Ergonomics For The Next Generation

By Author: eormseo eorm
Total Articles: 11
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Today’s companies invest considerable time, training and equipment to prevent cumulative trauma injuries among employees as a result of poorly designed workspaces and worker habits. Unfortunately, today’s children – the next generation of workers – are at risk for developing these bad habits and injuries before they even enter the workforce.

Today, children are more apt to play on a computer inside rather than play games outside. At school, in the library or at night doing homework, kids are on computers for many hours every week, exposed to the same kinds of ergonomic injury risks as their parents face at work. As a result, today’s children are more likely to enter the workforce already plagued with the same types of injuries we typically associate with adults who have used computers for years.

In the best of situations the furniture at school or home has some adjustability or padding to reduce awkward postures and contact stresses. In more typical situations, the child is trying to contort themselves to fit into an adult sized computer workspace.

Cost effective and value-added Ergonomic Consultant

So, ...
... what are you doing to help your child prevent an injury? Well, this great video on Computer Ergonomics for Children, created by About, provides some great ideas to help fit your home’s computer workspace to your child.

Some furniture ideas to create a more comfortable and adjustable workspace include:
Adjustable height computer table
Small, adjustable height chair
A tall foot rest (you can use a box)
Kid sized keyboard and mouse
Padded mousing surface

You can find affordable, good condition, used office furniture at your local furniture liquidator.

Teach your child about neutral posture and working close to the body.
Adjust your chair
Sit up to reduce back strain
Bring things close to reduce reaching
Take frequent micro-breaks to break up static postures (stand up for 20 seconds every 20 minutes, with a 5-10 minute break every hour)

Some simple and affordable changes to your home office, along with good work practices, can go a long way to making your child’s future pain and injury free.