By Jill Nagy and Peter Miller
Those odd-looking chairs can improve your company’s bottom line, according to local experts on ergonomically correct office furniture and equipment. They maintain that if you’re more comfortable in your chair, you will be more productive.
Roughly speaking, ergonomics is the science of fitting work to the people who perform it in order to minimize fatigue and discomfort. Applied to an office environment, that may involve training workers to, for example, look away from their computer screens from time to time or fan out and stretch their hands. Popular devices to improve the comfort of a workstation may include chairs that allow “dynamic seating,” trays that place the computer keyboard and mouse below desk level, and flat panel monitors mounted on adjustable arms.
An ergonomic fix may not require new furniture. Sometimes all that is required is an adjustment. Several local firms specialize in setting up office environments. They analyze a work station to determine if it is appropriate. Is the chair too high? Is the computer monitor too close? In that case, a monitor arm might be helpful. Would a keyboard tray be helpful? An evaluation includes such measurements as height, eye level, the distance from the floor to the back of a bent knee (the popliteal height), and seated elbow height, as well as observation of the worker’s age, size and use of glasses or contact lenses and the types of tasks the person routinely performs.
Some research estimates that half of all time lost from work because of work-related injuries is due to musculo-skeletal disorders and that injuries of that sort result in tens of billions of dollars a year in workers’ compensation claims. If the right kind of chair or special computer equipment can prevent some of those injuries, it is money well spent. Generally, experts recommend chairs that adjust as the sitter moves. Fixed posture contributes to fatigue, they say. They also debunk the old idea that people should sit up straight; a slight recline is best – and hunching forward over a laptop computer may be worst of all. (There is an ergonomic fix for that, too.)
Tim Seeley, Jr., vice president at Seeley Office Systems in Glens Falls, says he has begun to see an increasing demand for ergonomic office furniture. “It makes sense that people are feeling a need, because they’re spending so much time at their workstations. Most furniture is now coming with standard features that allow you to adjust everything – back, seat tilt, and more,” said Seeley.
Workers with disabilities are an important part of the market today. Seeley said, “We recently worked with an employer who had an employee out of work on disability. Before they brought her back, they got her a new desk and chair and keyboard support that were all ergonomically designed for her situation. Everything had to meet certain specifications. They wanted her back, and that was the only way to do it.”
Today, employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for workers with certain disabilities, and these new office furnishings are meant to help do that.
Kurt Seeley, account executive with Seeley Office Systems, said they have had several customers who realized that their old office chairs were causing back pain and fatigue, and have come in looking for more support. “With better lumbar support and adjustable arm height, we have been able to relieve the stress they were feeling.”
Buying an office chair is a very personalized experience. “Some people prefer a chair with no back, because they lean forward when they work. Others prefer to sit on a stool with a raised desk to match. They can also work standing up at that desk,” he said. Contact Tim or Kurt Seeley at 793-5168, or via their website: www.seeleyoffice.com.
Charlie McNeil, Jr, of Charlie’s Office Furniture in Queensbury, stated that ergonomic seating has become a very important part of their business. “Some of the interesting names we carry are Via Seating, Sitonit Seating, Seating, Inc., plus dozens of other brands. All are highly adjustable to fit the shape and size of anybody. We have petite models, and we also have big and tall models. Some will accommodate a 550 pound person.”
The traditional executive chair has gone by the wayside; that is primarily used in the conference room now. McNeil explained, “In the office, we use ‘execu-task’ chairs now, meaning the seat and back can be moved independently, seat depth is often adjustable to accommodate different leg lengths, and the arm height can also be adjusted. It’s all designed to help a person better interact with their computer.”
It’s important to allow for some movement, too. You shouldn’t lock your chair in one position forever. A tension adjustment can allow you to lean back or rock, and that movement aids circulation and reduces fatigue. Some people find it helps to use different adjustments from day to day.
“Tables that adjust for height are becoming more popular,” said McNeil. “We have a customer who is a developer, and he often reviews large prints with his associates. They prefer to stand over a table that’s somewhat higher than normal. And some people prefer workstations, too, where they can stand as they work.”
Other ergonomic accessories include keyboard and mouse trays, foot rests, copy holders, and monitor arms that can be raised, lowered, tilted or swiveled.
“McNeil said, “We can help a person select the right furniture and we’ll set it up to fit. We also offer free on-site consultation, where we can evaluate the space and recommend the right products. We often work with risk assessment or safety officers at larger firms.” Call Charlie’s Office Furniture at 793-2435, or visit the website: www.charliesofficefurniture.com
Rulyn Graves, owner of Rulyn Design Resources (RDR) in Greenwich, is a representative for many manufacturers of ergonomic office products. Among them is Workrite Ergonomics, a provider of adjustable work centers from sitting to standing height, including keyboards and monitor arms.
“There’s been a lot of buzz in the media about studies linking longevity and standing vs. sitting,” said Graves. “It has caused people to take a greater interest in workstations that promote comfort and better health.”
RDR also represents Harden Furniture, based near Syracuse, which was featured on “Made in America” recently on ABC. They manufacture fine wood office furniture, including an executive sit-to-stand desk. “We now have an executive at Wilton Medical Arts who uses this model,” said Graves. “She was concerned about how much time she spent sitting behind her desk, and now she works most of the time in a standing position, but she can raise or lower it, as needed, with a motor.”
Rulyn Design Resources also offers task seating from Stylex, with adjustable height, backs, arms and lumbar support. “There is quite a bit to fine-tuning a workstation, and we can help fit a wide range of body types.” The company serves commercial accounts in healthcare, education, hospitality and other industries, and works with interior designers and architects throughout most of New York State.
Contact Rulyn Design Resources at 692-9917, or visit the website: www.rulyn.com.
Photo By Harry Weinhagen