Excerpt: Most people agree that big machines and power tools can be dangerous. A computer workstation seems pretty harmless by comparison, but as with other types of equipment using your computer equipment improperly can cause a lot of problems. Millions of people use computers during the workday. Unfortunately, for nearly one in five the experience has become painful in some way. As the number of computer workstations continues to increase, so do injuries from their use. Repetitive motions, poor lighting, and muscular stress, can cause conditions such as carpel tunnel syndrome, computer vision syndrome, and lower back pain. The blame for most of these injuries can be placed squarely on poor work habits and bad posture. Fortunately, with a little bit of work these problems are easy to correct. Let’s take a look at where most of the discomfort takes place, right in your own work area. The first order of business for a safe workplace is organization. For instance, materials that are spread too far apart hurt us more than we realize. Overstretching can cause chronic injuries like lower back pain. To prevent this organize your materials so they are no more than 14 to 18 inches away. Also, put as much in front of you as possible. This minimizes the need for you to twist or turn while sitting.