A Diagram of What Your Workstation Should Look Like

Whether you're trying to fight off repetitive stress injuries, headaches, back- and neck-aches, or you just want to feel more comfortable at your workstation, there are a few things you can do.  Set up your chair and desk so the following criteria are met:

• place your monitor 18" - 22" from your body (about an arm's length)
• you should be looking slightly down (top 1/3rd of the monitor at or below eye level)
• reduce glare with a flat-screen monitor (or draw the shades to prevent sunlight from hitting the screen)
• adjust your chair height so your feet are flat on the floor, and your knees are bent slightly more than 90 degrees in front of you.
• buy a chair that supports your back from pelvis to shoulder blades
• let your arms fall naturally (sometimes a chair without an arm rest is better), elbows bent slightly more than 90 degrees.

It can be hard to remember all the "rules" when you're setting up your workstation.  So, I'm providing a link to a diagram that you can print off and tape up next to your desk:

Proper adjustments for an ergonomic workstation

Comments

[Chris the Ergonaut]

Keeping your monitor at arm's length is outdated information. It is much better to place it as far away from you as you can comfortably read. You can read more about a healthy workstation here: http://ergonomics.about.com/od/office/ss/computer_setup.htm

[Chris]

User education in ergonomics and improvements in general working practices can go along way towards a healthier society.

http://www.posturite.co.uk/weblog

[Grishma]

I want this picture, but the link you have provided its jus not opening. It says run time error every single time. Help..

[New link]

Here's a new link for a similar picture:

http://www.srcsolutions.com.au/images/workstation.jpg

[David James]

Also try to remember, when you’re typing, are your wrists straight? If you’re dropping your wrists when typing, then be sure to use a wrist rest along the front edge of the keyboard. Make sure that the wrist rest isn’t cutting off the circulation to your hands too. If needed, be sure to adjust the feet of the keyboard to keep your wrists positioned correctly.