Create an ergonomic office
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Ergonomics is the study of people and their working conditions. The
basic premise is that working conditions should be designed around the workers
themselves. Much of the office worker's time is spent every day in a seated
position. A bad working posture can lead to back problems, and this is often
the fault of inadequate office furniture. Matching the workplace to the comfort needs of your workers is the
basic tenet of ergonomic practice. If you are prepared to create an ergonomic
office, you can reduce the potential of those workers developing physical
problems which affect productivity and attendance, not to mention would-be
compensation claims. Well-designed office furniture is a positive step for the
health and morale of your employees. Whether you work on your own or have a number of staff, the following
guidelines should be considered: SeatingOne of the most important features of
the ergonomic office is the chair you sit in. Hours will be spent using it, so
the more you can spend on good office chairs, the better. Its design will
affect the way you work and for how long.It's important to select the right office chairs. So take the time to
go to a store and try them out for comfort and, importantly,
adjustability. If you are unable to afford the more expensive chairs, consider some
accessories. Wedges force the chair user to lean forward when sitting so that
the knees are lower than the hips. This encourages a better posture. Lumbar
rolls can also be placed in chairs to provide lumbar support where the chair's
original design won't. WorkstationThe monitor should be at least
25cm from the eyes. Try tilting the top of the monitor back so that it's
slightly further from the eyes than the bottom of the monitor. Hands will
benefit from wrist rests for the keyboard and mouse. For those who spend a lot
of time on the phone, a cradle can be used to take strain from the neck. As for
the legs, pressure can be effectively moved from the feet and calves by using a
footrest.LightingMake sure this is indirect, and
flexible to suit the needs of individuals. Use blinds and shades in the office
to fully control outside light. Also use monitors that can be angled to suit
the user, and anti-glare filters; these are relatively cheap.The basic idea is that the ergonomic office should be fully
adjustable, mobile and versatile as much as possible. Even the smallest
modifications to workstation design and posture can make the world of
difference to how you - and your employees - feel at the end of the working
day.
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