Ergonomic Workspace Auditor

Evaluate your workspace setup for ergonomic correctness -- monitor height, chair position, lighting, keyboard placement, and break frequency -- with prioritized improvement recommendations. This skill acts as a personal ergonomics consultant that walks you through a structured assessment of your workstation, identifies risk factors for repetitive strain injuries and back pain, and provides actionable fixes ranked by impact and cost.

Supported Platforms & Integrations

Platform	Integration Type	Features
Apple Health	XML export parsing	Correlate stand hours and movement data with break compliance tracking
Fitbit	JSON export parsing	Analyze sedentary time alerts and hourly movement data against recommendations
Google Calendar	ICS analysis	Schedule break reminders and micro-exercise sessions between meetings
Notion	Markdown export	Export audit reports and improvement checklists as Notion-compatible pages
Toggl Track	CSV export	Analyze continuous work session durations to identify break frequency gaps

When to Use

• New workspace setup -- when setting up a new home office or desk, run a full audit to get everything right from the start
• Pain symptom investigation -- experiencing wrist pain, neck strain, lower back ache, or eye fatigue and want to identify workspace causes
• Equipment purchase decisions -- before buying a new chair, monitor arm, or keyboard, assess which upgrade would have the highest ergonomic impact
• Periodic re-assessment -- quarterly audits to catch gradual drift in posture habits and equipment positioning
• Standing desk optimization -- calibrate sit-stand desk heights and transition schedules for both positions
• Multi-monitor configuration -- optimize placement angles, heights, and distances for dual or triple monitor setups

Alternatives to consider:

• For real-time posture monitoring, hardware devices like Upright Go or Lumo Lift provide continuous biofeedback
• For professional workplace assessments, consult a certified ergonomist (CPE) for hands-on evaluation
• For guided desk exercises, apps like StretchMinder or Wakeout offer video-guided micro-routines

Quick Start

Copy
# ergonomic-workspace-auditor.yaml
skill:
  name: ergonomic-workspace-auditor
  description: Evaluate and optimize workspace ergonomics
  config:
    user_height_cm: 178
    workspace_type: home_office      # home_office, corporate, hybrid, standing
    primary_work: programming        # programming, writing, design, general
    monitors: 2
    hours_per_day: 8
    current_complaints: ["neck_pain", "eye_fatigue"]
    storage_path: ~/.claude/ergonomics/

Example interaction:

User: Audit my workspace. I'm 178cm, sit at a standard desk with
      one 27" monitor, use a laptop keyboard, no external mouse.

Assistant: Ergonomic Workspace Audit -- March 15, 2026

  CRITICAL ISSUES (fix immediately):
  [!] Laptop keyboard forces wrist deviation and forward lean
      Fix: Get an external keyboard ($30-80) and position at elbow height
  [!] Single monitor without stand likely below eye level
      Fix: Monitor top edge should be at eye level. Use a stand or arm.

  MODERATE ISSUES:
  [~] No external mouse increases RSI risk with trackpad use
      Fix: Ergonomic mouse ($25-60) reduces wrist pronation
  [~] Standard desk may not be at correct height for 178cm
      Ideal desk height: 72-75cm. Measure and adjust or use a riser.

  Overall Score: 4/10 -- significant improvements available
  Estimated cost for critical fixes: $55-140

Advanced Configuration

Platform-specific setup for break scheduling with Google Calendar:

Copy
breaks:
  method: pomodoro              # pomodoro, 20-20-20, custom
  work_minutes: 50
  break_minutes: 10
  micro_break_seconds: 20       # for 20-20-20 eye rule
  micro_break_interval_min: 20
  calendar_integration: google
  calendar_id: primary

Full parameter reference:

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
user_height_cm	number	170	Your height for calculating ideal desk and chair measurements
workspace_type	string	home_office	Type: home_office, corporate, hybrid, standing
primary_work	string	general	Work type: programming, writing, design, general
monitors	number	1	Number of monitors in your setup
monitor_size_inches	number	27	Primary monitor diagonal size
has_external_keyboard	boolean	false	Whether you use an external keyboard
has_external_mouse	boolean	false	Whether you use an external mouse
chair_type	string	standard	Chair: standard, ergonomic, kneeling, ball, standing
hours_per_day	number	8	Average hours at the workstation per day
current_complaints	array	[]	Current pain points to prioritize
budget_range	string	moderate	Budget for fixes: minimal, moderate, generous
break_method	string	pomodoro	Break scheduling: pomodoro, 20-20-20, custom
lighting_type	string	mixed	Lighting: natural, artificial, mixed

Core Concepts

Concept	Description
Neutral Posture	Body position where joints are naturally aligned and muscles are at resting length -- the foundation of all ergonomic recommendations
90-90-90 Rule	Elbows, hips, and knees should each be at approximately 90 degrees when seated, with feet flat on the floor
20-20-20 Rule	Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain from screen focus
Contact Stress	Pressure on soft tissue from resting wrists on hard desk edges or forearms on chair armrests without padding
Visual Ergonomics	Monitor distance (arm's length), height (top at eye level), brightness (matching ambient light), and angle optimization

  Ideal Seated Workstation (Side View)
  ====================================

         [Monitor] <-- top edge at eye level
            |          arm's length distance
            |      
     -------+-------  <-- desk at elbow height
    |               |
    |   [Keyboard]  |  <-- wrists floating, slight negative tilt
    |               |
     -----+---+-----
          |   |
     [Chair seat]     <-- thighs parallel to floor
          |   |
     [Feet flat]      <-- on floor or footrest

Workflow Examples

Scenario 1: Standing desk height calibration

Input:  "I just got a standing desk. I'm 178cm. What heights should I set?"
Output: Standing Desk Calibration for 178cm:
        Standing height: 109-112cm (elbow at 90 degrees when typing)
        Sitting height: 72-75cm (same elbow rule, seated)
        Monitor: Raise 10-15cm above desk surface when standing
        Anti-fatigue mat: strongly recommended for standing sessions
        Schedule: Start with 30 min standing / 60 min sitting,
        gradually increase to 50/50 over 2-3 weeks.
        Warning: Do not stand for more than 2 hours continuously.

Scenario 2: Pain-focused troubleshooting

Input:  "My neck hurts after long coding sessions. Dual 24" monitors."
Output: Neck Pain Root Cause Analysis:
        Probable causes (ranked by likelihood):
        1. Monitor height too low -- look down angle strains neck extensors
           Test: Are you tilting chin down to see screen center? If yes, raise monitors.
        2. Dual monitor angle -- turning head repeatedly strains SCM muscles
           Fix: Place primary monitor directly ahead, secondary at 30-degree angle
        3. Font size too small -- unconscious forward lean to read code
           Fix: Increase editor font to 14-16pt, use zoom not leaning
        Immediate relief: Chin tucks -- 10 reps every hour.
           Tuck chin toward chest, hold 5 seconds, release.

Scenario 3: Budget-conscious upgrade prioritization

Input:  "I have $150 to improve my home office setup. What gives the
         most ergonomic value?"
Output: Priority Upgrades Within $150 Budget:
        1. External keyboard + wrist rest: $50-70 (HIGH impact)
           Separates screen viewing from hand position, critical fix
        2. Monitor stand or arm: $25-50 (HIGH impact)
           Raises screen to eye level, eliminates neck flexion
        3. External ergonomic mouse: $30-40 (MODERATE impact)
           Reduces wrist pronation vs trackpad
        Total: $105-160 -- covers all three within budget
        Skip for now: Ergonomic chair ($300+), standing desk ($400+)
        These have impact but the above three give better ROI.

Best Practices

1. Start with the biggest pain point -- if your neck hurts, fix monitor height before worrying about keyboard tilt. Addressing the most symptomatic issue first provides immediate relief and motivation to continue.

2. Measure, don't estimate -- use a tape measure for desk height, monitor distance, and chair seat height. A 3cm error in desk height can be the difference between comfort and chronic wrist pain.

3. Change positions frequently -- no single posture, no matter how perfect, should be held for hours. The best posture is your next posture. Alternate sitting, standing, and moving throughout the day.

4. Re-audit after equipment changes -- every new monitor, chair, or desk changes the ergonomic equation. Run a focused audit on the affected dimensions whenever your setup changes.

5. Take microbreaks seriously -- the 20-20-20 rule for eyes and hourly movement breaks are more impactful than any equipment purchase. Set non-dismissible reminders until the habit forms.

Common Issues

Issue: Recommendations conflict with my available space Solution: Describe your space constraints (desk depth, room width, window position) and the audit will adapt recommendations. A monitor arm that clamps to the desk frees surface space. A compact split keyboard takes less depth than a full-size. Ergonomics must work within your real constraints.

Issue: I have a laptop and no budget for peripherals right now Solution: Free improvements still matter. Use a stack of books to raise your laptop screen to eye level. Use a rolled towel as lumbar support. Set phone timers for break reminders. These zero-cost fixes address 40-50% of typical ergonomic issues.

Issue: My employer-provided setup is non-negotiable Solution: Document the audit findings with the skill's report export feature. Many employers have ergonomic accommodation programs -- submit the report to HR or facilities. In the meantime, focus on behavioral changes (break frequency, posture awareness) that do not require equipment changes.

Privacy & Data Handling

All workspace assessment data, physical measurements, pain complaint history, and audit reports are stored locally in your storage_path directory (default: ~/.claude/ergonomics/). No photographs, body measurements, or health complaint data leaves your machine. When integrating with Apple Health or Fitbit, exported data files are read from your local filesystem and never uploaded elsewhere. Calendar integration reads ICS files locally and does not write to remote calendars unless you explicitly configure calendar API access. Audit reports can be exported as markdown or PDF for sharing with employers or healthcare providers at your discretion.