by Bobby Calvin


The office interior is incomplete without office furniture, and the latter must be in line with the overall office design. At the same time it must be ergonomic such that when made use of for extended durations, it does not result in any harm to the user's health.

An ordinary employee spends greater than thirty percent of his day in the office, and keeping in mind this, if the office furniture he or she is making use of is not comfortable and convenient to use, then the employee is likely to have recurring and possibly serious health issues. Thus it is essential that office furniture, especially the office chairs used by staff, must be ergonomically built.

There are some important things to look for when purchasing office chairs. You should ensure that the selected office chairs are stable, easily movable and fairly adjustable. Employees should be able to comfortably place their hands on the arm rests and be able to adjust the seat height to suit their preference. The chair must not cause any obstruction for the occupant in terms of mobility of hands and legs, as that might negatively impact his performance. The most vital aspect of an office chair is its back support. It should offer enough comfort to the occupant and create no strain to his or her spine, and it needs to be optimally padded and curved for this purpose.

Office desks are the second most important office furniture components after office chairs. Desks should be of a standard height and must have enough space on top to allow employees to perform both computer and writing tasks without facing any problems. Crowded or small office desks are very inconvenient to work on and the employee's body has to make a lot of adjustments which are generally bad for health in the long run.

Office ergonomics is not complete without careful planning of the exact placements of office furniture. There ought to be sufficient free space between the cubicles so that staff and heavy consignments both get enough space for movement, without causing disturbance to the work of seated employees.

Good office ergonomics make sure not only a fit workforce but a more efficient and productive one as well. An employee can manage and organize his work properly and can perform his jobs in a relaxed and spirited way if the ergonomics in his office are conducive to his health and fitness.

Office design should always target at complete non-existence of any bodily inconvenience inside the office, or at least decreasing it to a bare minimum. The office interior should aim at building ideal working conditions for staff, minimizing health hazards and maximizing their efficiency, thereby furthering the growth of the business.




About the Author: