30 April 2019
 Categories: , Blog

Office ergonomics is important for the comfort of your employees and their productivity. While you can buy chairs and desks with ergonomic designs, each employee has to be taught basic principles about ergonomics so they adjust their equipment properly. Each person is different when it comes to body shape, so the chair or desk must be adjusted for the utmost comfort when working for long stretches. Here are some important things to know about working in an office ergonomically.

The Chair

Your feet should always be flat on the floor when sitting in an office chair. If this isn't possible, then place a footstool under the desk. The proper position for sitting in a chair is with a straight back and knees level with your hips. Your body should face the desk, and you should be able to support your arms comfortably on the armrests. In addition, the chair should be pulled as close to the desk as comfortable so you don't need to stretch. Sitting in an ergonomic fashion is easy with a desk chair that can be adjusted for height and by having employees choose a chair of the right width that provides arm support.

The Desk

While you want your employees to be productive while at their desks, you may also recognize that it isn't healthy for them or you to sit in the same position for long periods. One solution is to buy adjustable desks that allow you to keep working while standing or sitting. These desks elevate a computer or desk space with a few simple moves so that you can switch back and forth between sitting and standing throughout the day. If the position of the desk is moved, it's important to return it to a position where it is the right height for sitting. This would mean the computer monitor is directly in front of you so that you don't have to tilt your neck back to read the screen.

The desk can also double as an armrest if the chair doesn't have any. An adjustable desk makes it easier to sit in an ergonomic way when you have to look at a computer screen all day. Your employees may appreciate having standing desks at stations where they have to sit for long hours, and using them to work ergonomically could prevent problems like neck pain, shoulder pain, and back problems.

If you'll be buying new office furniture soon, you'll probably want to look into desks and chairs made with ergonomic features. In addition, you may want to hold a class for your employees to teach them the importance of sitting or standing ergonomically so that they can avoid injury or discomfort that causes sick days or lower productivity. Find a local company like Ergo Solve who can help you with your office ergonomics.