Experts at MyAbilities offer tips and free access to the Rapid Office Strain Assessment, or ROSA, so workers can work at home as safely as possible
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The world changed last week and office work will never be the same again. That is the conclusion drawn by the experts at MyAbilities, a leader in smart health technology and workplace safety.
“To help keep the population safe, while trying to maintain life we know in the best way possible, people are working from home in greater numbers than ever seen before,” says Dr. Michael Sonne, vice president, innovations and research at MyAbilities Technologies. “We’ll really get to see just how impactful this can be on our productivity, health and work-life balance. While many of us have had work from home opportunities in the past, this is going to pose a great challenge as no one really had time to prepare. It’s important to keep ergonomics in mind as you adjust to the new normal and your work from home environment.”
The company is providing a list of tips to help workers adjust to home office environments.
“Given the current climate of uncertainty and change, we are committed to helping businesses and workers make the best of the situation and realize that home offices can be just as comfortable and productive as the traditional office setting,” says Reed Hanoun, CEO at MyAbilities.
To help companies better equip and support their employees for work at home, MyAbilities is also offering a free two-month trial of ROSA, the Rapid Office Strain Assessment, a self-assessment tool for office ergonomics. ROSA provides guidance on proper setup for your computer workstation.
Working remotely has increasingly been considered by organizations as a viable option to provide flexibility to their workforce.
A few ergonomics tips
- Keep moving – sitting with your laptop on your knees and your neck bent down while on your couch is going to cause neck and back pain. Whenever possible, move between the couch, your desk, kitchen table, etc. Movement is key to preventing pain when you might not have dedicated office furniture.
- The laptop was meant for travel – and we’re all at home now. Remember that laptops were meant for portability – when you have the opportunity to plug your laptop into a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, take that chance.
- Be the MacGyver of your own office ergonomics – you might not have as many adjustments on your dining room chairs as you do with your office task chair, but take advantage of things like a rolled-up towel to give you more lumbar support, use a phone book or old text book to elevate your monitor while using a keyboard.
- The neck and shoulder hold gets tiring really fast – most of us have Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. These typically have a microphone built in. Avoid holding your cellphone between your neck and shoulder when you’re on conference calls and make the most out of these headsets.
ROSA was inspired because poor ergonomics is a leading cause of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Created in 2012, ROSA is an online tool that guides users through a self-assessment of their workstations. In addition, it provides immediate recommendations for adjustments to reduce discomfort. Used proactively it contributes to a reduction of lost time at work, an increase in productivity and can help with overall health and wellness.
This is the first time MyAbilities’ ROSA is offered at no cost. There is no commitment and no automatic renewal. To learn more about the ROSA, or any other programs from MyAbilities, visit http://new.myabilities.com/.
About MyAbilities Technologies Inc.
MyAbilities is a software company that delivers injury prevention and expedited return-to-work solutions through a cloud-based SaaS platform.
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