Tablets & Cell Phones

Mobile working arrangements often mean that workers use smartphones and hand-held tablets in their daily work routines. However, these mobile computing devices are not ergonomically designed and can cause musculoskeletal problems if used frequently or for long periods of time. Consider the following when using a tablet or smartphone:

• If you must do a lot of text entry or computer work, use a workstation whenever possible, not a smartphone or tablet.
• Use a hands-free headset if you are using a smartphone for extended phone calls, rather than cradling it between your shoulder and chin.
• When possible, use speech-recognition input apps for texting to reduce the amount of repetitive motion for your thumbs.
• Find a tablet stand that props the device to a comfortable viewing angle so that you do not have to crouch over the tablet or flex your neck downward to look at it.
• Use a separate keyboard if you must use a tablet for text entry.
• If you must hold a tablet for a long period of time, consider getting a hand strap to reduce the grip strength needed to hold the tablet.

To learn more about Office Ergonomics visit our Office Ergonomics Online Training web page.