Saturday, October 23, 2010

Guidelines to Setting up Computer Workstation



Most of us have no idea how the important of being ergonomically when work at computer workstation. The key point of this understanding is the word 'ergonomics'. What is ergonomics? Ergonomics is the study of human connection and the workplace, including tools and the environment. All these should be designed to meet and facilitate the people.


In this blog, I want to share my knowledge about this especially ergonomics at computer workstation because I have learned this subject and this topic also became my title for undergraduate project. Basically in computer workstation, it consist components that are chair, desk, screen, keyboard, mouse and CPU. The main components that give effect to human body are chair, desk, screen, keyboard and mouse because these components frequently use by the people who at a computer workstation.



If viewed on a computer workstation, most of it have computer desk that cannot be change in height of the desk and also have drawer to put a keyboard and a mouse. Therefore,  a chair and a screen should be the type that can be adjusted and changed easily it position.

Procedure:

1- Chair



  • To obtain good posture, a chair that need to be use at computer workstation is caster chair ( Picture 1).It is because this chair can be adjusted the armrest, backrest, seat pan and also easily to position.
  • Setting forearm in relaxed condition (Picture 2). It is related to the position of a keyboard and a mouse. It will discuss below, next procedure.
  • Setting the backrest of the chair around 110-119 degree reclined angle. The lumbar support characteristic at the backrest helps to maintain the alignment of the spine (S-curve) and also relief fatigue and discomfort (Picture 3).
  • Setting the seat height until thigh straight to the floor and if feel not comfortable with this condition, use foot rest (Picture 4). 







2- Screen


  • Once the chair and work surface height are properly adjusted, the monitor should be placed so that the top of the screen is at or just below eye level  (approximately 5-7cm seated eye level) when seated in an upright position.
  • Setting the screen view angle around 16 degree and make sure that tilt the screen perpendicular with screen view angle.
  • Use arms' length to setting up the screen viewing distance when seated comfortably in front of the keyboard (Picture 2).



3- Keyboard and Mouse




  • For the arm position at the keyboard, just follow the correct position on the picture above (Picture 1).
  • Supposedly, the slope of arm while using the keyboard is like the Picture 2 above.
  • Placing the mouse as close as possible to the keyboard. Placing the mouse on a slightly inclined surface, or using it on a mouse bridge placed over the keyboard (Picture 3) can help to bring it closer.


From the procedure above, I think is it enough to know what the basic idea of ergonomics workplace such as computer workstation. I hope everybody now days should be alert about this because bad positioning when using computer workstation can give bad effect to posture and muscle.

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