To reduce repetitive strain injuries and add to employee satisfaction, repetitive work can be combined with other tasks requiring different skills. Physical exercise can play a role in prevention. To reduce lower back and leg discomfort, sedentary work should allow for activities that enable periodic changes in posture. Work requiring static positions for lengthy periods can disturb normal circulation and muscle activity. Employees can get up and stretch occasionally to relieve muscular tension.
Physical exercise can also help to increase circulation and strengthen muscles.
To reduce stress, task demands can be fitted to employee characteristics through the design of the workplace and the task, through placement based on ability or through task-related training. The involvement of employees in decisions that affect them, where practicable, helps to ensure a good match between the job and the employee. A National Standard of Canada, published by the Canadian Standard Association. The Standard has been adopted as a guide for the Public Service by the Treasury Board. The criteria for its implementation is found in the Treasury Board Information Technology Standard 13, Guideline on Office Ergonomics.