Computer Work Giving Your Employees a Pain? Here’s Some Relief

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) like carpal tunnel are a problem for employees who work all day on a computer. Risk factors include primarlly:

• Repetition—the daily and lengthy use of a keyboard and mouse or trackpad
• Awkward postures—extending arms to type, hunching shoulders, and sitting for long periods

A properly designed and arranged computer workstation can go a long way toward preventing MSDs.

To help evaluate the safety and comfort of your computer workstations, OSHA has developed this checklist.

WORKING POSTURES—Are your computer workstations designed or arranged so that they allows employees’:

• Head and neck to be upright, or in-line with the torso (not bent down/back)?
• Head, neck, and trunk to face forward (not twisted)?
• Trunk to be perpendicular to floor (may lean back into backrest but not forward)?
• Shoulders and upper arms to be in line with the torso, generally about perpendicular to the floor and relaxed (not elevated or stretched forward)?
• Upper arms and elbows to be close to the body (not extended outward)? 
• Forearms, wrists, and hands to be straight and in line (forearm at about 90 degrees to the upper arm)?
• Wrists and hands to be straight (not bent up/down or sideways toward the little finger)?
• Thighs to be parallel to the floor and the lower legs to be perpendicular to floor (thighs may be slightly elevated above knees)? 
• Feet rest flat on the floor or are supported by a stable footrest? 

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SEATING—Is the chair designed so that the:

• Backrest provides support for the lower back (lumbar area)?
• Seat width and depth accommodate the specific user (seat pan not too big/small)?
• Seat front does not press against the back of knees and lower legs (seat pan not too long)?
• Seat has cushioning and is rounded with a "waterfall" front (no sharp edge)?
• Armrests, if used, support both forearms while the user performs computer tasks and do not interfere with movement?

 KEYBOARD/INPUT DEVICE—Is the keyboard/input device designed or arranged for doing computer tasks so that the:

• Keyboard/input device platform(s) is stable and large enough to hold a keyboard and an input device?
• Input device (mouse or trackball) is located right next to keyboard so it can be operated without reaching?
• Input device is easy to activate and the shape/size fits hand (not too big/small)?
• Wrists and hands do not rest on sharp or hard edges?

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MONITOR—Is the monitor designed or arranged for computer tasks so that:

• The top of the screen is at or below eye level so users can read it without bending head or neck down/back?
• Users with bifocals/trifocals can read the screen without bending the head or neck backward?
• The monitor distance allows user to read the screen without leaning head, neck or trunk forward/backward?
• The monitor position is directly in front of user so that he or she doesn’t have to twist the head or neck?
• Glare (for example, from windows or lights) is not reflected on screen, which can cause user to assume an awkward posture to clearly see information on the screen?

Tomorrow, we’ll conclude OSHA’s computer workstation evaluation checklist and also tell you more about BLR’s Safety Audit Checklists, which provides you with some 300 checklists on a broad range of workplace safety and health topics.

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