Create Ergonomics and Productivity with the Right Office Workstations
The environment of the workplace can impact the health and productivity of the employees. The ergonomic design also has a huge role in providing benefits for your staff. Ergonomics refers to the proper positioning of the body to reduce the onset of injuries and strains. Therefore, it is vital to use quality office workstations that promote comfort and performance.
The following are the main elements of an office that you can tweak for the benefit of everyone in the workplace:
Maximize Space
Workstations must be bright and spacious enough for everybody. But, it can be challenging to achieve, considering that office rental is incredibly costly today. Determine how spacious your workplace is by looking at how your employees work and roam around. If they can move swiftly and efficiently within the area, even with the presence of office equipment and furniture, then the space is large enough. Freedom in movement is a crucial factor in comfort and productivity in the workplace.
If the workstation is small, there are small pieces of furniture and equipment that you can fit into the room. You may also consider having customized furniture so you can still observe office ergonomics.
Chairs for Comfort and Support
Look for these features when choosing ergonomic chairs for your office:
- Seat depth. The chair should fit the body of the user to enable a comfortable sitting position. The lumbar support should be able to accommodate the lower back, while also maintaining the seat and back of the knees distance for about 1-2 inches.
- Armrests. While working, the armrests should prevent the shoulders from being hunched. Pick those that come with proper height. Check if the arms of the user are parallel to the floor.
- Chair height. It is better if the height of the office chair is adjustable. While sitting, the feet should reach the footrest or the floor.
The Appropriate Desk Height
The desks in the office workstations you choose, ideally, allow your employees to use their keyboards with their hands and arms parallel to the floor. The legs fit comfortably below the desks, and the feet are on the floor. In case the desk is unable to promote this posture, you can use an adjustable chair, a footrest, or a keyboard tray.
In these modern times, you can find a lot of office desks that have height-adjustable features. This is a useful option as your employees have different heights as well. There are height-adjustable desks that you can operate electronically, allowing you to control standing and sitting modes.
The Right Monitor Placement
The positioning of the monitor is another important factor when designing your workplace for health and productivity. Proper placement can prevent shoulder problems, improper posture, eye strain, and so on. Maintain 20 to 40 inches of space between you and the monitor screen.
The goal is to maintain proper posture and being able to read the words on the screen comfortably. The top line of your monitor should be below or at eye level. If it is too high, it compels you to strain your back, neck, and head.
The workplace must not wear everyone down every day. But, if you have messy desks, stiff chairs, constricted space, and poor lighting, it can negatively affect your employees day by day. By using the right office workstations and a few adjustments, it is possible to increase the quality of the environment in the office.