Monday, May 20, 2013

Tips on Finding Ergonomic Office Furniture


According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, an average office loses more than $7300 per employee every year due to low productivity and medical compensation claims. He also noted that 50% of these cases are caused by the non-existence of ergonomic office furniture. This is why it is important for business owner to find a set of ergonomic office furniture. Here are some tips on how to find the right furniture for the job.

Lumbar support
Each person has a different spinal column shape, curvature and length. This is why the office furniture should be able to accommodate these differences. In order to accommodate the different lumbar needs of employees, the chair should be adjustable to support both sides of the spine. A seat with adjustable curvature is also ideal.
Armrests
Considering that the arms represent about 10% of a person's total body weight, using a chair with inappropriate armrests can cause neck, shoulders and upper back pains. This is why it is best to choose an office chair with padded armrests. The padding can efficiently take the pressure off of the arms. It is also best to choose a chair with adjustable armrests to promote better posture.

Seat padding
All office furniture should have adequate seat padding. Average office workers spend 40-50 hours per week on this furniture which is why they should be comfortable enough. The padding should also be incorporated in the furniture in the right way. Otherwise, business owners will end up buying new office furniture more often than they should. This is a good tip to remember since the padding is usually the first thing to degrade in furniture especially if it is always used.

Seat height
Furniture with adjustable seat height allows users to choose the chair height that are appropriate or their body type. The goal is to ensure that the foot is parallel to the ground. Employees should find the chair height that can achieve this goal.


A great way to find ergonomic furniture for the office is to contact a trusted dealer or manufacturer. Choose a company that has excellent customer service to ensure that all of these criteria are met. They should also be asked about the other characteristics of their furniture that makes their products ergonomic. The price range should also be considered. Some furniture manufacturer offers their products for a higher price even though they are less ergonomic than other brands. This is why a thorough research should be done before actually making a purchase.