Computer-Related Injuries Don’t Just Happen at Work

We all had a hearty laugh recently at the notion that government inspectors would be prowling our home offices.

What would they think about the kids’ toys being underfoot? What regulations apply to dirty dishes left in the sink? What’s the penalty for overflowing wastebaskets and coffee stains on the furniture?

Within days, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration was withdrawing an advisory letter saying that home workplaces were subject to the same standards as traditional offices.

But the laughter--and false outrage on the part of some--ignored an important reality: More people than ever are working and playing at home in unsafe conditions--specifically desk- and office-style arrangements that are far short of ergonomically ideal.

At first blush, this might not sound like a big problem. After all, people have been working at their kitchen tables since the briefcase was invented.

But the arrival of the personal computer in many homes has radically changed the issue of working safely at home.

Simply put, far too many people are working at home PCs in ways that pose a threat to their health. From bad desks to poor lighting to endless hours gripping a mouse or pounding a keyboard, many people are hurting themselves as they interact with the PC.

The injured don’t have to be working, of course. You can damage your wrists or your eyesight just as easily in chat rooms as you can preparing a report for the boss.

The injured don’t even have to be adults. Worse, kids’ still-growing bodies make them particularly vulnerable to injury.

What’s to be done?

We know OSHA won’t be getting involved. That pretty much leaves the job up to us. So, in the interest of your own health and well-being, take a few minutes to consider your computer setup.

Do you have a good-quality chair? Is it properly adjusted? What about your desktop? Is it positioned at the appropriate height?

And the monitor: Is it too near or too far? Should you upgrade to a better model that would be easier on your eyes?

Perhaps you don’t even know how to answer those questions. Here’s where you can use the Internet to your advantage. Type the word “ergonomics” into any search engine and you’ll find an enormous amount of data about the proper way to equip your work space.

You’ll also find an enormous amount of equipment for sale that aims to make your computer time more comfortable. Some of this stuff is useful and inexpensive.

For example, I’ve found a wrist rest to be a big help. And, though it’s not directly computer related, I’ve also found a telephone headset provides blessed relief from having to cradle the phone on my shoulder while I type.

Other equipment apparently works better for some folks than others. The odd permutations of the computer mouse and the strange configurations of some desk chairs never seemed right to me, but others swear by them.

As a general rule, I wouldn’t buy anything that I’d hesitate to throw away if it didn’t work out.

The right office equipment is worth whatever money it costs. So don’t be overly frugal about it. Too many people happily spend thousands of dollars on their computer equipment but refuse to pay even a couple of hundred for a decent desk and chair.

If you’re a parent, take a peek at what the kids are doing in front of their computers.

Yeah, every teenager in America slouches in his or her desk chair, at least some of the time. But see if you can at least alert youngsters to the proper seating posture and the potential health hazards of bad form.

Finally, if you think this is all so much overkill, talk to anyone who has experienced carpal tunnel syndrome or repetitive stress injury or any other ailment from computer usage.

You’ll surely get an earful about the pain and the loss of productivity that can result when a worker suddenly can’t use his or her computer. It’s a fate worth avoiding--even if the government won’t be checking up on you.