Ergonomics for the workplace has been a hot topic over the past year due to the pandemic shifting work to home. With remote work here to stay for many, how do we continue to ensure workers’ health and safety? How can we apply ergonomic principles in other areas of our daily lives?
Associate Professor Laurel Kincl and Assistant Professor Jay Kim in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences discussed proper ergonomics and risk factors in a recent Public Health Insider webcast.
For remote work, tips included creating a separate workspace rather than working from the couch, sitting far enough away from your screen to avoid eye strain, and using an external monitor, keyboard and mouse even with laptops.
Day-to-day, the researchers recommend maintaining a neutral posture, avoiding strain or awkward positioning, and not exceeding your limit when it comes to tasks such as driving, mobile device use and household chores such as vacuuming and laundry.
“We shape people within a task that they are doing, the tools and equipment related to the task, and then the environment in which they’re working,” says Laurel. “The goal is to fit the task, tools and environment to us to create optimal health and well-being.”
Learn more from Laurel and Jay in the video above or on the college’s YouTube channel, where you can catch up on past Public Health Insider recordings.