Even before the effects of COVID-19, from 2005-2012, telecommuting increased by 80%!!
Did you know that companies are responsible for any injuries that occur in their employee’s home offices? Do you have plans to manage this? How will you decide what to purchase and provide for your workforce? Do you need a policy surrounding telecommuting? Contact us for training and services that can help you to answer these questions!
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We don’t often think about it, but all of our body parts have weight. Our legs weigh about 17.5% of our total body weight, for a 150lb person that would be about 26lb. If that weight is not supported but is instead dangling or hovering over the floor, that hanging weight can tug and put a lot of pressure on your lower back.
So if you’re having any lower back discomfort and your feet are not firmly supported, find a box or books or a footrest or a cushion or a rolled up yoga mat to give yourself proper foot support and take some pressure off your lower back.
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The sofa looks so inviting and comfortable, it beckons you as you’re attempting to focus on your work in your new home-office. So, what’s wrong with just sitting on the sofa while you work?
The problem is that using the sofa for office seating rarely provides a good fit in proper alignment or neutral postures. Prolonged sitting without sufficient support or in misaligned postures can place significant stress on your entire musculoskeletal system and set you up for discomfort that increases the longer you spend in this configuration.
Remember that short term comfort does not always lead to long term health. So, find a chair with back support for improved fit and seated postures while working at home.
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There are many things to consider when setting up your home office. There’s seating, finding the right table or desktop, and your computer equipment. One thing many of us don’t consider is the increased load on your home electrical system. Make sure you set up your workstation so as not to overload your outlets and inadvertently create a fire hazard.
In addition, make sure all the extra cables are configured to that they do not create a trip hazard. It’s worth taking the time to set up your workstation to avoid unnecessary stress and hazards.
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A laptop is a great useful powerful compact tool. It would be even better if it was easy to use it while at the same time maintaining proper alignment, thus protecting the user from musculoskeletal discomfort.
If you can get the laptop aligned for proper wrist and arm postures, it generally puts the screen too low causing awkward excessively downward bending neck postures. If you raise the screen so that your neck is more comfortable, it generally puts your wrists at risk.
If you are finding yourself spending more time working with your laptop, consider getting a separate keyboard and mouse and elevating your laptop. This will allow you to protect your wrists as well as your neck, shoulders, and upper back.