Injuries Related to Computer Workstations

For many people who work in an office or from home, spending hours in front of a computer is a daily occurrence. However, what might seem like quiet, sedentary work can actually be quite dangerous. Computer workstations pose significant risks of injury that employees and office managers should be aware of to prevent long-term issues and provide a safe, comfortable place to work.

Joint and Muscle Problems

• Many of the injuries related to computer workstations come in the form of joint or muscle issues involving the back, neck and shoulders. Fatigue and muscle strain can occur when an employee has bad posture, or simply from remaining in a single position for extended periods of time. Neck injuries can occur when a computer monitor is positioned either too high or too low, forcing the user to constantly look up or down.

  Besides having use of a supportive, ergonomic desk chair, workers should be sure to walk away from the workstation at regular intervals to use joints and stretch muscles that might be compressed while working. They should also place their monitors at eye level to avoid the need to constantly bend at the neck.

Vision Problems

• Another common injury risk at a computer workstation is damage to the eyes from looking at a computer monitor. According to Hazards Magazine, studies have failed to show that time spent reading a screen can cause long-term eye damage, but short-term problems are in fact a frequent occurrence. These include dry, red eyes, blurry vision, headaches and temporary myopia, which results in an inability to focus on distant objects.

  A computer user can avoid some of these problems by tilting the monitor to avoid glare from overhead lights or nearby windows. Adding an anti-glare coating to the screen is another option. Finally, some people try using eye drops and special glasses made to reduce eye strain specifically for computer users.

Shocks

• Though not as common, electrical shocks are another danger posed by computer workstations. Overloaded outlets or loose cables can expose wired and subject a worker to a powerful shock that may be able to burn skin.

  To avoid shocks, make sure that all power cables are laid out neatly and that devices are plugged in firmly without placing tension on the word. Users should also never unplug devices by tugging on the cords, but rather should grip the head of the plug, or turn the device off by using the power button directly or turning off a surge protector.