If you’re only occasionally checking emails at home, doing so from the sofa or kitchen table might suffice. However, if you work from home more frequently, it’s essential to ensure that your equipment is fit for purpose.
Swivel Chair
- Seat depth and backrest height must be adjustable to suit the user’s body measurements. It’s also important that the back is properly supported. Chairs with armrests are beneficial as they help to relieve tension in the shoulder area and prevent muscular strain.
- Anyone who spends long periods sitting should also pay attention to what’s known as dynamic sitting, which allows the seat and backrest to adapt to the user’s movements.
Desk
- The desk height should be adjustable to meet the user’s needs. Ideally, even in a home office, a sit/stand desk should be chosen to allow a change between sitting and standing while working. Strongly reflective or glossy surfaces should be avoided to protect the eyes. Glass is also not a suitable material for desktop surfaces.
- You should also ensure that the desk provides a sufficiently large working area. This must allow for the free arrangement of all work materials. For telework, just like in an office, the desk should have a minimum surface area of 160 cm x 80 cm. For short-term mobile work, the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) recommends a minimum of 80 cm x 60 cm, which should not be undercut (see DGUV specialist information Working from Home – Not Only During the SARS-CoV‑2 Pandemic).
Technology
Your home office setup should include one or more large monitors, a keyboard and a mouse. Working for extended periods on a laptop without these additions can be harmful to your back and neck muscles.
There must be no compromises when it comes to safety. For example, in the home office, all cables must also be securely fastened. Loose or dangling cables can pose tripping hazards not only for the user but also for family members.
Lighting
- Just as important as the furniture is the lighting. The workspace should be sufficiently bright so that documents are easily readable. A contrast between a well-lit work area and a slightly dimmer surrounding environment is advisable. However, even in the evening, the difference in brightness should not be too stark, otherwise the eyes will constantly need to adjust when glancing around the room.
- Glare from sunlight or bright artificial light sources must be avoided. The desk should be positioned so that light sources are not reflected in the monitor and the user is not looking directly into a window.
Positioning
- When equipping and positioning home office workstations, make sure there is enough space to move freely while working. Ideally, there should be at least one metre of free space in front of the desk. For short-term home office use (mobile work), a depth of 80 cm is acceptable.
