You may have been visited by the human resources representative to verify that your workstation is ergonomically correct when you started your job. But down the road, you may have moved to a different workstation, and not gotten another ergonomic evaluation. As a customer service rep, you probably spend most of your day at your desk. As a result, you must keep your body healthy through effective ergonomics.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers these suggestions for how you can make ergonomic changes and keep them in place:

1. Encourage management support. Get your bosses involved. Supervisors may need workstation changes just like everyone else.
2. Involve all employees. Encourage participation by hosting a brief run-down of ergonomically correct workstation characteristics during lunch. Pick up a bunch of sandwiches so everyone can eat while they learn.
3. Identify problems. When you see an ergonomics problem, try to help out with the solution.
4. Implement solutions. Don’t allow problems to go unsolved. Figure out what solution is needed and then do what you can to help put it in place.
5. Address reports of injuries. Make sure your office doesn’t let injuries go unnoticed. Keep reports organized so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.
6. Evaluate ergonomic efforts continually. Don’t just implement new guidelines and then forget about them. Do frequent checks to make sure you’re maintaining an ergonomic workstation.

If you don’t keep up on ergonomics, you could face the following health problems: Carpal tunnel syndrome, musoskeletal problems, neck pain, headaches, shoulder and arm pain, and back pain. You also need to remember to take frequent breaks and stretch your arms, legs, back and neck several times a day to avoid injury.

Filed under: Customer Service Corner