coffee mug or walking to the copier, take a few minutes to fully move and stretch your body. If you have a private office, try some lunges or jumping jacks to get your blood pumping.
4. Reorganize Your Workstation
Being too close to a monitor screen will have the same effect as sitting too close to a TV. Screens can have their brightness adjusted during the day as well. What works in the morning might strain your eyes in the evening. Remember to blink frequently to prevent your eyes drying out.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule if you spend most of the day watching monitors. Every twenty minutes, focus on something 20 feet away for a minimum of 20 seconds. Then close your eyes for a few seconds. This brief break from a screen will give your eyes a chance to recover.
Clear up clutter around your desk to prevent straining your upper body. If you constantly answer the phone, make sure the receiver is within reach. The same advice goes for other desk essentials.
5. Upgrade Your Furniture
Bern Office Systems offers brand new, used, and remanufactured furniture for businesses throughout Southeast Wisconsin. Our ergonomically designed furniture will keep all your employees comfortable throughout the day, minimizing aches and pains from hours in front of a computer. We have everything your office needs to become ergonomically correct.
It’s no secret old furniture is uncomfortable. With Bern prices, you have an affordable solution!
