Using Display Screen Equipment (DSE) for extended periods of time can lead to side effects such as upper-limb disorders and repetitive strain injuries, alongside stress, fatigue and eyestrain.
In our latest blog, Insight Workplace Health looks at how to prevent these issues from occurring!
DSE / Ergonomic Assessments
First and foremost, employers are legally obliged to provide a workstation DSE assessment to employees who use display screen equipment on a daily basis for periods in excess of one hour.
Not only are you covering all the legal requirements, by providing the correct workstations and DSE, it can help to improve the health, wellbeing and morale of employees, alongside
increased productivity by lowering sickness absence rates.
Setting up your Workstation
A well-designed workstation encompasses all of the following factors:
Your eyes should be in line with the top of the monitor. Ensure there is sufficient work
space for all equipment and documents.
Your desk and monitor should be positioned to evade bright reflections or glare.
Ensure sufficient space underneath your desk so that you are able to move your legs whilst also avoiding surplus pressure on the backs of your knees and legs from the edge of your seat.
Typing
Leaving space free in front of the keyboard will allow you to give your hands and wrists a break when not typing.
Attempt to ensure wrists stay straight during typing and avoid overstretching the fingers whilst typing and keep a soft touch on the keypad.
Working Zones
There are 3 ergonomic working zones which are used to organise your desk.
Segmenting your desk into these zones not only keeps your workspace tidy and organised, it also helps to improve your posture whilst sitting at your work station.
The ‘Usual Work’ zone should contain the items on your desk that you use the most often, including: mouse, notepad, pen and keyboard.
The ‘Occasional Work’ zone should be located an arms length away from you. In this zone, you should keep equipment that you use through the day but not as frequently, such as a telephone or headphones.
The ‘Non-Working Area’ should be exactly that: a area where you keep items that you don’t need on a daily basis to do your job. Items could include a photo frame or folders. You would need to lean forward and stretch to reach this zone, however this should be avoided and you would be better advised to stand up or move the item closer.
How can Insight help?
At Insight Workplace Health we can help to manage MSK in the workplace: We offer DSE and Ergonomic Assessments, vehicle ergonomic assessments and management referrals for musculoskeletal concerns, we also supply specialist ergonomic equipment!
If you have any questions or an issue that doesn’t quite fit into any of the above categories then don’t worry, just contact us here or call us on 01792 321010 and we’ll be happy to advise you on the best way to solve it.
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