Ergonomics links the use of equipment, particularly computers, the design of furniture, and the work environment with human performance and well being. Therefore if the design of furniture and the overall work environment is bad then the human performance and well being drops. Guidelines for using the keyboard are: Make sure your wrists are straight when typing. Position your hands over the keyboard with the elbow at a 90-degree right angle. Do not rest your palms on the hard desk.

Occupational overuse syndrome (OOS) includes the incidence of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). This is a problem caused by the overuse of a small group of muscles and tendons when carrying out repetitive tasks. Office workers may encounter RSI. Correct posture and the taking of rest and exercise breaks will be useful in the control of Occupational Overuse Syndrome, including RSI.

Eye strain can be a problem when you are working close to a computer screen. To help with eye strain you should take small rests. Some other suggestions include: Yawn and blink to keep your eyes lubricated Changing focus and covering your eyes with your hands can help relieve eyestrain. Deep breathing can help relieve tension in your muscles.

Correct body posture can lessen your risk of back injury and also help you work more comfortably and effectively. To help with posture try to minimise the following actions: Sitting in awkward or twisted postures or maintaining the same posture for too long. Reaching frequently, or using too much muscular effort for relatively easy tasks. Use a document holder to place documents in such a position so that you are not twisting your neck to read them. Place your monitor at eye level, minimising bending or twisting your neck while typing.

Noise Noise levels are measured in terms of decibels (dB). Recommendations for noise levels in an office are between dB. If the noise levels are prolonged or higher than these levels then it can cause: decreased efficiency of your work increased stress leading to headaches and other stress symptoms misinterpretation of verbal communication permanent hearing loss Lighting Lighting at work can affect health and safety by: making it difficult to see and recognise hazards in the workplace causing and contributing to eyestrain causing people at work to adopt stressful postures to see properly

To prevent any of the previously mentioned things from happening you should: Provide a safe and healthy workplace Recognise hazards in the workplace Assess the risks of the hazards in your workplace Control the hazards in your workplace

This diagram shows you how to sit at your computer workstation properly so you wont strain your eyes or hurt your body Picture taken from