Friday, September 11, 2009

How Ergonomic Office Furniture Design Affects The Performance Of Your Employees

By Anthony Barker

Office furniture is an important part of the office interior and it should suitably fit into the office design plan. The office furniture must also conform to the principles of ergonomics so as to make sure that workers can go on using them for extended durations without any health hazards.

An ordinary employee spends more than thirty percent of his day in the office, and keeping in mind this, if the office furniture he or she is using is not comfortable and convenient to use, then the employee is likely to have recurring and possibly grave health issues. Hence, it is crucial to make sure that office furniture, particularly office chairs are ergonomic and comfortable to use.

There are a few key things to look for when purchasing office chairs. Stability, easy mobility and flexibility are the three features that should influence your choice of office chairs. The arm rests of chairs must fulfil their purpose well, and the height must be easily adjustable so that the occupant can adjust the chair as per his requirement. The chair should not cause any obstruction for the occupant with respect to movement of hands and legs, as that might negatively impact his performance. The back support is the most essential part of office chairs. It must give sufficient comfort to the occupant and cause no stress to his or her spine, and it needs to be optimally cushioned and curved for this purpose.

Office desks come second in order of importance in office furniture. Desks must be of an ideal height and should have sufficient space on top to allow employees to perform both computer and writing jobs without facing any problems. Crowded or small office desks are highly inconvenient to work on and the employee's body has to make many adjustments which are generally not good for health over a long period.

Another important aspect of office ergonomics is where the pieces of furniture have been put inside the office. There must be enough free space between the cubicles so that employees and bulky goods both get enough space for movement, without disrupting the work of seated employees.

If the office furniture is designed while keeping ergonomics in mind, the employees stay more effective and productive during office hours and also lead happier lives. An ergonomic workplace fosters better work management and organization among employees and also makes work a relaxed and stress free experience for them.

Office design must always aim at complete absence of any bodily inconvenience inside the office, or at least lessening it to a bare minimum. The office interior should aim at building ideal working conditions for staff, decreasing health risks and maximising their productivity, thereby ensuring the growth of the business.

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