Arranging your workstation components

Appropriate placement of the components and accessories for the desktop computer workstation will allow you to work in neutral body positions, help you perform more efficiently, and work more comfortably and safe.

The following sections explain how to select and arrange specific workstation components.

Monitors

Monitor Quick Tips

Put monitor directly in front of you and at least 20 inches away.
Place monitor so top line of screen is at or below eye level.
Place monitor perpendicular to window.

Choosing a suitable monitor and placing it in an appropriate position helps reduce exposure to forceful exertions, awkward postures, and overhead glare. This helps prevent possible health effects such as excessive fatigue, eye strain, and neck and back pain.

Consider the following issues to help improve your computer workstation:
Viewing Distance
Viewing Angle-Height and Side-to-Side
Viewing Time
Viewing Clarity

Viewing Distance

Potential Hazards
Monitors placed too close or too far away may cause you to assume awkward body positions that may lead to eyestrain.
Viewing distances that are too long can cause you to lean forward and strain to see small text. This can fatigue the eyes and place stress on the torso because the backrest is no longer providing support.
Viewing distances that are too short may cause your eyes to work harder to focus (convergence problems) and may require you to sit in awkward postures. For instance, you may tilt your head backward or push your chair away from the screen, causing you to type with outstretched arms.
Preferred viewing distance is 20 to 40 inches

Possible Solutions
Sit at a comfortable distance from the monitor where you can easily read all text with your head and torso in an upright posture and your back supported by your chair. Generally, the preferred viewing distance is between 20 and 40 inches (50 and 100 cm) from the eye to the front surface of the computer screen
Note: text size may need to be increased for smaller monitors.

Provide adequate desk space between the user and the monitor. If there is not enough desk space, consider doing the following:
Make more room for the back of the monitor by pulling the desk away from the wall or divider; or
Provide a flat-panel display, which is not as deep as a conventional monitor and requires less desk space or
Place monitor in the corner of a work area. Corners often provide more desk depth than a straight run of desk top.
Move back and install an adjustable keyboard tray to create a deeper working surface.