Working in a full-time office job can take its toll on your body in many ways. Your body is not built to sit in one position for so long but, office workers have no choice. However, poor office furniture can certainly make your problems worse. Many established offices may have had their furniture for several years without changing it. As a result, many office workers can develop injuries due to ergonomic hazards that they weren’t aware of. So, what office furniture can a company change to help the physical well-being of their co-workers?
Worn out office chairs
People who work in an office can spend most of their day sitting down, sometimes up to 7/8 hours a day. So, bad quality or worn-out desk chairs can cause ergonomic problems. However, it is important to choose the right chair from a trade interior supplier, to suit your working style.
Firstly, you must consider back support. The chair should curve and mold to your body, supporting your back and shoulders. If the right-back support isn’t provided your lower back muscles can overwork and become strained – often causing injury later in life.
Secondly, cushioning on your seat provides support to your spine as your sit all day. If an office chair doesn’t get replaced over time, the cushioning can spread out, no longer giving your spinal support.
Finally, armrests are important for dictating your posture. If you sit on your chair with arms at a 90-degree angle, this will release the stress on your shoulders, back and wrists.
Bad device placement
If your chair and desk get positioned in the wrong way, your posture will be affected. One of the main reasons people slouch whilst at their desk is because of their computer in the wrong position. Your computer should match your eye line, so you never have to slouch. Not only this but, your keyboard and mouse position should get adjusted if they are also contributing to your bad posture.
Incorrect placement of your laptop, monitor, mouse, and keyboard can all cause harm to your body – especially the shoulders, back, arms, and wrists.
Prolonged periods of sitting
As mentioned previously, most office workers can spend 7/8 hours a day sitting at their desks. For this reason, an ergonomic standing desk is a great addition to the office. Instead of being sat down, employees have the option to stand up and work. Therefore, this allows people to adjust their sitting position throughout the day, significantly helping their posture in the long run.