Ergonomics is often one of the most overlooked health issues in the office. While there are occupational health and safety regulations for lifting, moving heavy objects and safety when using chemicals and electricity, and there are guidelines for how long a person should be “seated” (i.e. sitting), there is no formal Governance requires people to use, or their computer equipment.
Being sedentary, day in and day out, has been linked to repetitive strain injury, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, chronic pain and metabolic syndrome (heart disease, obesity and high blood pressure). Musculoskeletal disorders cost A$4.8 billion a year and back pain in Australia costs A$2.8 billion a year. This can take a serious toll on businesses and the economy, and can also lead to deep dissatisfaction with working conditions and lifestyles.
Poor ergonomics is one of Australia’s biggest productivity costs and IT can play an important role in helping address this.
Consider the eyes too
Staring at the wrong screen all day can cause problems for two reasons:
- It can force the head into a position that causes tension, fatigue, and possible injury to the neck muscles. It can also lead to poor posture habits in the long run.
- Poor quality monitors can also cause eyestrain.
Despite the well-known health concerns, people don’t seem to expect professionals to sit in front of screens for long periods of time — whether in an office or remotely. So with the needs of professionals in mind, Samsung has worked hard to develop a line of business monitors to help promote healthier work habits.
First, Samsung’s entire line of business monitors features VESA mount compatibility, as well as a variety of tilt, swivel, and pivot control points, designed to give users fine-grained control in virtually any environment. This is important because modern wisdom suggests that people should change the way they work throughout the day. Standing desks have become popular in recent years because they have been shown to improve blood pressure and reduce lower back pain. At the same time, standing at a desk all day can cause new problems, such as foot pain.
As a result, most office workers are now encouraged to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. However, transitioning between seated and standing positions reorients the body and requires fine control of the monitor to help maintain a comfortable head and neck position every time. This is what VESA mount compatibility makes possible.
At the same time, commercial displays have also obtained the TÜV smart eye protection certification. TÜV Rheinland, one of the world’s leading providers of testing services, tests displays according to the ISO 9241-307 standard to ensure they reduce annoying reflections, aim to preserve image quality from different angles, facilitate adjustable blue light content, and have Helps ensure that the display is flicker-free.
As many as 90% of digital device users experience symptoms of digital eye strain, so investing in monitors that are proven to minimize eye strain is a shortcut to ensuring that most employees are comfortable at work.
Best Practices When Using Your Monitor
Of course, technology can only be part of the solution, and when it comes to ergonomics, best practices really need to be incorporated into workplace policies and education to help protect employees. With regard to monitors and computers, employers should complement their investment in ergonomic equipment by encouraging employees to:
- Keep the monitor at an appropriate distance. Larger monitors are actually good for this, as they encourage employees to position themselves farther away to get a better view of the entire screen.
- Take quick and regular breaks to stay away from screens for short periods of time. It could be a quick coffee run or even a moment to get off your desk and stretch. It’s best to leave the phone behind while doing so, so they avoid the temptation to look at the screen entirely.
- Take a neutral stance. If sitting make sure to use the backrest instead of bending forward. If standing, take care to distribute the weight between your feet to distribute the weight evenly.
By focusing on workplace ergonomics, organizations will enjoy higher productivity and a more motivated workforce. In an era of severe skills shortages, it is more important than ever to ensure that employees are healthy, well cared for and happy at work.
To learn more about Samsung’s line of business monitors and their ergonomic benefits, click here: https://www.samsung.com/au/business/monitors/