NO MATTER WHERE YOU WORK - DO IT PROPERLY

Enough said. I know for myself, that if I am not sitting correctly bad back and neck pain will result. It's not fair on yourself or your staff and ultimately, the work and therefore the business will suffer.

No matter where you work, do it properly
To be productive, your staff need to be comfortable
Workplace staff
20 February 2008 at 11h00

The advent of the personal computer and breakthroughs in voice and data communication have resulted in more and more people operating from small or home offices (Soho). Businesses which employ from between one and 10 staff cite lower overheads and increased flexibility as the primary benefits of working from home. However, whether working from a large multinational office block or a home study, effective ergonomics is paramount to increasing and maintaining best productivity.

So says Gerald Steyn, regional managing director, Gauteng, of CN Business Furniture, who points out that while home-based businesses have particular design requirements, ergonomics basics still apply. "Essentially, ergonomics is the applied science of equipment design intended to maximise productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort," he explains. "Office workers spend more than 95 percent of their working time in a sedentary position. "Incorrect sitting postures are responsible for many muscular ailments resulting in reduced motivation and work output." As a result - through its understanding of the importance of good seating solutions from an ergonomics perspective - CN Business Furniture is increasingly sourcing, designing and manufacturing more ergonomic-centred desks and seating.

These product ranges allow individuals to adjust furnishings to their optimal specification. "Through education on effective ergonomics, individuals are empowered to utilise their work spaces and furnishings correctly. "This prevents the cumulative cycle of ailments such as fatigue, discomfort and, ultimately, pain resulting from musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive stress syndromes that can manifest in the workplace as a direct consequence. "Incorrect sitting postures are responsible for many muscular ailments resulting in reduced delivery."Ergonomic solutions can be simple and straightforward to apply. Often small changes, such as altering the height of a chair, are all that is needed to make a considerable difference to an individual's comfort. CN Business Furniture's best practice ergonomic recommendations to Soho offices include:

Sit as far back into the seat as possible and is comfortable. Place feet firmly on the floor. Adjust the seat height to ensure your knees are bent at right angles to the thighs (90º to 95º). Legs must fit comfortably under the desktop, with sufficient space to allow for movement and stretching. Raise the height of the arm rests towards the base of the elbows (bent at a 45 degrees angle).

For height-variable desks, adjust the desk height to the level of the chair arms, making them "flush" with the worktop surface, enabling the armrests to act as an extension to the worktop, thus ensuring that your arms are adequately supported and your shoulders are relaxed. Position the monitor and keyboard squarely in front of you, allowing for adequate focal distance of 50 to 70cm between yourself and the screen; without leaning your head, neck and trunk forwards. Adjust the height of the seat back to obtain the correct lumbar support relative to your stature. Adjust the seat pan angle and set the tension of the mechanism to facilitate effortless "to and fro" movement of the seat proportionate to your body weight. Avoid direct glare from the window onto your monitor. Correct this by changing or shielding the light source or repositioning the workstation.The work surface should be large enough for the user to perform the required duties, comfortably. Ergonomics is not just about comfortable chairs and suitable desk set-ups; it encompasses the air we breathe, the chair we sit in, the lighting in the immediate work space and our cognitive response to our environment. Accordingly, when conducting an ergonomic health check, all these factors should be considered.
For further information, visit www.cnonline.co.za