It is estimated that an average person will spend one third of their lifespan at work. If you are working in an office, that equates to over 90,000 hours sat at your desk! The importance of using the correct ergonomic office products and adjusting these to support your posture, therefore, cannot be underestimated.
Here, we explain how to ensure different office products are ergonomic, providing tips on adjusting your surroundings to work ergonomically in the office.
Click on a link to jump to that section:
Read our tips on ensuring your office desk and task chair are ergonomic.
Find out what factors to consider when ensuring a computer setup is ergonomic.
Read how to ensure a keyboard is ergonomic.
Read our tips on working ergonomically and preventing injuries!
Choosing an ergonomic desk and task chair
Office desks
For an office desk to be ergonomic, it should provide plenty of clearance for the feet, thighs and knees, and adjustable desks are ideal for getting the correct level of clearance. A footrest under the desk could help promote greater comfort and take the strain from the body if you are a shorter individual.
Objects on the desk should also be kept as close to the body as possible to minimise movement. A computer keyboard and mouse also be within easy reach.
The monitor should be placed directly in front of the user and directly behind the keyboard, approximately an arm’s length away. The top of the screen should be at (or just below) eye level. It can be beneficial to use an ergonomic monitor arm to achieve the correct monitor level.
Recommended products
Vision H ergonomic workstation
- Available in white.
- Range includes a single monitor support, a dual monitor support and a single monitor and laptop support.
- Specially designed for home workers.
- Optional 3x power and 1x USB Type A&C charger sockets.
- Includes cable management clips to secure cables to the arm and pole sections.
- Supports monitors and laptops up to 5kgs (2x 5kgs when used with a dual monitor support or a single monitor and laptop support).
- Quick and easy to install.
Choosing an office task chair
An ergonomic office task chair should have adjustable seat height, armrests, and adequate back and lumbar support to prevent you from slouching. They should also support spinal curves and be comfortable enough to use for prolonged periods. However, regular breaks and opportunities to stretch the legs should always be encouraged in the workplace!
Computer ergonomics
Before setting up a computer, it can help to be aware of the correct ergonomic posture to prevent any potential health issues. The image below provides tips on ensuring you are maintaining the correct posture:
The following products can help ensure you work at your computer ergonomically:
A monitor arm
An adjustable monitor arm allows you to set your screen to your ideal height. This means you can adopt a healthy posture, with your back straight and supported by your task chair, your hips far back in the chair and your eyes level with the top of the screen. Using a monitor arm can also help keep any pesky injuries such as neck pain, back pain and muscle strain at bay – meaning you don’t have to finish the day with that nagging pain!
Recommended product
Reach Plus Monitor Arm
- 5 Year Warranty
- Fingertip movement
- Integral cable management
- Quick release VESA (Supports VESA 75mm & 100mm)
- Reach Plus supports combined monitor weights between 6kg – 15kg
- Supplied with top mounting universal C clamp fixing
- 180 Degree lockout option as standard
- Folds flat into 80mm of space
- Available in three colours; Silver, Black and White
A laptop stand
You have probably already heard that laptops are less than ideal, as they often require the user to strain and slouch. This is due to the distance between screen and keyboard being much too small with a laptop. However, sometimes, they can be unavoidable – especially if we are working from home! A laptop stand can minimise the negative impact of using a laptop. Using a laptop stand allows you to place your screen at the right distance so you can adopt an ergonomic posture.
Recommended product
Vision S Pole Monitor Arm
- Quick release VESA now standard (VESA 75mm & 100mm)
- Single or dual screen options available
- Supports monitors up to 6Kgs (6Kg per arm on Vision S Double)
- Optional laptop support available
- Slimmer pole – 32mm diameter
- Arm sections have been dramatically reduced and reshaped
- New Cable management clips
A document holder
Though you may not have considered products such as document holders – a good document holder can be great for increasing your productivity! They can keep your documents closer to eye level and your screen, preventing breaks in your attention by having to look down or to the side constantly. Your options include in-line document holders and sloped desks, which both sit in between your keyboard and monitor. You may also want to choose a screen-mounted holder, which sits on either side of your computer. Lastly, there is the option of a free-standing document holder, which can sit upright on its own.
An ergonomic mouse
The mouse is often overlooked when considering office ergonomics. However, a good ergonomic mouse fits snugly into your hand and is designed to suit the amount of clicking, scrolling, and browsing you do. An ergonomic mouse can also keep your hand in as comfortable a position as possible, allowing you to work for a long time without feeling discomfort!
An anti-glare filter or anti-glare glasses
When working from a computer for a long time, it’s not uncommon to experience eye pain, dry eyes, or headaches. Covering your computer with an anti-glare filter and wearing anti-glare glasses can be a perfect solution for preventing eye pain.
Anti-glare filters and glasses are an affordable solution for preventing eye strain and headaches when working at a computer and are available on a range of online stores.
For more tips on working ergonomically at a computer, read our guide to computer ergonomics here.
Keyboard ergonomics
A keyboard doesn’t always have to be a professional ergonomic model to allow you to work ergonomically. In order for a keyboard to be ergonomic, you should ensure the following:
- The size of your keyboard should fit nicely into your office workspace whilst providing adequately sized keys for efficient typing.
- An ergonomic keyboard will prevent the need for you to slouch or strain whilst typing.
- Ergonomic keyboards should keep your wrists and hands in a healthy position.
Your keyboard should also encourage the correct ergonomic typing position:
- Keep neutral, straight wrists
- Elbows should be at a 90-110 degree angle
- Your back and neck should be straight
- Your eyes should be level with the top of your screen
- Feet should be flat on the floor
Read our full guide to the correct ergonomic typing posture here.
Your keyboard should be placed just below elbow level at a distance that allows your arms and elbows to remain close to your sides. The keyboard should sit flat on your desk or gently sloping away from you. It may be a good idea to invest in a keyboard tray that can be used to correctly position your mechanical keyboard.
Find out more about ensuring an office keyboard is ergonomic here.
CMD’s range of ergonomic products
At CMD, we offer a range of ergonomic solutions to help you work as comfortably and ergonomically as possible. Our range includes monitor arms, laptop arms, sit-stand desks, cable management solutions and more.
Shop our full range of ergonomic office products here.
