Are your employees complaining about chronic back pain or neck strain? Find out how you can avoid these problems by looking into the best ergonomic office furniture you can buy.
What does ‘ergonomic’ mean?
Ergonomics is the science of human engineering or biotechnology. It deals with the design or arrangement of objects in a way that allows safe, comfortable, and healthy human interactions. In the office setting, ergonomic furniture is used to prevent health problems caused by extended periods of sitting in the wrong position.
Ergonomic furniture for your office
Look for a reliable online store that sells furniture in Singapore or any other country. You will find that there is a lot of modern ergonomic furniture available today. Here are some of the essential pieces to make your office workstations comfortable for everyone:
1. Office chairs
Non-ergonomic office chairs often cause back problems that vary in severity. Most employees get away with just mild lower back pain, but some develop long-term issues that can affect their work performance. Replacing your office chairs with ergonomic ones can remedy the problem.
In general, here are the features of an ergonomic office chair:
- Adjustable seat height
- Seat depth with 2-4 inches between the seat edge and the back of knees
- Backrest with lumbar support
- Seat tilt to allow proper positioning of the pelvis
- Adjustable backrest to allow recline
- Swivel feature to allow maneuverability
- Headrest and armrests
- Comfortable material
2. Desks
Just like an ergonomic chair, an ergonomic office desk is essential for employee health and comfort. Being the center of a workstation, office desks should allow maximum comfort to encourage productivity. Look for desks that have the following features:
Stability with no wobble or bounce
Ample space for the computer, keyboard, and mouse (aside from other office materials)
Space to slide legs underneath
Additional storage areas for easy access to materials
3. Mouse and keyboard pads
These are the items often overlooked when choosing ergonomic office ware. Extended use of using the mouse and keyboard can lead to wrist soreness and strain. To avoid this, provide padded rests to support the wrists while working on the computer.
4. Computer monitor
Having a computer monitor in the wrong position can lead to neck and eye strain. In general, the monitor should be at least an arm’s length away from the user and near eye level. Apart from that, monitors should be faced away from the window and overhead lights to avoid glare, which can cause eye strain and fatigue.
5. Phone
If the phone is used frequently at work, it should be near enough to avoid having to reach over to answer it. Cradling the phone on the shoulder is also a big no-no. If your employees have to use the phone while doing other tasks, connect headsets so they can answer calls without having to move.
Having ergonomic workstations in the office is an essential investment if you want to keep your employees healthy and happy. Aside from modifying office furniture, encourage your employees to take a break once in a while, stretch, and walk around the office to relieve body strains.
