User's Manual

setting up and using your workstation
working in comfort and safety
Chapter 138
height and close together. If a palm rest is used, the height should be flush
with the front edge of the keyboard. Other items, such as your telephone or
notepad, should also be considered.
CAUTION Various aspects of using mice, keyboards and other input devices may increase
your risk of discomfort or injury. Optimize your comfort and safety by positioning
these devices properly.
your work posture
Sitting in one position for long periods can be uncomfortable. To minimize the
potential risk for physical discomfort or injury, it’s important that you maintain a
proper posture.
• Head. When viewing your monitor, your head should not be tilted more than
15 degrees forward, and do not turn your head toward either side.
• Back. While sitting at your work surface, make sure your back is supported
by the chair's backrest in an erect position or angled slightly backwards.
• Arms. Make sure your arms and elbows are relaxed and loose, with your
upper arms perpendicular to the floor or tilted downward not more than 15
degrees. Keep your forearms and hands approximately parallel with the floor
with elbows bent between 70 and 115 degrees. Keep your elbows close to your
sides (less than 20 degrees away from your body).
• Hands, Wrists, Forearms. Try to keep your hands wrists and forearms in a
relaxed neutral position when using your mouse keyboard or other input
devices. For example, while using your keyboard and mouse, rest your
forearms (flat) on your desktop.
• Legs. Your thighs should be horizontal or angled slightly downward. Your
lower legs should be near a right angle to your thighs. Make sure there is
sufficient room under the work surface for your legs.
• Feet. If after adjusting your chair you cannot rest your feet comfortably on the
floor, use a footrest, preferably one that can be adjusted in height and angle.
additional ergonomic issues
• Look away from the screen from time-to-time to help reduce eyestrain. Focus
on distant objects briefly, and blink periodically to lubricate your eyes. You
also should have your eyes checked on a regular basis and ensure your
eyeglass prescription is suitable for working on a computer monitor.