Your office is where you work, innovate and build communities. It’s also where you spend most of your day. If it’s not ergonomically designed, it can be a serious health hazard—and that’s something no one wants to deal with. Here are seven tips on how to make sure your office furniture is properly designed so that you can stay healthy and productive while saving lives at the same time:
Proper table and chair height
uncomfortable office chair
Whether you’re sitting or standing, proper office table and office chair height is important for a number of reasons. It’s not just about ergonomics—it can also help you avoid back pain, improve your productivity, and even save lives. That’s because a wrong table height can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, which in turn affects the arms and hands (and thus the rest of the body). And if that doesn’t impress you enough to change something today, then consider this: Injuries caused by poor posture account for $10 billion in healthcare costs each year!
If you’re using an adjustable-height desk chair like we recommend above (and we really hope that’s the case), then simply adjust it until both feet are flat on the floor with knees bent at 90 degrees (or less if necessary). If that sounds difficult or painful then it could be because your chair has been set too low for too long—in which case start by raising one section first so that only one foot is resting on another surface like a book or small stool while adjusting gradually until both legs are fully supported without having to stretch uncomfortably upwards toward where their ankles should be positioned during normal work activity.”
Use E1 board materials for all your Office Furniture
The furniture made of this material is safer and will have a longer lifespan.
Wood furniture is extremely popular in the office, but it can be dangerous. Office tables made from ordinary MFC or melamine boards contains resins that are made from formaldehyde-based adhesives, which are easily inhaled or come into direct contact with human skin. Formaldehyde has been proven to cause cancer if it comes in direct contact with living tissue for a long period of time.
In 2000, the European Panel Industry set standards to regulate the emission of formaldehyde from wood-based panels. The level of formaldehyde emission is considered safe when it is equal or less than 0.07 ppm. This standard should be a considerable matter of concern for all because it has a strong impact on the health of the end consumers. It is therefore essential that any furniture you purchase is crafted with materials that are E1-certified and compatible with this standard.
Proper office furniture design
The layout of your office furniture is important for health and safety, productivity and efficiency. Proper layout can also help save money, energy, the environment and even lives!
Here are five tips to ensure your office furniture is properly laid out:
Keep your desk at eye level or lower. Sitting all day causes back pain so make sure you’re not slouching over a desk that’s higher than your chest while working on it. If you have a standing desk this is less important but still keep it at least in front of waist height if possible.
Use ergonomic chairs with adjustable height controls so you don’t have to bend too far down or stretch too much when getting up from your chair. Adjustable armrests are also useful for those who have wrist pain issues from using keyboards all day long (a common problem). Avoiding these types of injuries will help keep people working longer hours without needing extra time off due to illness – which means more productivity!
Sit-stand desks
Sit-stand desks are a great way to increase the health and productivity of your work environment. There is no question that they provide many benefits, such as:
Increased productivity. Workers who use sit-stand desks take less breaks than those who use standard desk setups. This can lead to an increase in overall productivity.
Improved circulation and reduced back pain. Sitting for long periods of time is bad for your body, but standing all day can be just as harmful if you don’t do it right—and unfortunately, most people don’t know how to do it right! The key to avoiding back problems while using a sit-stand desk is having the right height for all three main items (the desk surface itself; your chair; and your keyboard/mouse). If these items aren’t at the proper heights for both sitting and standing positions, you will end up compressing spinal disks whenever changing between positions (which will lead to injury).
Quality installation and setup of furniture
Good furniture is expensive, so it’s important to ensure that your investment is protected. Quality installation and setup of furniture helps ensure that your new office space is safe, reduces the likelihood of injury and keeps you healthy. To avoid any unfortunate accidents or risky situations, make sure you have a professional installer handle the installation of your new furniture.
A professional will:
Install all parts correctly according to building codes and industry standards;
Check for proper ventilation if needed;
Ensure a smooth transition from old to new equipment in order to prevent problems down the line; and, most importantly…
Fire safety measures
Install fire alarms and fire extinguishers.
Have a fire escape plan.
Have fire drills.
Have a designated fire exit and route for your home or office, and make sure you know how to get out quickly in case of an emergency.
Air quality
Air quality is a critical factor in the health of your employees. It affects productivity, mental alertness and general well-being.
Here are some things you can do:
Make sure your office has good ventilation that includes air filters and/or purifiers.
Have an air quality testing system in place to monitor CO2 levels, temperature fluctuations and humidity levels – these are all important factors for overall employee health!
Consider having an air quality management program where employees can report issues via email or hotline number if they feel something isn’t quite right with the indoor environment at their place of work.
Being proactive about the ergonomic design of your office can have a huge impact on you and your employees.
Being proactive about the ergonomic design of your office can have a huge impact on you and your employees. Here are the 7 best things to change:
1. Ergonomically designed chairs for everyone – not just the “IT crowd”
2. Workstations that allow employees to sit comfortably throughout their workday, as well as stand up when needed (many people don’t know how much they need to move around until they start doing it)
3. A chair with adjustable height so it can accommodate different body sizes and shapes
Conclusion
We hope you find these tips useful in your quest for a healthier, more productive office environment. In summary, here are the top 7 things you should change in your office to improve health and boost productivity:
Proper office table and office chair height
Use E1 board materials for all your Office Furniture Proper layout
