Adjustments for an Ergonomic Workstation: A Guide for Control Room Operators

In the fast-paced environment of control rooms, where dispatchers and telecommunicators work tirelessly to ensure public safety, the importance of an ergonomic workstation cannot be overstated. Proper setup of your chair, monitor, keyboard, mouse, phone, lighting, and desk accessories, along with regular breaks and training, can prevent physical strain and enhance your ability to perform your duties effectively. This blog post will guide you through the essential steps to create an ergonomic workstation, combining insights from two valuable sources.

Adjust Your Chair

To ensure your chair provides optimal support and comfort, it must adjust to your body and mold to your shape, allowing you to maintain a flat back while seated.

Begin by bringing the chair to a neutral position. Raise the height of the chair to its maximum setting. Sit down and adjust the seat height until your heels are firmly on the ground and the pressure under your thighs has disappeared.

Engineering laboratory control room for Kinectrics

Next, adjust the seat depth to its minimum setting and raise the backrest height to its maximum. Once seated, adjust the backrest until it stops by itself as it comes into contact with your lower back. It should stop where you feel the maximum pressure, ensuring comfort and support without hollowing your back or causing you to slouch.

For taller users, block the backrest and calibrate the pressure felt in the lower back. If there is too much pressure or excessive space behind the knees, move the seat forward by one click. Check the pressure again. If it is still too high, move the seat forward by another click. If the pressure decreases too much, move the seat back by one click to find the correct position for the user.

Next, let's adjust the armrests of your chair. Relax your neck and position the armrests so that they support your forearms when bent at a 90-degree angle. Ensure they are available for support when needed, but not obstructing your movements

Position Your Monitor

Your monitor should be at arm's length, with the top of the screen at eye level. This setup prevents eye strain and encourages a neutral posture. Tilt the screens so that the image is facing you, similar to how you read a book. If you use multiple monitors, align them so that you are centered between them. For two rows of monitors, ensure the edges of both rows are at eye level to minimize neck movement.

Screen Height

Monitors should be positioned below the horizontal line originating from your eyes, approximately 10 degrees below. Tilt the screens to face you directly, similar to reading a book.

Screen Depth

Monitors should be positioned at a 20-inch distance from the operators. Approximately at arm length.

911 backup emergency center with 2 rows of monitors

Mind Your Mouse and Keyboard

To ensure your workspace is ergonomic and comfortable, place your keyboard where your hands naturally rest and position your mouse next to it. Keep your neck relaxed and move from your elbow rather than your shoulder to prevent strain. Aim for a 20-degree range of motion, both forwards and sideways, to cover the tools you use most frequently.

Beyond this 20-degree range, place the tools you use less often. Avoid reaching for your tools; instead, keep them within easy reach to maintain a comfortable posture, but not in the way of the most used items like the keyboard and mouse.

Layout of a control console

Beyond shoulder reach, place items you use even less frequently. If you have accessories, put them where there is space. For example, a left-handed operator can place their notepad on the left, while a right-handed operator can use it as a mousepad. Keep the pen close by, so you either have the mouse or the pen in your right hand. If you use paper documents just for reading, they can be placed between the screen and the keyboard.

Position Your Phone

Place your phone on your non-writing side to avoid cradling it with your shoulder, which can lead to neck pain. In control rooms like PSAPs, emergency dispatchers often use headsets to keep their hands free for typing and writing.

911 telecommunicator with headset

Adjust Your Worksurface

To ensure your workspace is ergonomic and comfortable, it is crucial to adjust the worksurface to the correct height. The worksurface should be placed at a height where your elbows are bent at a 90-degree angle.

First, relax your shoulders. Bend your elbows at 90 degrees and stretch your fingers. The position of your fingertips is where the keyboard should be. Move towards the desk and raise the desk until the keyboard touches your fingertips. This adjustment applies to both sitting and standing positions.

Adjustable control console, side section view

An alternative method is to raise the worksurface higher than needed with your hands resting at the keyboard’s position. This will create a pressure line on the edge of the desk where it touches your arm. Lower the surface until the pressure line disappears, indicating the worksurface is at the right height. Then, make micro adjustments depending on the thickness of the keyboard.

Additional Elements for a proper control console setup

Lighting

Proper lighting is essential to reduce eye strain and maintain focus. Ensure your workstation is well-lit. Use task lighting to illuminate your work area without causing glare on your screens; the light should come from the sides. Note that in some centers, operators prefer to work without overhead lighting and use task lights only when reading documents.

Task light for heavy duty use.

Breaks and Movement

Encourage regular breaks and movement to prevent stiffness and fatigue. Implement a schedule that allows for short breaks every hour to stretch and move around. This practice can significantly improve your overall health and productivity.

Training and Awareness

Provide training and raise awareness about the importance of ergonomics among control room operators. Educate them on the best practices for setting up their workstations and the benefits of maintaining an ergonomic environment.

We can help you create an ergonomic workspace for control room operators

By following these ergonomic guidelines and incorporating additional elements, control room operators can create a workspace that promotes comfort and efficiency. Remember, an ergonomic workstation is not just about comfort; it's about ensuring you can work at your best, day in and day out. Contact us if you have any questions or need further assistance in setting up your control room workstation!