VDU – WORKSTATION LEAFLET

If you use a VDU at work or at home you may develop symptoms which relate to your sitting posture or the way you habitually use the equipment. We regularly see patients with these problems which can be severe enough to render them unable to work.

Part of our role is to alert you to these difficulties many of which can be minimised by selecting appropriate equipment, attending to the design of your workstation and organising the task at hand.

What type of problems:-

• Physical symptoms include neck and shoulder pain, headaches and low back pain which can affect the legs.
  
  
• Repetitive strain injury (RSI) which covers a range of conditions caused by overuse of muscles tendons and joints of the forearms.
  
  
• Visual fatigue leading to red or sore eyes and headaches. VDU work does not damage eyes, but if you have impaired vision (maybe without knowing it) you will more easily suffer the effects of tiredness and stress.
  
  
• General fatigue and stress can be suffered as a result of the way work is organised. Too high a workload, lack of control over its planning, under utilisation of skills and social isolation are known to contribute.
  

• You should adjust your chair so your knees are at a right angle and your feet flat on the floor. A footrest can be helpful.
  
  
• Your hips should be at a right angle so your spine is upright and supported up to the mid shoulder area. You should be able to recognise that your back is upright and shoulders relaxed rather than leaning forward and tense.
  
  
• Your chair should be able to fit under the desk at this height. Remove the arms if necessary, or the desk may need blocks to raise it.
  
  
• Sitting in the correct position like this with your elbows at a right angle your hands should rest on the keyboard with your wrists in a neutral position. You may need to adjust the tilt or add a tilt mechanism. Wrist raises can be helpful. If there is insufficient space for your forearms the monitor may need to be moved further away.
  

• Your seat height and backrest should be adjustable. The chair itself should be comfortable. If in doubt spend some time trying a number of different types or we can advise you. Choosing the right chair is extremely important and often not as expensive as you might think.
  
  
• You should sit directly facing the screen rather than twisting your body or neck to see the screen.
  
  
• You may need a document holder to bring work close to the screen and avoid re-focussing stress.
  
  
• Remove hazards and organise your space so that you can change position easily.
  
  
• Distance yourself from noisy machines.

• It is extremely important for you to have control over planning your work. This way you can mix your tasks so that you are not constantly ‘locked’ to your screen. You should be able to plan regular short breaks and be able to move around if you develop minor aches.
  
  
• A proper lunch break will help particularly if your can take a short walk. Ensure you drink enough fluid.
  
  
• Take into account whether you are tired unwell under stress or suffering the latest cold bug and structure your work accordingly
  
  
• If you start to develop physical symptoms, which are consistently increasing, you should be extra conscious of your posture and work planning.
  

• Lighting should be comfortable, not too bright or gloomy. Be prepared to change the intensity of light bulbs of fit blinds to remove glare.
  
  
• Temperature should be warm enough in winter, but not subject to overheating from machines in summer.
  
  
• Ensure you have enough training to enable you to be comfortable using your software rather than fighting it.
  
  
• Check the screen to confirm it is clean and the font is legible.
  
  
• Think about the tasks you perform most often. Do they involve twisting or awkward movements. If they do, can you help the situation by rearranging the desk?