Health · Move and sleep
Desk Reset: desk ergonomics and better posture
Six lessons on setting up your chair, screen, keyboard and mouse from workplace safety guidance in Australia, the UK and the US, then changing how you work so you move more. Includes a printable checklist and a request template for your employer.
About this course
Desk ergonomics and better posture: set up your workstation.
Starter · About 1 hour of learning · 6 lessons · 17 quick checks · 1 download
Who it's for
Anyone who works at a desk, laptop or shared workstation, at home or in an office, in Australia, the UK, the US or elsewhere.
How it works
6 guided lessons in your browser, with worked examples, exercises and a quick check after each lesson. Progress is saved in this browser only, and you can restart at any time.
Sources we rely on
20 published sources, mostly regulators and official bodies, listed below so you can check the original guidance yourself.
By the end you can
- Explain what a neutral working posture is and why changing position matters as much as the setup
- Adjust a chair, screen, keyboard and mouse using HSE, OSHA and Safe Work Australia guidance
- Bring a laptop, home or shared desk up to the same standard as a fixed workstation
- Plan a workday with short, frequent breaks and position changes
- Ask your employer for workstation help and know when to see a health professional
Downloads
- Desk setup checklist and action plan .docxChair, screen, keyboard, mouse and lighting checks, a two-minute hot-desk reset, a break plan and an employer request template.
Rules by country
Learning time
About 1 hour of learning. May count towards your CPD or professional development; check your professional body's rules. Estimated from reading time, exercises, quick checks and downloads.
Sources
Check the originals.
Drafted with AI assistance and run through automated quality and source checks. How these courses are made. Spotted an error or out-of-date rule? Send a correction.
General information only, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or another qualified health professional about your situation. In an emergency call 000 (AU), 999 (UK), 911 (US/Canada) or 111 (NZ).
- Working safely with display screen equipment: overview · Health and Safety Executive (UK)
- Good posture when using display screen equipment · Health and Safety Executive (UK)
- Work routine and breaks (DSE) · Health and Safety Executive (UK)
- Eyes and eyesight testing (DSE) · Health and Safety Executive (UK)
- Computer Workstations eTool: good working positions · Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US)
- Computer Workstations eTool: monitors · Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US)
- Computer Workstations eTool: chairs · Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US)
- Computer Workstations eTool: keyboards · Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US)
- Computer Workstations eTool: workstation environment · Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US)
- Sitting and standing · Safe Work Australia
- Working from home · Safe Work Australia
- Infographic: Setting up your workstation (July 2023) · Safe Work Australia
- Setting up your workstation · WorkSafe Queensland (Queensland Government)
- How to improve your posture · healthdirect (Australian Government-funded)
- Back pain · NHS (UK)
- Triple Zero (000) · Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
- When to call 999 · NHS (UK)
- National 911 Program · 911.gov (US Government)
- Australian health services and 24-hour health advice line · healthdirect (Australian Government-funded)
- NHS 111 online · NHS (UK)
Publisher
Who publishes this course.
Published by trainyourself.org, a trading name of Combine TRS Pty Ltd (ABN 42 112 983 678), Brisbane, Australia.
How it's made: drafted with AI assistance from published official public-health and government guidance, then run through automated quality checks against our course depth standard and automated source checks that match each rule to its official source, listed above. The course guide is an AI presenter and is labelled as one. Read how these courses are made.
Last updated:
General information, not tax, accounting, legal or professional advice. Spotted an error or an out-of-date rule? Send us a correction.
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