Desk Ergonomics

The ergonomic desk is a modern desk form which, like the adjustable drawing table or drafting table, renders mechanical adjustments for the placement of its elements in order to maximize user comfort and efficiency. The ergonomic desk is usually a single piece of furniture allowing access to the adjustment techniques. Some ergonomic chairs have a generally large desktop height adjustment to create either a common sit-down desk or a less common standing desk, which allows the user to work while standing as well. The ergonomic desk is generally a close connection to the ergonomic chair.

The ergonomic desk started with the initiation of the field of human factors or ergonomics after World War II. Legislation stating minimal requisites for furniture used by office workers referred to ergonomic desk standards.

The work area should be big enough to accommodate us, allow the full range of movement involved in performing requisite responsibilities, and provide room for the equipment and materials that make up the workstation. We should use a headset for long or frequent telephone work. We should place the items we use most often directly in front of us. We should avoid overcrowding computer work areas.

Normal furniture cannot accommodate everyone's needs. A taller person may need a one-time alteration to have his or her work facade raised somewhat; a shorter person may need a foot rest or other accessories. Adaptable furniture may be needed in circumstances where people share or use the same workplace.

The desktop should be prepared so that often used objects are close to the user to avoid extreme extended reaching. The work surface should have a matte finish to reduce glare or reflections. The area beneath the desk should always be clean or spick and span to accommodate the user's legs and permit for stretching.

If a fixed-height desk is used, add a keyboard tray that adjusts upright to give added adjustability. A foot rest should be used if, after adjusting the height of the chair, feet do not rest flat on the floor. Use a headset or speaker phone to avoid neck and shoulder discomfort if we use a phone regularly all through the day.

Place the phone on the side of our non-dominant hand (i.e., left side if right-handed, right side if left-handed) Position our desk lamp (if we use one) so that it illuminates source documents without causing either glare on the computer screen or direct illumination to our eyes. It is important to see if we are comfortable in out work place and that we do not strain our body by using equipments at out work place.

A document container should be used if documents are referred to while keying. The document holder should: Be stable and adjustable (height, position, distance, and angle of view). Support the document on either side of the monitor. Be at the same distance from the eyes as the display screen to avoid frequent changes of focus and we should be able to look from one to the other without moving our neck or back.