Section 3: Protecting Health

Physical Health

When working on a computer, our physical health can be compromised by how we sit. Many of us do not sit at our computers in a way that considers ergonomics – that is, the science of fitting the worker to the equipment with which they work. Watch this short three-minute video for tips on how to set up your desk and how to stretch throughout your day:

Mental Health

Our mental health can also take a toll when spending long periods of time online. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety offers a number of courses, fact sheets, podcasts, and more about mental health and office ergonomics, many of which are free. Consider, for example, taking their 30-minute course on Reducing Mental Health Stigma in the Workplace or their 20-minute course on Musculoskeletal Disorder Awareness – both are free.

References & Resources

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. (2022a). Home page. Government of Canada. https://www.ccohs.ca/

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. (2022b). Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs): Awareness. Government of Canada. https://www.ccohs.ca/products/courses/msd_awareness/

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. (2022c). Reducing mental health stigma in the workplace. Government of Canada. https://www.ccohs.ca/products/courses/phs-stigma/

Wall Street Journal. (2019, June 18). Ergonomics expert explains how to set up your desk | WSJ [Video}. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8_ME4VwTiw&ab_channel=WallStreetJournal