– developing a safety culture within your office environment

Office environment checklist

THIS CHECKLIST IS INTENDED AS A INDICATOR OF YOUR COMFORT, POSTURE AND SUPPORT POTENTIAL. YOU SHOULD DISCUSS
ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH YOUR EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE. YOUR EMPLOYER MAY ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR CHECKLIST.

Input device Is the device at the same

height as the keyboard?
Does your chair have adjustable
lumbar support height?
Is your keyboard directly in
front when you key?

Are your fingers, wrist and Does your chair have

forearm all in a straight line adjustable backrest angle
Is your keyboard placed so your while using the mouse? independent of seat tilt?
upper arms are close to your body?

If you use the mouse a lot, are you able Does your chair have adjustable
Can you maintain a natural to use the keyboard shortcut keys? seat tilt? (optional)
and straight posture of your
hands, wrists and forearms?

If your chair has armrests,

Monitor are they adjustable?

Optimum Is the monitor far enough away?

(i.e you do not feel the monitor
Reach Zone is too close – generally about an
arm’s length away is comfortable)
Can you adjust your chair so the
lumbar support fits snugly in the
Do you change the layout of your small of your back so that you
desk according to the task at hand, feel comfortable and supported
placing the frequently used and without any pressure points?
important items for that task in Are you able to look straight
the most convenient location? ahead at the monitor without
twisting your head or trunk?

Can you perform most of your work

Work surface
with your upper arms in a relaxed Is the top of your monitor at If your desk is height adjustable:
position close to your body? or below eye height?
f Does your chair allow you to place
your feet flat on the floor with
no pressure under your thighs
Is the image of your monitor clear and while still supporting them?

Mouse/ crisp, that is, not fuzzy nor flickering?

Pointing device f Is the desk adjusted so when

Is your monitor free from reflections? your elbows are at a right
Can the mouse be placed close to you
angle, your hands are at, or
and within your optimum reach zone?
slightly above the keyboard?

Is it placed just beside the keyboard?

Seating If your desk is not height adjustable:
Is your office chair supportive and f Does your seat adjustment allow
comfortable throughout the day? you to have your elbows at a
Does the mouse fit comfortably right angle and your hands at or
in your hand? (i.e. not too long, slightly above the keyboard?
round, short or flat etc.)
Do you know about sitting
in a correct posture?
If your feet are not flat on the
Can you place your fingers on floor do you have a footrest that
the buttons without accidentally supports both feet comfortably?
pressing the buttons? Does your chair have
adjustable seat height?

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 – developing a safety culture within your office environment

Is there sufficient space under the

desk for your legs and knees?
If you wear bi/tri/multi focal glasses,
can you adopt a comfortable posture?
Specific Tasks
(i.e. you do not need to bend your Are you able to touch type?
neck back to use the appropriate
part of the lens). You may need to
Is your desk size sufficient?* lower the height of your monitor.
If you frequently enter information into
the computer from copy, do you have
a document holder appropriate for the
* For single task you should have task that facilitates a healthy posture?
a desk minimum 800mm deep x
1200mm wide and for multi-task Personal Comfort
you should have a desk minimum Is the air temperature and the air
800mm deep x 1600mm wide. It is flow fresh and comfortable? If you spend long periods reading,
also highly desirable to have a desk do you have an angle board
900mm deep or deeper for larger/ to enable you to sit tall?
deeper conventional CRT monitors

Body Movement Distraction If you need to type and use the

Are the noise levels acceptable? telephone simultaneously, do you
Do you change posture at use a headset to avoid contortion
least every 10-15 minutes? of the neck and shoulder?

Do you have a variety of tasks that Stress

are carried out throughout the day?
Management OHS System
Do you feel you are able to implementation
Do you get out of your seat at least perform your tasks effectively?
Productivity is linked to a well
every hour even when you are busy? designed working environment.

Agree Disagree
Do you have reasonable,
Do you look away from the achievable deadlines?
Does your workplace facilitate
monitor and focus in the distance a healthy and comfortable
every 10-15 minutes at least? working environment through
When the workload is unrealistic any OHS programs?
are you able to discuss it and
Have you considered placing develop a reasonable solution?
equipment, eg printer, so you have to Is your workstation equipped
get out of your chair rather than twist? to allow you to adopt correct
Do you have some control postures while working?
in what order and how
When you are very busy do you activities are carried out?
consciously consider your muscles Are you aware of why you should work
particularly in the neck, shoulders and in a correct posture while working?
back to ensure they are relaxed?

Lighting
Have you had workplace training in:
Do you adjust your seat height to Is lighting appropriate for your work
f Relevant skills for your specific job?
a lower height when reading and space: not too much or too little?
writing compared to keying?

f Adjustment of furniture
Does an external light source & equipment?
shine into your eyes?

Spectacle use
f Occupational Health and Safety?
Is the prescription appropriate
for computer use?

Office Ergonomics | Discomfort Prevention | Productivity | Cost Benefits