A workstation is a well-designed office area for a desktop computer and peripherals, with an ergonomic design to avoid awkward positions. It includes a comfortable chair, properly positioned monitor, keyboard tray, mouse pad with palm rests, and accessible peripherals. Workstations reduce injuries and increase productivity.
A workstation is an ergonomically designed area of an office that houses a desktop computer and all of its peripherals. The ergonomic design means that the user shouldn’t have to get into awkward positions to perform their tasks. A good workstation offers a comfortable and adjustable task chair, a properly positioned monitor, a keyboard tray, a mouse pad with palm rests, and peripherals (printers, speakers, disk drives, etc.) that are easily accessible.
Before the advent of proper workstations, office workers often had to modify existing desks to house all of their hardware, and the results weren’t always conducive to good health. Monitors were often placed too low or too high for comfortable viewing, forcing the user to position their head incorrectly for hours at a time. Keyboards had to be placed on top of the desk, forcing the user’s hands into an unnatural typing position. Early computer mouse systems didn’t always provide ergonomic wrist rests, leading to muscle strain and pain.
That is why the modern ergonomic workstation has become so popular. The monitor can be positioned so that the centerline of the screen is at or slightly below the user’s eye level. Keyboards are often placed on a suspended platform below the desktop, keeping hands at a comfortable distance while padded palm rests reduce fatigue. The mouse pad uses a smooth surface for easier navigation and a palm rest for the user.
The peripherals and computing towers on a workstation are typically stored out of the user’s work area, preventing accidental bumps and trips. Overhead shelves can hold manuals, reference books, and other printed materials. Side drawers often hold office supplies, such as extra printer paper, ink cartridges, mailing aids, and repair kits. The bottom of a workstation might contain the central processing tower, external drives, printer, and fax machine.
An ergonomic workstation can reduce the number of injuries sustained from poor body positioning or repetitive movements. This in turn can lead to reduced group health insurance rates and increased worker productivity. In the United States, federal OSHA guidelines for proper computer workstation setup are available online or through other outlets for government agencies. These guidelines should cover everything from the correct angle of a desktop monitor to the position of the user’s hands when typing or reading a copy.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
