| Things to look for | Possible solutions,
(depending on further analysis) |
| Prolonged hunched or elevated shoulder while holding the phone | Telephone headset
Speakerphone |
| Elbows splayed out (shoulder abduction) | Lower worksurface
Lower chair armrests
Bring chair armrests in closer
Awareness and habit training |
| Raised or tensed shoulders | Habit or tension training
Lower worksurface or keyboard
Lower chair armrests
Raise chair, if foot contact with the floor can be maintained |
| Twisting the head to the side | Bring viewed item closer to centerline of view |
| Elbow flexed for long periods using the telephone | Telephone headset
Speakerphone |
| Elbow or forearm resting for long periods on hard or sharp worksurface, chair armrests | Pad or round surfaces, corners, and armrests
Replace armrests
Telephone headset
Habit training |
| Wrists bent to the sides when using side keys | Habit training
Keyboard with more accessible keys or split keyboard design |
| Wrists bent back (extended) or forward (flexed) for prolonged periods | Habit training
Palm rest
Lower, raise, or change slope of the keyboard |
| Wrists or palms resting for long periods on hard or sharp keyboard or worksurfaces | Habit training
Palm rest
Padded or rounded surfaces, corners |
| Hands held actively over the keyboard during keying pauses | Habit training
Palm or forearm rest |
| Rapid, sustained, or prolonged keying | Greater work variety
Aggressive break schedule
Reduce overtime |
| Forceful keying, key pounding | Habit training
Light-touch keyboard |
| Significant amounts of hand stapling, punching, lifting, opening mail, or other forceful exertions, especially combined with awkward postures | Mechanical aids, such as electric stapler or punch
Reduce size of lifted loads
Bring heavy loads close to the body, at a medium height
Substitute sliding (worksurface) or wheeling (floor)
Sharpen letter openers |
| Prolonged mouse use | Greater work variety
Aggressive break schedule
Alternate hands
Alternative pointing devices
Arm support, including small table
Mouse close to body (extended keyboard tray)
Learn keystroke substitutes for menus |
| Prolonged sitting, especially in only one posture | Greater work variety
Aggressive break schedule
Chair that supports posture change, through movement, size, or easy adjustability
Habit training
Move phone and printer to the other side of the office to force standing, or suggest standing when on phone
Check chair fit
Monitor in-out mechanism
Sit-stand worksurface |
| Lumbar back area not supported | Lumbar cushion
Backrest height and tilt
Check chair fit, especially backrest/lumbar height |
| Feet dangling, not well supported, or a posture which seems to put pressure on the backs of the thighs | Lower chair
Lower worksurface
Habit training
Foot rest (last resort) |
| Chair backrest not used for long periods | Check chair fit, especially seat pan depth and height
Check leg room
Check monitor distance and character height
Habit training |
| Twisted torso | Rearrange work
Provide more knee space
U-shaped worksurface layout
Swivel chair |
| Frequent or prolonged leaning or reaching | Rearrange work
Mouse pad, palm or forearm rest
Bring mouse and keyboard closer to body |
| Working with one or both arms "reaching" toward a mouse or keyboard | Bring keyboard closer to body
Mouse pad, palm or forearm rest
Bring mouse closer to keyboard |
| Light sources that can be seen by the worker | Cover or shield light sources
Rearrange work arena
Lower other viewed objects to lower field of view |
| Reflected glare on the screen | Shield light sources
Shade screen
Glare screen
Move monitor so light enter from side angle, not back Do NOT tip monitor down
Lower light levels
Move light sources |
| Too much contrast between screen and surroundings or document; worker feels relief when bright areas are shielded | Lower ambient light levels
Turn off, reposition, or dim task lights
Block offending light sources
Change screen polarity to black on white |
| Very bright ambient lighting (above 500 lux or 50 fc) or shadowed areas caused by over-illumination | Lower ambient light levels to 200-500 lux (20-50 fc) and use task lights |
| Monitor closer than approximately 65 cm (25") | Push monitor back (enlarge font size)
Habit training for reclining
Computer glasses
Bring keyboard forward, possibly with a keyboard tray |
| Different viewed objects (screen, documents) at different distances from the eyes | Use document stand or otherwise equalize distances to within about 10 cm (4") if rapid viewing changes are required |
| Screen or documents not oriented perpendicular to the line of sight (tipped back slightly is even better) | Change monitor, document stand angle |
| Prolonged near focusing throughout the day with few far-focusing opportunities | Move monitor back as far as possible
Habit training
Rearrange space to provide view
Introduce glazing |
| Monitor image dim, fuzzy, flickery, small, or otherwise difficult to read | Upgrade monitor
Use software to enlarge image |
| Shiny, low-contrast, or small-print documents | Improve lighting on documents if documents cannot be changed |
| Forward head posture (peering) or squinting | Lower monitor
Tilt monitor back
Check for monitor image quality problems, character height or monitor distance
Suggest consultation with vision specialist |
| Eyestrain complaints | Check all aspects of visual environment
Suggest consultation with vision specialist |
| Neck extended backwards, head tilted back, even slightly | Remove CPU from under monitor
Remove tilt-swivel base from monitor (leave ventilation space)
Check for bifocals and suggest full-frame "computer glasses" prescription |
| Neck severely flexed (downward) | Tilt face of monitor back
Tilt document - do not lay flat on worksurface
Raise document or monitor to a comfortable height
Adjust posture
Habit retraining
Check glasses for proper prescription |
