How To Choose Ergonomic Furniture For Office

By Adriana Noton

Years ago it seemed like every typist was complaining of something called "carpal tunnel syndrome." Then there was a rash of backaches and headaches. Now it's a new malady called "computer vision syndrome and digital eye fatigue." Can ergonomic furniture for office really help with all these worker complaints?

"Ergonomics" is a word that's heard about the workplace a lot these days. It refers to methods that analyze how people interact with the equipment in their office in ways that affect their job performance. This analysis measures the relationships among the worker, the equipment and the work environment, and looks for ways to improve them.

The rise of computer use by business has been a major driving force behind the increased use of functional analysis for ergonomic furniture for office. Constant typing to enter and retrieve information from a computer, looking at a brightly lit computer screen all day, and sitting for long hours while working on a computer all have taken a toll on workers, often leading to a rise in worker's compensation claims. As a result, employers are taking seriously the benefits that ergonomic furniture for office can bring to their businesses.

Consider this: Most offices today are highly computerized, which leads to workers spending long hours sitting in chairs at desks. Countless worker's compensation claims for repetitive motion injuries have resulted from poorly designed computer workstations that don't apply ergonomic principles. What's more, a new workplace hazard has recently been identified: computer vision syndrome and digital eye fatigue. Both result from computer monitors that are improperly placed.

Ergonomics addresses all of these factors and more when it comes to selecting and installing green office furniture. An ergonomic analysis is designed to consider a worker's primary functions or tasks. Precise measurements are made of both the worker and his or her workstation to determine the optimum placement of furniture and equipment for maximum performance. This analysis also results in setting up a workplace environment design to reduce significantly the risks associated with job tasks.

Ergonomic office desks are much different from the massive wooden furniture installed in the past. Desks are now selected after a chair is picked out, so that the height of the desk matches that of the chair. As with our taller employee, his desk would have to be raised on blocks to match the height of his chair, while the desk of his more petite colleague might have to be shortened to meet her ergonomic requirements. What's most important is that the desk set at a height so that either worker's elbows rest at a 90-degree angle when typing on the computer. This reduces the strain that leads to repetitive motion injuries.

Computer monitors should be of a size that a worker doesn't have to twist his or her head in order to see all the characters on the screen. Workers should be able to reach telephones, recorders and other desktop equipment without having to lean to use them. The telephone in particular should be within arm's reach, or as close to the keyboard as possible. Also the worker should have a telephone headset so that he or she need not cradle the phone between ear and shoulder in order to use the keyboard while talking.

Adding ergonomic furniture for office can help a business operate more efficiently. - 29854

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