Repetitive stress injuries can prevent you from working as effectively and cause chronic pain if not addressed in a timely manner. Making your office at work more ergonomic can increase your comfort and lessen your risks of suffering work-related injuries.

Achieving your goal of an ergonomic office involves arranging your furniture and set up to allow you to transition between tasks with ease. When done properly, your safety and efficiency increase to provide you with an optimal office experience.

Adjusting your setup

Assess which areas of your workspace feel the most difficult to work around and start there. According to the Mayo Clinic, your posture is one of the most important aspects to consider. Your hands should fall comfortably at or below your elbows with your wrists in a natural, straight position. If you use a computer monitor, it should not be any closer than an arm’s length. You should adjust your chair to fit your body and so your knees are hip-level. Some parts of your workspace you may modify include the following:

• Desk
• Telephone
• Headset
• Chair

Reporting injuries

If you feel discomfort at all because of the arrangement of your workspace, address your concerns with your employer. Many companies want to reduce the risks to their employees. Depending on your need, your employer may absorb the costs to help you outfit your workspace with an arrangement that provides you with optimal comfort.

Promptly report any injuries to your employer. Maintain a record of your experience. If you suffer a work-related injury because your workspace was not ideal for your job, work together with your employer to identify which changes will increase your safety and prevent another injury from happening.