There is a field of design which incorporates psychology, sociology, biomechanics, physiology, statistics, and various other fields that study the human condition. It is dedicated to human comfort in the most productive work positions. It is called ergonomics. Ergonomic furniture makes people both more comfortable and more effective. This article will explain how and will translate the benefits of ergonomic furniture in practical terms.
The first Ergon chair was designed in 1976 after a need developed to monitor the health of office workers in prolonged sitting periods. When a piece of ergonomic furniture is designed, a statistician is consulted to provide a demographic of the optimal posture for the task in hand. A physiologist is consulted to ensure the piece blends in with its surroundings and is smooth to see. An anatomy specialist is consulted to ensure adequate posture is attainable for the period required. A psychologist is consulted to ensure eye gaze produces the least amount of stress hormones possible and other neurological stress is minimized. These specialist fields combine with others in ergonomics to create furniture that has the long-term health and productivity levels of its occupant in mind.
Ergonomic furniture also aims to have the maximum mental and physical effort of its inhabitant focused on the task in hand. In recent years, there have been multiple studies demonstrating how maximum productivity is achieved when focusing on one task at a time. However, even when focusing on one task at a time, the furniture around one can be distracting. For example, one placing their hand on their lower back whilst sitting in an uncomfortable chair. Ergonomic furniture reduces such distractions. When workers focus on one task at a time and have zero distractions due to discomfort or posture, true maximal productivity is achieved. This is the goal of ergonomic furniture.
A direct physical benefit of ergonomic furniture in the workplace is the reduction of repetitive based injuries. Regarding the example of carpal tunnel syndrome for office workers; Ergonomic designed furniture such as chairs and desks consult multiple specialists on hand in the design process to ensure the spine, wrist and neck can relax in a neutral position throughout the day. The physiological aspect of ergonomics ensures that ergonomic furniture is designed to keep the human body in a stress-free, neutral posture for the task in hand. The multiple specialists involved in the design and creation of ergonomic furniture reduce repetitive based injuries. This reduction in injuries not only increases morale and health of a workforce, but also reduces sick days. A 2% reduction in sick days annually is a substantial gain to the margin of any company. This is one of many benefits of ergonomic furniture. As an employer, you should definitely buy bulk office furniture with ergonomic features. For example, all employers will need to buy office chairs for their staff. Ergonomic office chairs can be quite expensive so if you need to get a large number of them, it will cost you quite a lot. However, there are many wholesale office chair offers out there where you can get a cheaper deal for buying them in bulk.
Physical benefits and reduction in repetitive based injuries are one of many benefits of ergonomic furniture. The neurological benefits of a stress-free working position can also lead to a healthier working life. Stress hormones have been scientifically linked to a range of illnesses, thus, an ergonomically designed environment with workers in a correct, comfortable posture can lead to a substantial reduction in illness and increase in moral. Studies have shown that people are most productive when they are happy. The multiple fields of knowledge that go into the design of ergonomic furniture contribute to creating such benefits. A 1% increase in productivity daily from ergonomic furniture is a substantial gain to the margin of any company. Thus, ergonomic furniture benefits its occupants in terms of health and productivity simultaneously.
The benefits of ergonomic furniture are as endless as the multiple fields of scientific knowledge that comprise its creation. Each individual field has given years of consideration to each individual aspect of the human condition. These great individual contributions combine to design furniture that itself, contributes as a great part to any environment. An environment containing ergonomic furniture is one that has been thought of on multiple levels. It is an environment that contains benefits beyond the initial feeling of comfort felt on contact. Ergonomic furniture is an accumulation of knowledge and benefits in one item.
