 |
Occupational Health & Safety Resource Kit. Proudly brought to you by CEPU: NSW Telcommunications & Services Division |
|
|
 |
||||||||
|
 |
|||||||
The study of ergonomics addresses workstation issues such as surface height, chair adjustment, keyboard and screen placement, desktop layout, posture, environment, lighting, screen glare and reflection, mouse use, keyboard equipment and radiation, typing technique, speed and posture during keying and length of time on the keyboard.
The maintenance of a fixed posture for long periods is tiring and increases the likelihood of muscular aches and pains particularly in call centres where workers have very few tasks to perform away from their position. |
In addition, long periods of repetitive movement and sustained visual attention can also give rise to fatigue-related complaints e.g. Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS) and visual fatigue. These problems are exacerbated by individual performance monitoring and excessive supervision.
Most of the recommendations contained here are based upon Australian Standard AS 3590 - 1990 Screenbased Workstations, part 2 which apply to a wide range of modern work stations. |
| THE COMPUTER WORKSTATION AT A GLANCE The recommended dimensions for seated workstations are as follows: |
The maintenance of a fixed posture for long periods is tiring and increases the likelihood of muscular aches and pains particularly in call centres where workers have very few tasks to perform away from their position. | |
| Height of work surface (height to top of the work surface) | ||
| If fixed | 680 to 720mm above floor level | |
| If adjusted | 580 to 730mm above floor level | |
| Area of work surface | ||
| Width | 1500mm minimum | |
| Depth | 900mm minimum | |
| Bench thickness | 25mm maximum | |
| Volume of leg space | ||
| Width | 800mm minimum | |
| Depth | 550mm minimum | |
| Height | 580mm maximum | |
| Viewing distance to work | ||
| Minimum | 350mm | |
| Maximum | 750mm | |
| Seat pan height | ||
| Surface of seat to floor | 380 to 510mm | |
| Seat depth | 330 to 430mm | |
| Footrest area | 300 x 375mm (WHC Q & A) | |
 |
Work surface height: Adjust the height of the work surface and/or the chair so that the work surface is approximately a finger length below the height of the elbow when seated. Chair: Adjust the seat tilt so that the position is comfortable when using the keyboard. Usually, this will be close to horizontal but tilted slightly forwards. If this places an uncomfortable strain on the leg muscles or if the feet do not reach the floor then a footrest should be used. Adjust the backrest so that it supports the lower back when sitting upright. |