Hybrid working’s good but is your set-up?
Tips from Ergonomist, David Smith
Hybrid work, which combines remote work with in-office attendance, has become a defining feature of the post-pandemic knowledge-based workforce in Australia.
A survey by the Swinburne University of Technology in May this year found the number of people working hybrid had risen from 56 per cent in 2022 to now more than 72 per cent. But large organisations such as Tabcorp, NSW Government and the “Big Four" accounting firms (PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG), as well as major banks like Westpac and Commonwealth Bank, are leading the charge for an increased workplace presence. These mandates are largely driven by concerns over productivity, maintaining corporate culture, and managing teams more effectively in person.
Despite the push to return to the office, remote and hybrid work remains popular and attractive for recruitment and is very much here to stay.
So with employees having worked from home in some capacity for four years now, it’s more important than ever to enable proper home (and office) ergonomic setup to prevent health issues like musculoskeletal disorders, eye strain, and fatigue.
In our practice, we continue to see wild and not so wonderful set-ups from dining chairs and cushions, stools, kitchen tables and all day lap top use.
Shared Safety and Risk’s Senior Ergonomist, David Smith assists many organisations with virtual and in-home workstation assessments, often when a physical injury has already occurred, to set-up a comfortable workstation and implement safe work practices. He shares that:
When looking to set up a home office, the main factor to look for is adjustability. Chairs which are adjustable with seat height and backrest angle can be adjusted to suit most postures. Height adjustable desks are also beneficial as they can be adjusted to a comfortable sitting height to reduce neck and shoulder discomfort from working at a desk which is too high. It also allows intermittent work in standing. Household items come in handy when adjusting the home office equipment. The monitor can be raised on several hard-backed books, a cushion can be used to raise the seat height or increase back support, and a ream of copy paper makes a suitable temporary footrest.
Employers have a legal WHS responsibility to reasonably and practicably ensure the health and safety of their workers in the home environment. Checklists and photo verifications were well utilised back in ‘Covid times’ but are these practices ongoing or in place for new employees? Is the known fact that people tend to perform for longer hours with less breaks at home considered?
David’s key tips to enhance our home based work environment and practices:
Aim for an office chair with height adjustable seat, an adjustable backrest and no armrests (or height adjustable armrests). Where possible, try before purchase to ensure that the seat pan is the correct depth for your thigh length
When working at a fixed height desk, raise the seat height so that the elbows are just above the desktop and the forearms slightly slope down to the keyboard. This will assist in reducing tension across the shoulders.
If purchasing a sit/stand desk, look for a desk that can be lowered below 700mm (top of desk to floor), as it may eliminate the need to use a footrest.
The main aim when at a workstation is to keep moving. Set a timer for 45 minutes so that you can interrupt prolonged sitting by regularly standing and stretching.
Use our workstation set up guide for more tips here: https://www.sharedsafetyandrisk.com.au/s/Workstation-Safety.pdf
If you or any of your workers need assistance with home or office-based workstation set-up and work practices, reach out to info@sharedsafetyandrisk.com.au and our experienced Ergonomists can assist
