Ergonomic Office Furniture

Humanscale

Guide to Essential Office Ergonomics

Prevent wear and tear on your most valuable assets
By Toni Klym McLellan

It matters little what's happening with your fiscal bottom line if your physical bottom line is hurting. The field of ergonomics emerged as a workplace buzz word when personal computers became the nucleus of offices everywhere. In layman's terms, ergonomics is the scientific design and placement of equipment to minimize stress, fatigue, and pain.

Proper office ergonomics are essential to prevent:

1. Repetitive stress injuries caused by doing the same task repeatedly.
2. Chronic pain from poorly designed and/or positioned equipment.
3. Tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain, and other chronic injuries often requiring long-term medical treatment and therapy.
4. Increased sick days due to injuries or stress.
5. Increased health insurance costs to offset chronic pain or stressors.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get the proper education Ergonomics is big business: Many resources and consultants exist to help you pain-proof your workplace. Let them show you and your staff how to work safely, through online education on on-site visits.

I recommend:  Ergonomics consultant firm Ankrum Associates created an office ergonomics training Web site addressing common problems and solutions, including a handy checklist to troubleshoot problems. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has ergonomics etools, including another troubleshooting checklist. Find a qualified professional ergonomics consultant at the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics web site. Ergoweb offers both on-site and computer-based ergonomics training.

Get the proper equipment Knowing proper positioning to avoid repetitive stress and other injuries is vital. But this task is more difficult on poorly designed equipment. Know where to shop to get the most body-friendly gear.

I recommend:  Healthy Computing created extensive buyer's guides for every office area. The "my workspace" section of the 3M Web site features an office evaluation, info on types of products and purchasing information.

If problems arise While prevention is at the core of any ergonomic workplace, you or your employees may be experiencing pain without realizing its source. Learning common medical conditions associated with workplace ergonomics makes great business sense.

I recommend:  The Healthy Computing lists causes of discomfort, conditions and treatments, and basic preventative exercises. A physical therapist is trained to analyze and treat chronic pain or injuries; find one through the American Physical Therapy Association (but get a medical exam and insurance referral first).

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Seek referrals for any ergonomics consultants before hiring.
• Ask your health insurance provider if they offer any discounts for purchasing ergonomic office equipment or providing ergonomics training to employees.
• Many retailers will offer discounts if you purchase office equipment in bulk – ergonomic equipment is no different, so ask about special offers or discounts if you purchase for your entire office.
• More expensive doesn't equal better — sometimes mid-range and even discount products garner reviews comparable to more expensive ones.
• Read current reviews to keep abreast of new products and technologies.