Environmental Health & Safety

Safe Work Practices

Neutral body positioning consists of a comfortable working posture in which a person's joints are naturally aligned. Working with the body in a neutral position reduces stress on the muscles, tendons, and skeletal system. This requires the operator to work from a comfortable posture with all frequently used items easily within their reach. Conversely, awkward postures should be avoided because they will increase strain on the body and can lead to discomfort.

Frequent Breaks and Change

Frequent breaks and change are recommended to provide recovery time during highly repetitive tasks. As an operator works on a given task, they will tend to rely on one posture and specific muscle groups, subjecting their body to the same strain throughout an activity. By varying tasks and postures, an operator will give their body a chance to recover from what they were doing before. It is recommended that an operator work on a specific task for no more than one hour without taking a five-minute break. It is not necessary to stop working; though, spending a few minutes on something else will help avoid fatigue and discomfort.

Micro breaks are short breaks for localized areas of the body that permit muscle recovery. They can prove to be as beneficial as fewer, longer breaks. To relax their upper body and reduce fatigue, it is recommended that VDT operators take frequent five to fifteen second breaks throughout the day where they stop typing and rest. Focusing their eyes on a distant object during these pauses may help operators reduce eyestrain as well.

It is important to keep ergonomic principles in consideration even when away from work. If you have a home office, make sure that it facilitates a healthy work environment, and be aware of activities that may be causing unhealthy levels of strain and repetition.

Living a healthy lifestyle strengthens the body and will generally increase capacity, helping to avoid fatigue and discomfort.