Individuals who use computers for extended periods of time may experience discomfort or pain as a result of poor posture, improper adjustment or use of workstation components or other factors. In most cases, there are relatively simple and inexpensive corrective measures which can be employed to reduce the likelihood of discomfort or injury.
EHS staff are available to train computer users on how to adjust their computer workstations in order to work safely.
For more information on how to adjust your computer workstation, please follow the links below:
Here are some general guidelines to adjusting your workstation in order to achieve a neutral posture while working. Of course, no two bodies are identical and different styles, models, and sizes of furniture and accessories may be needed. The best results are achieved when the individual is involved in the selection and adjustment process.
Desired features for computer task chairs include:
Users should be able to sit such that their feet are flat on the floor (or a footstool, if necessary), knees are approximately 90 degrees and the back of the chair is in use.
Laptop computers and tablets do not have the adjustability of a desktop computer when adjusting keyboard, mouse and monitor. For long term use of laptops, a docking station, port replicator or external keyboard and monitor are recommended.
Even the perfect posture is not perfect for 8 hours per day. Computers users should devote at least five minutes of every hour of computer use to a non-computer-related task.
Standing desks or sit-stand workstations are rapidly gaining in popularity. While research suggests that prolonged sedentary behavior has emerged as a risk factor for various negative health outcomes, there is little agreement on the best intervention strategies to reduce sedentary behavior.
The following information outlines the EHS guidance regarding these emerging intervention strategies:
As with chairs, desks or other office furniture, sit-stand desks are purchases made at the discretion of the department. EHS does NOT make recommendations in regards to the need for or the type of sit-stand workstations.
Requests for a medical accommodation, including those for a sit-stand or standing desk, should be referred to the Office of Human Resources (for staff), the Office of the Dean of Faculty (for DOF employees), or the Office of Disability Services (for undergraduate and graduate students).
Some workstations are designed for the user to stand exclusively and some are designed to vary posture between sitting and standing. Research suggests that variability is key and users benefit from the ability to change postures between sitting and standing.
There is a wide range of sit-stand workstations commercially available, from free-standing electrically controlled to manual setups that can be placed on an existing desk surface. Each type has benefits and limitations. Departments and users should consider the following when evaluating products:
There are several alternative strategies to reducing sedentary behavior, both at work and outside of work. All computer users should be encouraged to devote at least five minutes of every hour of computer use to a non-computer-related tasks.
Work-related strategies can include:
Strategies outside of work can include:
EHS staff are available to train computer users on how to adjust their computer workstations and work safely. Contact the individuals listed to the right to arrange a training session.
For employees, all work-related injuries must be reported to Employee Health at University Health Services at 609-258-5035.
If you believe you are experiencing an injury due to the setup or use of your computer workstation, contact Employee Health at 609-258-5035 (for employees) or Student Health at 609-258-3141 (for undergraduate and graduate students).
For more information on reporting work related injuries, go to the Injury & Incident Reporting page.
For more information on computer workstation adjustments and safe computing, please see the following external links: