Do you ever wonder why there are different desk shapes and types. If they were side by side, I bet the average person would be able to figure out the utility just based on a first glance. That's not difficult, however, understanding, the issues with where to locate on the desk and any adjustments modifications that would be needed is very challenging. Some questions that arise from people experiencing discomfort at their workstation is, do I have it correct, I am using a desk I found at IKEA or Staples and I paid good money for them but something isn't quite right. Well in this article I'll explain some big issues that come up when not using the correct desk and what you can do to fix the issues if possible.
So if a worker is using a L-shaped or U-shaped desk, there is a chance that they have oriented their displays and peripherals at the corner of the desk. This is not the best location if you have your keyboard on top of the desk (not using a keyboard tray or drawer). People find that the corners have a lot of desk depth and that will help them spread out sufficiently and place items on either side of the computer. There are a couple reasons behind this is not ideal. First and most important, the desk surface in front of the mouse and keyboard are uneven which leads to leaning on top of the desk with the forearms. This immobilizes the shoulders and elbows when using the keyboard and mouse which can eventually mean overuse of the wrists. Second, is that the displays if on an arm end up too far. This is a less typical problem but still quite common.
Getting a workplace assessment is the key to understanding what the best setup for you is. It ensures you are utilizing the best and safest working postures and it's important to have a quality ergonomic evaluation by a certified professional ergonomist. A high-quality ergonomic assessment (ergo assessment) can also improve the comfort levels and boost the productivity levels of employees which has a long-lasting effect. Ergonomic workstation assessments save companies money by reducing workers’ compensation costs.
So if a worker is using a L-shaped or U-shaped desk, there is a chance that they have oriented their displays and peripherals at the corner of the desk. This is not the best location if you have your keyboard on top of the desk (not using a keyboard tray or drawer). People find that the corners have a lot of desk depth and that will help them spread out sufficiently and place items on either side of the computer. There are a couple reasons behind this is not ideal. First and most important, the desk surface in front of the mouse and keyboard are uneven which leads to leaning on top of the desk with the forearms. This immobilizes the shoulders and elbows when using the keyboard and mouse which can eventually mean overuse of the wrists. Second, is that the displays if on an arm end up too far. This is a less typical problem but still quite common.
Getting a workplace assessment is the key to understanding what the best setup for you is. It ensures you are utilizing the best and safest working postures and it's important to have a quality ergonomic evaluation by a certified professional ergonomist. A high-quality ergonomic assessment (ergo assessment) can also improve the comfort levels and boost the productivity levels of employees which has a long-lasting effect. Ergonomic workstation assessments save companies money by reducing workers’ compensation costs.
