When Office Chairs Become a Liability
Savvy business owners are already on the ergonomics freight train. They understand the importance of making the right furnishing and equipment purchases to ensure the health and safety of each and every one of their employees. From the roller mats on and trip free carpet runners to the keyboard tilt trays and office chairs, these employers are on the fast track to avoiding lawsuits and the expense of handling employee repetitive stress injuries and back or neck strains. The importance of setting up any office correctly cannot be ignored as in these modern times employers are held accountable for their actions and are expected to take precautionary measures for employee safety and comfort.
When employees are expected to sit in one place for long periods of time it is essential that office chairs are adjustable to ensure feet touch the floor and knees maintain the proper bend. The seat should be padded to ensure comfort and the backrest adjustable to provide proper alignment of spine, head and neck. The desk space should be at a height proper for hands to be in a natural position and not overly stretched forward or downward for extended periods of typing, data entry, or paperwork manipulation. No matter what types of activities your employees do at their workstation whether soldering or putting together small parts or talking on a telephone the rules of comfort and protection are the same. Perhaps allowing employees to spend some time standing or doing other exercises that break up the monotony of the day can increase productivity and ensure you are protected from such problems as eye-strain.
Office chairs that roll freely can be an accident waiting to happen on a hard wood floor, consider putting in a rug or other friction creating surface to keep chairs from rolling when it isn’t desired. When determining the safety of an office space it is best to walk around the desk and other potential hazards to ensure there are no sharp edges or surfaces that might snag clothes. You want to be sure walking areas are clear of debris and are wide enough to provide enough room for safe passage. Other items such as plants or glass objects might be too close to edges where they can easily be bumped off by a passerby, try placing these items away from walkways or securing them to the desktop to reduce the likelihood of accidents.
Keep a first aid kit handy and be sure someone in the office if first aid and CPR certified at all times. Knowing what to do in case of an emergency is also important for the safety minded business owner. There are many things to think about, but most of them are very intuitive if you take a good look around and try to fix anything that could be obviously dangerous or could lead to problems over time. Speak with employees regularly to ensure they are safe and comfortable.
