Ergonomics at the Office
As ergonomic products get more popular, many more workplaces are being designed to fit the worker
In recent years, it has become a prerequisite rather than a luxury to expect high ergonomic standards when purchasing quality office furniture. This normalisation of ergonomics as a discipline and a design standard has led to a significant expansion in the number of products designated “ergonomic”. In turn, several key benefits have emerged for office designers as well as executives who want to create an effective working environment.
In a crowded market, designers have had to think of ways to create furniture that is more attractive to potential customers in order to maximise market share. This has led to innovative solutions that have driven down prices, increased ease of use and advanced the production of environmentally viable products. The desire to use fewer parts in a bid to lower prices, complexity and environmental impact has created a situation that favours increasingly simple design. The practicalities of the market have encouraged designers to come up with advances that are in keeping with the fundamentals of the discipline.
“It is critical that workstations have the ability to accommodate different sizes of individuals,” says Tim Hutchings of Humanscale, an ergonomics company that researches, designs, develops and manufactures tools and resources for the workplace. “This can be done through ergonomic tools such as advanced task seating and monitor arms that are easy to adjust and use. Intelligent ergonomic tools should enable users to assume neutral body postures without them really knowing it. Ease of use is primary, people rarely read product instructions.’’
He continues: “We are proud to be associated with Niels Diffrient, whose designs are grounded in the philosophy of form flowing from function. By happy coincidence, good ergonomic design culminates in products which have very few components. Take the Niels Diffrient Liberty chair for example, a product which automatically offers perfect lumbar support and recline tension without external devices or manual adjustments. ”
The second benefit that has accompanied the general acceptance of the need for ergonomics is that designers have been given carte blanche to unveil even more radical designs in the name of facilitating ideal working environments.
With the introduction of products like Steelcases’ Walkstation, a desk with an in-built treadmill to combine exercise and work, the parameters of ergonomic design have shifted hugely.
In a bid to reduce the strain on the body that comes with sitting for hours at a time, Teknion has created the Quick Shift, a desk that is easily adjustable to allow users to sit or stand as they work while the Norwegian design outfit HAG has just released a new chair with grooved footplates that encourages the sitter to pump their feet, keeping the blood flowing and the mind alert.
Studies from HAG have shown that humans are not designed to stay still, as we move constantly, even in our sleep. Although more traditional chair design is still the bread and butter of the industry, the huge growth in ever more exciting technologies that discourage inertia suggests a broadening of the term “ergonomic” and the thinking behind what makes an effective working environment.
Finally, designers have come to recognise the importance of non-tangibles such as the positioning of computer screens, the removal of clutter and the effects of lighting on the efficacy of an office space. Companies such as PowerDesk have introduced the Freemote that allows remote control of a PC up to 10 m away, while still providing CD and zip drives and other such essentials at the workspace, while Colebrook Bosson Saunders is leading the way in manoeuvrable screens as well as cable and hardware management with its Avall range and Zorro monitor arms.
As Siddharth Peters of Total Office, UAE, says: “Employers have realised the financial and social benefits of ergonomics: these products increase productivity and reduce injuries. This has only become more prominent with the ever increasing reach of the internet and the need for every person to be behind a computer for long periods of time. We stock all the biggest names in ergonomics and we’re excited about displaying the raft of new developments at The Office Exhibition.”
Ergonomics @ The Office
Humanscale, Steelcase, Colebrook Bosson Saunders and Total Office will be showcasing the latest in ergonomic furniture design and future concepts at The Office Exhibition.
For more information visit www.theofficeexhibition.com.
Middle East Interiors VOLUME IV ISSUE 2 February 2009
