Ergonomics Tips For IT Pros

ergonomic tips It’s relatively easy to find information about how to make the workplace more ergonomic for the typical computer user.

But IT pros aren’t typical, and creating an ergonomically friendly environment in the server room is a bit more challenging.

Ergonomics refers to the science of designing a workplace or other environment to minimize discomfort and fatigue and by so doing, maximize productivity.

The most high profile ergonomics issue is probably that of repetitive stress injuries (RSIs). The most famous (or infamous) variety of RSI is carpal tunnel syndrome, although according to some medical experts, other types of RSI are actually more common in computer users.

However, there is much more to ergonomics than the avoidance of hand and arm pain. Here are some ways you can incorporate good ergonomic principles into the equipment you use and the way you perform the tasks of an IT pro, and thus avoid the associated health risks.

Are ergonomic keyboards necessary for the servers?

Unlike data entry workers, secretarial personnel, and some other users, an IT pro’s job doesn’t usually consist of continuously typing large amounts of text for hours on end.

Thus, ergonomic keyboards may not be as essential in the server room as at the desks of those types of users. However, some people are more sensitive than others to arm/wrist/hand (or even neck) injuries from holding your hands in an unnatural position.

If you’re one of those people, and/or if you find yourself at the keyboard for long periods without a break, an ergo keyboard can save you a lot of grief.