| Ergonomics has drawn increasing interest from | | | | finding bigger cost savings in buying the more |
| large companies in recent years. Employees | | | | expensive ergonomic furniture items and having |
| ranging from machinists to marketing executives | | | | healthy, comfortable, productive employees. |
| are becoming victims of repetitive stress injuries, | | | | There are some critical pieces of furniture that |
| pain and tension from poor office furniture and | | | | need to be considered for a work station to be |
| awkward postures. Occupations that cause the | | | | ergonomic. The first and most important is the |
| worker to sit or stand in the same position for | | | | ergonomic office chair. A chair is ergonomic if it |
| long hours can be devastating to the body. This | | | | can keep the user in a proper position to minimize |
| type of activity can cause overuse of muscles, | | | | stress and tension. Proper positioning is usually |
| joints and tendons which usually results in pain or | | | | with your knees and elbows at 90 degree angles |
| discomfort. If this type of activity is continued | | | | with your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest. |
| over a consistent period of time, more serious | | | | An ergonomic chair will usually have seat height |
| injuries can develop. | | | | and depth adjustment, multi-dimensional armrests |
| One common example of what prolonged periods | | | | and a fully adjustable backrest. Another important |
| of poor positioning can cause is Carpal Tunnel | | | | item is the keyboard tray. A keyboard tray allows |
| Syndrome (CTS). CTS is a condition in which the | | | | the user to adjust the keyboard to a position |
| median nerve in the wrist becomes pinched | | | | where the elbows and shoulders are relaxed at a |
| causing pain and loss of feeling. CTS can cause | | | | 90 degree angle. It is also recommended to tilt |
| burning, tingling, itching or numbness in the palm of | | | | the keyboard tray forward in a negative tilt |
| the hand and the fingers. It will also decrease grip | | | | position to reduce the bending of the wrists which |
| strength and can even cause wrist muscles to | | | | will help to alleviate stress and tension. The final |
| start wasting away. Some techniques to help | | | | piece to the ergonomic workstation puzzle is the |
| prevent this condition are: perform stretching | | | | monitor arm. Having an adjustable monitor arm |
| exercises, take frequent breaks and use correct | | | | allows the user to adjust the screen to a natural |
| arm posture. If strong symptoms of Carpal | | | | viewing position. A screen that is too high or too |
| Tunnel Syndrome are present then see your | | | | low causes the user to bend their neck. If this |
| physician. | | | | continues for a prolonged period of time, then |
| The lack of an ergonomic working environment | | | | tension and pain can occur in the neck and |
| can drastically increase workers compensation | | | | shoulders. The monitor should be positioned so |
| claims and will also lower productivity and | | | | that the user can easily see the entire screen |
| employee comfort. Businesses are starting to | | | | without having to tilt their head in any direction. |
| realize the value of providing their employees with | | | | Simple steps can be taken in most office settings |
| ergonomic office furniture and the demand for | | | | to start improving worker comfort and |
| ergonomic furniture is on the rise. Office furniture | | | | production. An ergonomic workstation not only |
| manufacturers are spending more to design | | | | reduces worker compensation claims but can help |
| ergonomic chairs, monitor arms, and keyboard | | | | to improve attitudes of the employees and their |
| trays to meet the growing need for safer offices. | | | | viewpoint of coming to work. Happy workers are |
| Ergonomic furniture prices are usually higher than | | | | more productive workers. If an employee has a |
| typical office furniture items due to the increased | | | | stress free, ergonomic office to come to |
| research and development costs that go along | | | | everyday, then productivity will surely be high. |
| with designing ergonomic furniture. CFOs are | | | | |