Healthy Computing: Beer Budget Ergonomics

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Misty L. Trepke

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Healthy Computing: Beer Budget Ergonomics

 

Healthy Computing: Beer Budget Ergonomics

Erik Peper, Ph.D. and Katherine Hughes Gibney

 

http://healthy.net/scrfidyl/article.asp?PageType=Article & id=2256

 

Have you heard the saying, " Champagne tastes on a beer budget " ? We

often feel that way when we think of ergonomics. If you find that you

look at your workstation and think, " If only I had more money, I

could have a better ergonomic set-up, " you probably have a beer

budget. Ergonomic changes don't necessarily have to cost a lot of

money-what is usually required is creativity. Help reduce discomfort

caused by poor ergonomics and increase creativity when you implement

BEER BUDGET ERGONOMICS.

 

HOW TO IMPLEMENT BEER BUDGET ERGONOMICS:

 

Take a moment to assess your workstation. Then explore the following

simple and inexpensive ergonomic problems.

 

Desk too low:

Place 2x4 boards, bricks, etc. under the legs of the desk.

 

Desk too high:

Trim the legs.

Raise your chair and use a footrest or create a platform upon which

you can sit.

 

Footrest:

Use phone books or firm pillows.

 

No room for a mouse on your keyboard tray:

Place a mouse bridge over the 10-key pad.

Use a c-clamp with a small board next to the keyboard tray to create

a mouse pad.

 

No document holder:

Prop a 1-inch 3-ring binder between the keyboard and monitor--use a

small piece of anti-skid material or a large clip to keep documents

from sliding (anti-skid material is often sold at hardware stores or

Target, where it is sold as shelf liner).

If you are reading a book, use a fork to keep the pages open-place it

across the top with the prongs slipped through the pages on the right

 

and the handle pressing against the pages on the left.

 

Slant table for writing:

Use hard cover 2-inch 3-ring binder with anti-skid material.

 

Chair:

Use a pillow for better back support.

Remove the armrests if they get in the way of working at the

keyboard.

Roll a towel and hang it over the back so it supports your spine and

helps you to maintain a neutral posture.

Wrap the armrests with soft, spongy material if they are too hard.

Sit on a large gym ball instead of a chair.

 

Negative keyboard tilt:

Place a row of post-it pads underneath the front of the keyboard.

 

Sharp edges on the desk:

Glue a strip of weather stripping to the edge.

 

Monitor too close:

Move your desk away from the wall and push your monitor to the back.

Regardless of your ergonomic situation, always remember to take your

breaks-micro-, meso-, and large movement.