After reviewing the ergonomics article I mentioned in the previous post, there were a few things I wanted to make sure and remember. I’m jotting them down here for the benefit of any readers as well.
(I used to not think much about ergonomics, but now I see that bad ergonomics can cause headaches and other problems. When you work at a desk most of the day, it makes sense to try to get this right.)
Chair Height
The height of the chair should reach just beneath your knee cap when standing. This allows your feet to rest firmly on the floor when you sit in the chair.
Armrests
This has been a puzzle for me. I like them, but sometimes find that they keep me from scooting the chair under the desk. Since I don’t use a keyboard tray (next point), this is a problem. The document says it’s OK to get rid of the arm rests. That’s good: they’re not essential. Ideally, though, you could adjust them to a height that doesn’t hinder getting close enough to the desk to reach the keyboard at a comfortable length.
Keyboard Trays
You can go either way here. I’ve had desks where I like them, and others where I don’t. At this desk I have the keyboard on the desktop, and given the desk height, that is the most natural position.
Mouse and Keyboard Height
Your mouse needs to be at the same height as your keyboard, whatever you do.
Monitor Height
The top of your monitor should just below your eye level. It should be slightly tilted back. Your line of site will then line up most naturally. This is important for preventing headaches.
There is a lot more on the subject of ergonomics. These are just the quick notes that are most important to me right now and keep proving hardest to remember. This is a subject I need to learn gradually, because for some reason it does not come naturally.
These notes are from the document “Ergonomics Guidelines,” published by the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission of New Brunswick.