Ergonomic Office Furniture
Ergonomic Office Furniture at Hunters Contracts means the right working environment for employees to be able to perform their jobs. It's no good having the most stylish or fashionable desks and chairs if they are uncomfortable and are not suitable for their intended role. Luxury chairs and café tables may look stylish and contemporary, but this sort of office furniture is not right for every office environment. A meeting room with several tables of workstations and operator chairs would not be considered to be a fitting environment for a board meeting, and board room furniture would not be suitable for a call centre. Ergonomic office furniture is all about using the right furniture for the job. Whilst there are some legal aspects that need to be considered when choosing office furniture, functional ergonomic office furniture doesn't need to be bland, and exciting furniture can be ergonomic.
Health and Safety requirements cover a wide range of aspects within an office environment. Ergonomic office furniture means that chairs and desks need to be at the right height for the user, and should be adjustable to provide a good level of support. Computer monitors should be at eye level to avoid eye and back strain, and to reduce the risk of RSI, keyboards and mice should be ergonomic. Desks should be an appropriate shape and design so that there is enough workspace, and space for the monitor keyboard and mouse, and the office should be laid out so that there is sufficient room between desks and departments. Screens can also be combined with ergonomic office furniture to provide privacy and insulate against noise.
Ergonomic office furniture includes monitor stands which raise the height of a monitor so that it is at eye level. These remove the need for the PC base unit to be on the desk to support the monitor, and means that the base unit can be stored under the desk. Some monitor arms even allow the monitor to be moved out of the way when not in use, which frees up the desk area, and so are ideal for creative people who may also need to use their desks for designing or drawing. For those people who require multiple displays, such as those involved in design, or perhaps CCTV monitoring, monitor supports are available which can be used with two or more monitors. This reduces the desk area required when using several monitors, and ensures that the user can view and concentrate on each monitor individually or simultaneously.
Under desk computer holders can be used to keep PCs off the desk, and so provide more work space on the desk, making the office furniture more ergonomic. Different styles and sizes of holder are available to fit different PCs, and some holders swivel so that they are less intrusive and reduce clutter.
Laptop users are not restricted to using their laptops flat on the desk. By using a laptop stand, and perhaps even a monitor and an external keyboard and mouse, laptop users can be as comfortable as desktop PC users. Laptop users who have dedicated ergonomic office furniture can help avoid RSI and conform to Health and Safety directives. In addition, health risks such as straining to see the screen and RSI from using equipment that is not at the right height can be reduced by using a laptop stand.
Lighting is very important in an office environment, and individual desk lighting can make a big difference. Depending on the room, the amount of natural light, and the type of existing office lighting, the number and style of lights required will vary between offices, and maybe even within the same office. For those people working on a computer all day, having the right amount of lighting is very important, and it can help to reduce eye strain, glare and even improve productivity.
Cable management is very important, as trailing cables can be a trip hazard. Ensuring that all cables are located out of the way of hands and feet will reduce the risk of falling, and knocking equipment off the desk. Using wireless keyboards and mice as well as ergonomic office furniture can help to reduce the number of cables on or underneath a desk.
The number of power and data sockets needs to be considered so that there are enough sockets for all computers, monitors, printers, speakers, lights, phones, network cables and whatever else is required. Fitting sockets under the desk so that extension leads are not required is also recommended. Items such as projectors and whiteboards can be installed so that the cabling is hidden and not likely to be tripped over.
Whether you are fitting out a new office, changing an existing office layout, or looking to make your working life a little easier, make sure you look at Hunters Contracts for your ergonomic office furniture.
Further Information