How To Avoid Injury While In The Office

How To Avoid Injury While In The Office

Guest Article

Avoiding those unexpected aches and other injuries that can arise from long hours in the office is an important aspect of working and there are ways for you to ensure that they are prevented.

The office environment may not carry the same type of risks as a factory with all its heavy lifting and moving machinery, but there are plenty of injuries that can be sustained from prolonged working hours in the office so you should safeguard against them wherever possible.

Lighting

Besides making sure that the room is lit sufficiently for you to be able to see what you are doing, there is another reason for having good lighting. A room that is too dark will place a considerable amount of strain on your eyes and conversely, a computer monitor that is overly bright will have a similarly adverse effect, sometimes causing eyestrain and headaches.

Repetitive Strain Injury

RSI is something that affects a lot of people who carry out repetitive actions and in the office it can occur because of reflexes such as clicking a mouse or typing. Incorrect posture can also cause RSI as your muscles experience a build-up of tension over time. The shoulders, back and neck are the areas that are usually the most commonly affected by RSI in office work and you should seek an appointment with your doctor if you notice symptoms such as stiffness, pain or even tingling.

Your chair

In order to avoid injury, your posture should be correct and this is very much linked to the type and adjustment of your office chair. The correct support from your chair is an essential part of this line of work and there are certain indicators to look for in order to ensure that yours is adjusted as it should be. Firstly, you should be able to place your feet flat on the floor with your knees bent at 90 degrees angle. The seat should be soft enough to help the blood circulate in your body. If you have to reach for something your chair should allow you to do this without over-exerting yourself. A good way to avoid slouching in any way is to have support specifically for your lower back to keep it upright. Your elbows should be kept close to your body and your arms should be comfortably bent while using a keyboard.

A clear work space and a clear mind

We all have stress in some way at work and it is important not to let it take over, so look at the situations that crop up during your day and let go of the ones that are unnecessary causes of stress. Take the opportunity for a break regularly for a change of scenery, however briefly, and keep the office space you work in tidy, as many strains and injuries can be caused by tripping over cables or open drawers.

<p>Article written by Susie LaBrocca representing www.mjflood.ie, one of the leading suppliers of office furniture, equipment and managed print services in Ireland with a reputation in the industry built up over a number of decades.