The Office Chair
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Can the height, seat and back of the chair be adjusted to achieve the posture outlined below?
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Suggested Actions:
• Obtain a fully adjustable chair -
Are your feet fully supported by the floor when you are seated?
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Suggested Actions:
• Lower the chair
• Use a footrest -
Does your chair provide support for your lower back?
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Suggested Actions:
• Adjust chair back
• Obtain proper chair
• Obtain lumbar roll -
When your back is supported, you able to sit without feeling pressure from the chair seat on the back of your knees?
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Suggested Actions:
• Adjust seat pan
• Add a back support -
Do your armrests allow you to get close to your workstation?
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Suggested Actions:
• Adjust armrests
• Remove armrests -
Correct seating position at office desk
Keyboard & Mouse
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Are your keyboard, mouse and work surface at your elbow height?
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Suggested Actions:
• Raise / lower workstation
• Raise or lower keyboard
• Raise or lower chair -
Are frequently used items within easy reach?
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Suggested Actions:
• Rearrange workstation -
Is the keyboard close to the front edge of the desk allowing space for the wrist to rest on the desk surface?
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Suggested Actions:
• Move keyboard to correct position -
When using your keyboard and mouse, are your wrists straight and your upper arms relaxed?
NB:- The keyboard should be flat and not propped up on keyboard legs as an angled keyboard may place the wrist in an awkward posture when keying. -
Suggested Actions:
• Re-check chair, raise or lower as needed
• Check posture
• Check keyboard and mouse height -
Is your mouse at the same level and as close as possible to your keyboard?
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Suggested Actions:
• Move mouse closer to keyboard
• Obtain larger keyboard tray if necessary -
Is the mouse comfortable to use?
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Suggested Actions:
• Rest your dominant hand by using the mouse with your other hand.
• Investigate alternate mouse options -
Hand Position for use with keyboard
Work Surface
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Is your monitor positioned directly in front of you?
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Suggested Actions:
• Reposition monitor -
Is your monitor positioned at least an arm’s length away?
Note: the monitor’s location is dependent on the size of the monitor, the font, screen resolution and the individual user e.g. vision/use of bifocal spectacles etc. -
Suggested Actions:
• Reposition monitor
• Seek an alternative monitor if necessary e.g. flat screen that uses less space -
Is your monitor height slightly below eye level?
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Suggested Actions:
• Add or remove monitor stand
• Adjust monitor height -
Is your monitor and work surface free from glare?
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Suggested Actions:
• Windows at side of monitor
• Adjust overhead lighting
• Cover windows
• Obtain antiglare screen -
Do you have appropriate light for reading or writing documents?
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Suggested Actions:
• Obtain desk lamp
• Place on left if right-handed – place on right if left handed -
Are frequently used items located within the usual work area and items which are only used occasionally in the occasional work area?
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Suggested Actions:
• Rearrange workstation -
Correct seating position
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Working zones
Breaks
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Do you take postural breaks every 30 minutes? E.g. standing, walking to printer / fax etc.?
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Suggested Actions
• Set reminders to take breaks -
Do you take regular eye breaks from looking at your monitor?
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Suggested Actions
• Refocus on picture on wall every 30 minutes
Accessories
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Is there a sloped desk surface or angle board for reading and writing tasks if required? -
Suggested Action:
• Obtain an angle board -
Is there a document holder either beside the screen or between the screen and keyboard if required? -
Suggested Action:
• Obtain document holder -
Are you using a headset or speakerphone if you are writing or keying while talking on the phone? -
Suggested Action:
• Obtain a headset if using the phone and keyboard
• Use Shoretel in conjunction with headset (Domain is shoretel.qprc.nsw.gov.au) or contact IT for assistance
Laptop
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In the event of using a laptop computer for prolonged periods of time use of;
• A full sized external keyboard and mouse;
• Docking station with full sized monitor or a laptop stand -
Suggested Action:
• Obtain appropriate laptop accessories
"Hot Desking" (when applicable)
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Provided time, support and supervision to make above adjustments.
Sign Off
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Enter any comments or recommendations in this field prior to sign off.
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Following completion of this checklist, please discuss any concerns or requirements with your supervisor or the WHS team.
All completed assessments should be submitted to your supervisor. -
Assessed Staff Member
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Assessor
