ERGONOMIC SUPPORT
FOR YOUR OFFICE I.T.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH
The desk should be large enough to accommodate
all equipment and paperwork in an arrangement acceptable
to the user. As
different jobs require different equipment, it is not possible
to produce a generic ideally sized desk.
Therefore,
desk design should be modular to allow expansion or reduction
as task demands change. The shape should fit the anatomy
of people - people's arms move in an arc, for example. In
other words, desks that curve around the user allow comfortable
access to a larger area. Wave fronted desks achieve
this better than
L-shaped workstations.
As the majority
of office tasks today involve the use of a visual display
unit (VDU), the depth of the work surface should be great
enough to ensure that the user is not too close to the
display screen. This is known as the eye
to monitor distance. The optimum eye to monitor distance
for a small (15 inch) monitor in the seated position is 600mm. However,
users have different preferences and distances between
450mm and 750mm are acceptable.
As the screen size increases
so does the eye to monitor distance. The minimum depth
of the surface will, therefore, depend upon the preferred
eye to monitor distance of the user and the type of monitor.
Conventional
CRT screens require a much deeper desk than flat screens.
Flat screens do not mean that the desk depth can be reduced,
however, because people still have legs that need to be accommodated. There
should also be an additional space of 100mm in front of the
keyboard for users to rest their wrists.
THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING MOVING
Advice for office workers
and their managers on problems associated with undesirable
working postures should concentrate on prevention rather
than cure. The current view is
that it is much better for people to alternative between
sitting and standing postures during their work rather
than remain seated.
Desks that are adjustable up to
1200mm in height enable users to work whilst standing and
this should be encouraged. Why not consider having
meetings standing up at a high desk? Meetings with
participants standing tend not to drag on Æ they
finish fairly quickly! Regular exercise at the workplace
can reduce the ill effects of sitting down for long periods. Periodically
stretching the whole body and getting up and walking across
the office are beneficial.
Office jobs should also be designed
to discourage workers from carrying out the same tasks
all day and instead allow tasks with different mental and
physical demands to be alternated. People
should take frequent short breaks before they become fatigued,
avoiding discomfort, monotony, error and inefficiency. Some
call centres in particular have recently attracted media
attention of failing to appreciate that their employees need
to take breaks. If the aim is to enable people to
work more efficiently be creative, healthy and happy then
modification of workplaces and jobs that encourage changes
in posture cannot be ignored.
A SPECIALLY SELECTED RANGE
The very best monitor arms, supports
and wall brackets, plus supports for computers, laptop PC’s
and keyboards to create more space on the desk and ensure
that your office I.T. is being used ergonomically.
This will
help avoid aches, pains and problems associated with bad
posture and incorrect monitor height, position and viewing
angle.
Click here to view small selection of the products that
we recommend.
For more details on any of our products or to find out
how VISIONARY OFFICE CONCEPTS can assist
your organistaion, just let Pam know how VISIONARY
OFFICE CONCEPTS can help: pgarrie@visionaryoffice.co.uk
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