Are you wondering if you should invest in ergonomic seating for your office?
Do you hear staff members complaining about pain or discomfort?
Are employees calling out sick more often than normal?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to consider investing in your employees’ health and well-being. And, in fact, employers are required to provide a proper functioning and healthy work environment–no matter where their employees work: home or office.
Your business is only as successful as the people who run it. Proper seating will not only reduce the overall stress on muscles and joints, but it will also help prevent strain and repetitive stress injuries by making daily movement easier. Plus, your staff will thank you!
In the USA, musculoskeletal disorders account for about 1/3 of all injury and illness costs for businesses.
Buying the right ergonomic chair for your employees is truly a simple decision. The proper ergonomic seating promotes employee health and wellness at any company. Your employees will feel better when they are at work, more productive, and more enthusiastic.
Boost Morale by Providing Comfort
Spending all day sitting in an uncomfortable chair lowers staff morale. You may notice more employees complaining (and calling out sick) due to pain and discomfort. Improper seating will cause chronic pain and discomfort in several areas of the body.
- Back
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Arms
- Hips
- Buttocks
- Legs
The proper seating allows for the head and neck to be balanced an in line with the torso. The shoulders should be relaxed. The elbows should be positioned close to the body and be supported. The wrists and hands should be in line with the forearms. The lower back should be supported, and the feet should rest flat on the floor.
Occupational Overuse Syndrome can take a long time to heal. That means an expense to businesses that must pay worker’s compensation claims. The time off work will cost businesses more than the necessary preventative training and measures.
Proper ergonomic seating should offer the following options.
- Spinal support
- Lumbar support
- Arm rest comfort
- Adjustable seat height
- Proper seat width
- Headrest
- Stable base
- Adjustable-height armrests
- Back and seat angle adjustments (tilt and recline)
Ergonomic Seating Solutions That Work
Whether your employees spend all day sitting or if they are seated for short periods, it’s always important to have the right support. The proper chair should be comfortable to sit in and provide musculoskeletal support: lower- and mid-back support, seat cushioning, and arm support. In addition, the best seating should allow feet to rest flat on the floor, and the backs of the knees should not touch the front of the seat. Adjustable-height seating is a great option that accommodates workers of many heights, allowing for different adjustments both on the back and in the seat position.
Research shows injuries are reduced and productivity is increased when employers encourage stretch breaks and stress the importance of ergonomics.
When considering ergonomics, many people think of jobs that involve frequent heaving lifting and manual labor. However, even a low-movement job, such as sitting at a desk, can cause great strain and repetitive injuries.
The following occupations are often overlooked when providing proper ergonomic seating solutions. However, employers stand to benefit tremendously by looking out for their employees’ health and well-being.
- Office workers
- Teachers
- Students
- Drivers
- Employees who have to get up and down frequently
- Employees who use their vehicle as an office
- Employees who stay seated for long periods
- Employees who must perform a specific function while seated
Many suppliers offer seating that is both ergonomically supportive and meets the aesthetic needs of your workspace. Whether you are looking for seating to outfit your entire corporate location or you need a specific seat to accommodate an individual, many resources are readily available to you.
If you are unsure of ergonomic seating needs within your company, Bill McClure can provide an ergonomics analysis or a work task analysis for your company. Bill will take the time to observe your employees at work and provide a comprehensive analysis and plan to help your staff function at their highest level.
Ensure that your office seating meets proper ergonomic seating standards.
Call McClure Ergonomics Consulting TODAY for your first consultation!