The average 21st century knowledge worker often spends prolonged periods of time interacting with technology. In a traditional office environment, this typically means a dedicated workstation consisting of a computer, desk, and chair. But, with greater technological advancements, a larger percentage of workers have embraced a mobile “office” environment where they use a laptop, tablet, or smartphone while sitting on a couch or lying in bed.
Regrettably, many of these workstations are not properly designed to facilitate safe, effective, and comfortable productivity. This is especially true for the mobile office. While it’s always best to have a professionally trained ergonomist evaluate your workstation, unfortunately in many organizations this isn’t feasible for a number of reasons. Thus, it’s incumbent on people to help themselves.
Below I have provided a downloadable Office Ergonomics Checklist that can assist in the self-evaluation process for the traditional work or home office. Some other sources to consult include:
While this checklist focuses on sitting, I would encourage people interested in sit-stand or standing workstations to investigate their potential benefits in order to determine if this might be an acceptable alternative for your needs and physical abilities.
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