Home office ergonomics checklist

Posted on: April 2nd, 2020 onPlatinum

With an increase in Australians working from home, it is important to establish an ergonomic home office or workstation to avoid strain injuries or discomfort. Ergonomics is all about designing your workspace for ultimate comfort and efficiency while working, and this is especially important in a home office. Use the below checklist for your home office or workstation to ensure that you are comfortable to work all day and remain productive.

• Use a comfortable chair with lumbar support that can be adjusted to suit you and your desk
• Ensure that your workstation is a flat surface with adequate room for you to position all your equipment so that your posture is suitable when completing all tasks and clearance for you to stretch out your legs underneath
• Maintain proper posture, paying close attention to the positioning of your head and neck, and keeping your hips and thighs aligned
• When using the keyboard and mouse, keep your arms in a neutral position, with your forearms, wrists and hands all in a straight line
• Avoid resting your elbows on your work surface or chair arms
• Ensure that your computer screen or monitor is at eye level – you can purchase monitor or laptop stands to prop your devices up, aiming for the top of the screen at around eye level
• Reduce or eliminate the glare on your screens by using blinds/curtains or anti-glare filters for your devices
• Clean your computers screen and workstation surface regularly
• Use headphones, soft music or a quiet fan to reduce any other distracting noises in the background

If you are planning to work from home soon or have just made the change, you need to ensure that your workspace or home office is ergonomic and comfortable for working for long periods of time. Use the checklist above to create a healthy and relaxed environment, and avoid any strains or injuries while working from home.