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Control Room Ergonomics for 12-Hour Shifts

A workstation guide for control rooms, public safety answering points (9-1-1 dispatch) and other mission critical environments.



Ergonomic guidelines available for ordinary office furniture must be expanded because they specialized furniture used in mission critical environments is used around the clock, ad more intensely than ordinary office furniture.


Here is a guide for control room furniture including common mistakes and how to address them. Some changes can be implemented by the operator while others must be attended by the organization.


How to start adjusting your workstation?

First of all, any changes that you do must be done for a specific reason. Not at random, otherwise not only will you not solve the issue at hand, you will end up creating another pressure point that hinders your performance in the control center. So how do you actually start? It is simple, begin by setting your chair in a neutral position. That means the backrest the seat depth and height. Make sure to leave your chair in a neutral position.


1.Adjust your chair before adjusting anything else

With the chair in a neutral position, raise the seat height to the max. Seat on the chair, ensuring your back is touching the lumbar support (which we are not adjusting yet) and bring the chair down until the heels are firmly on the ground and the pressure underneath the thighs has disappeared.


Next, adjust the backrest. Seat all the way back into your chair and depending on the type of chair you have, you’ll perform the following changes:


  1. If the backrest goes up and down and you hear a click, then move the backrest all the way up and lower it, click by click, until you feel your lower back supported by the chair.

  2. If the backrest slides up and down without making any clicks just raise the backrest to the top and while you are sitting down all the way to the back, lower it until it stops on its own. You should feel support on your lower back. Lock the backrest in place.

  3. With a height adjustable lumbar support, just place it at waist level ad adjust the pressure so it is comfortable and supportive.


Adjusting the armrest is simpler. With your neck relaxed, set the armrest where your forearms are bended to a 90 angle, so they are available if you need them but are never in the way.


At this point you will have a chair that has adjusted to your body. The job of the chair is to mold to your body and provide support.


2. Arrange the Monitors Around the Work

Control rooms often rely on multiple displays but monitor count alone does not determine whether the setup is appropriate. The more useful question is: Which screen receives the most attention, and does viewing it require repeated head or body rotation?


Place the primary display directly in front of the operator. Locate secondary displays according to how frequently they are used, with the most important screens closest to the central viewing area. The work surface should provide enough depth to maintain a comfortable viewing distance. OSHA guidance identifies at least 20 inches, or about 50 centimetres, as a practical minimum, while recognizing that screen size, text size and the task also influence placement.


Monitor height, tilt and angle should be adjustable. Glare should be managed through screen position, matte work surfaces and controllable lighting. When a laptop is used for prolonged work, a docking station or external monitor, keyboard and pointing device can help separate screen position from input-device position.


3. Reduce the Reach You Repeat All Shift

A reach performed once may be insignificant. A reach repeated throughout a 12-hour shift deserves attention. Frequently used equipment should remain in the operator’s primary work zone, close enough to use without leaning, stretching or moving the elbow far from the body.


  • Keep the keyboard, mouse, telephone and frequently used controls close to the operator.

  • Place the mouse as close to the keyboard as practical.

  • Consider a compact keyboard or detachable number pad when it allows a closer mouse position and still supports the task.

  • Choose an input device (mouse or other pointer) that fits the user’s hand, abilities and operational requirements.

  • Use hands-free communication when the operator must type or manipulate controls while speaking.

  • Position frequently referenced documents near the monitor and at a similar viewing height.

  • Use a wrist rest during pauses rather than planting the wrists on it while actively typing.


A control room should not assume that one mouse or headset fits everyone. Where equipment is shared, offering compatible options can improve fit without changing the underlying system.


4. Make Room for the Operator, Not Just the Equipment

The area beneath a control-room console is working space. Files, computer equipment, bags and storage should not occupy the room needed by the legs and feet. Operators should be able to bring the chair close to the workstation and change seated positions without striking equipment or being forced to sit at a distance.


Hard or angled desk edges can also place pressure on the wrists and forearms. Rounded edges, appropriately designed furniture or suitable edge padding can reduce direct contact pressure. If a desk is too high or too low, the preferred response is an approved, stable adjustment or properly designed adjustable furniture. Structural alterations and improvised supports should be evaluated and completed by qualified facilities personnel.


5. The Best Posture Is Not One Posture

Even a well-adjusted workstation can become uncomfortable when the operator remains in the same position for too long. Computer work often creates very few natural changes in body position, and this lack of movement can contribute to muscle pain and strain.


The practical objective is supported variation. Operators can alternate among comfortable seated positions, use a standing mode when the workstation and task allow, and take brief movement opportunities during natural pauses and scheduled breaks. A sit-stand surface can make position changes easier, but standing continuously simply replaces one static posture with another.


6. Ergonomics Includes What Operators Hear and See

Control-room ergonomics extends beyond physical posture. Conversations, radios, ventilation systems and sounds from a caller’s location can make communications harder to hear. Operators may respond by increasing headset volume, while feedback, interference or sudden changes in the communication system can create unwanted sound peaks.


Headsets should offer appropriate volume adjustment, suitable fit and, where needed, noise-limiting or noise-cancelling features. Providing more than one compatible design can help accommodate different users. Room-level controls may include greater separation between stations, partial barriers, acoustic treatment on hard surfaces and maintenance of communication equipment.


Lighting should also reflect the task. Printed documents may require broader illumination, while computer work often benefits from controlled, focused lighting that does not create glare. Adjustable task lighting gives operators more control as daylight, tasks and screen content change.


What the operator can change and what the organization must provide

OPERATOR ACTIONS

ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIONS

Reset the chair, monitor, mouse, lighting and headset at the start of the shift.

Provide equipment with suitable adjustment ranges for the workforce and the task.

Keep frequently used devices close and the leg space clear.

Maintain chairs, consoles, displays and communication systems.

Use supported posture changes when work permits.

Design staffing and work practices that permit appropriate breaks and movement.

Report damaged equipment, poor fit, noise spikes and persistent discomfort.

Evaluate reported hazards, room acoustics and workstation fit through the health and safety process.

Sources and Further Reading



Note: This article provides general workplace ergonomic information. It is not medical advice and does not replace an assessment by a qualified ergonomics, occupational health or health care professional. Employers should also consult the occupational health and safety requirements that apply in their jurisdiction.

 
 
 

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