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Importance of breaks 
Even if a computer workstation, including the monitor, is set up correctly, musculoskeletal discomfort and visual fatigue can still develop if prolonged periods are spent at the computer without taking short breaks. Short breaks are more important now because of the increased amount of time individuals spend using digital devices in both their work and their personal life. The current need to hold virtual, instead of in-person, meetings exacerbates this. Compared to when the eyes are continuously viewing objects in the mid-distance range, the eyes relax when briefly looking at objects further away. Before the current use of digital devices, this would occur naturally — when standing up, walking or moving around, or looking at distant objects. A simple way to give the eyes a visual break is to implement a 20-20-20 rule, where every 20 minutes we take a 20-second stretch break and look 20 feet away. For more information on preventing musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs), see the May 2021 Ergonomics Enews on preventing musculoskeletal injuries. Read more We're here to help For resources, please visit worksafebc.com/ergonomics. If you have questions about ergonomics, human factors or need help managing the risk of MSI in your workplace, please contact us at AskAnErgo@worksafebc.com | |
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