subject: The Importance of Ergonomic Office Furniture [print this page] The Importance of Ergonomic Office Furniture
Human beings did not evolve to sit in an office all day, the body is designed to do many different things but sitting at a desk for many hours at a time is not one of them. It is therefore, very important that if this is your working life, that you do your utmost to protect your musculo-skeletal systems by using furniture that is designed to support and protect. Choosing ergonomic furniture and office equipment could make all the difference to not only your health, but also your productivity.Your chair must offer good lumbar support, be at the correct height and have a seat that is the correct size for you. This doesn't mean that you won't be able to find a good chair, there are many standard chairs that will be very appropriate and you may have to compromise a little, but it is so important that your back is properly supported. Ensure that the back is high enough as well so that you can feel fully supported when you sit back. Arm rests should be adjustable so that you can set them to the correct position for you. An ergonomic chair might feel a bit strange to begin with but it will ensure that you are in a correct posture which will ease muscle strain, back ache, neck pain and so on.There are now ergonomic desks and tables on the market and these combined with your ergonomic chair can give you a very comfortable working area. If you work from a computer, an ergonomical keyboard and mouse can reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome or repetitive strain injury. These conditions are very painful and can impinge or even stop you working with computers. Even if you do recover, it will take a very long time and a lot of physical therapy, so in this case, prevention is definitely better than cure. Do not neglect the actual setup of your office or office space. Take into account the positioning of doors and windows in relation to your desk. Direct sunlight can be dazzling so if there is a window near your computer screen, make sure there is some form of shading or you could be twisting to avoid being dazzled or to see your screen properly. Doors can cause draughts and if the door is in a busy area, disturbances from people coming and going can cause discomfort and disturbance. Do not misjudge how much muscle stiffness can be caused by draughts or twisting to avoid or alleviate such discomfort.Ensure that your conference room is equipped with ergonomically designed or at the very least, well made chairs because there is nothing worse than attending a meeting or conference and sitting in an uncomfortable chair. Not only will those attending be uncomfortable but they may have difficulty concentrating too and this factor can lead to an unproductive and unsatisfactory meeting.It is very important that office staff have the correct furniture and equipment in order to work in a safe and comfortable environment. The health and productivity of the workforce is vital to the efficient and future of the company and by making a few simple changes in furniture and equipment, your company can have a bright and healthy future.
