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Improving work performance through ergonomic principles

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Furnishing the benefits of workplace noise reduction

By researching the use of acoustically advanced composite technology in the design and manufacture of office furniture, a consortium led by FIRA International Ltd (Furniture Industry Research Association) hopes to help reduce noise in the working environment. The work is designed to identify materials suitable for use in office partitions, desks, cupboards, drawers and filing cabinets, to build prototypes and test their structural and acoustic performance.

Ergonomics in the office

There is significant scope for organisations to improve efficiency, health and safety and employee satisfaction by applying ergonomics in the working environment. Ergonomically designed workplaces, equipment and jobs aim to modify the environment to meet people’s needs. There are many such needs within the office environment

Fixed height desks and ergonomics

The ergonomics principle used in determining the height of fixed height desking is to allow the largest users in the intended user group sit at the desk without the top of their thighs hitting the underside of the desk. In other words, fixed height desks are designed for the tall people and the majority of people would need height adjustable chair and shorter users would also need a footrest.

Office desks and chairs – effect of eye to monitor distance and legroom depth on desk depth.

The depth of worksurface would be determined by the eye to monitor distance which is 600 mm ± 150 mm depending on the size of the monitor and the legibility of information displayed. This means that CRTs would require a desk of much greater depth than flat screens. However, flat screens do not mean that we can reduce the desk depth.

Flat panel monitor support arms

Since the introduction of the PC into the office environment monitor support arms (for CRT monitors) have been used sporadically. They seemed to offer several advantages; the monitor can be adjusted to the desired height and distance on the desk to suit the user, or indeed adjusted to suit any user in a multi-task office. If there is a sufficient place on the desk, the available desk space could be increased and, when the monitors are not in use, but the shear sizes of CRT monitors made this difficult.

Display screen equipment (vdus) and office furniture

It is almost ten years since the Health and Safety - Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations came into force. There are some organisations, which have just heard about these regulations. There are still considerable number of organisations who are either unaware of the existence of these regulations or choose to ignore them. Most organisations partly comply with these regulations by only undertaking very minimal risk assessments, which in their view show that everything is acceptable. Small proportion of organisations fully complies and exceeds the requirements of these regulations and consequently reaps the benefits of more productive healthier and happier workforce.

How can I avoid postural problems when using laptops?

The best solution is not to use laptops as replacements for desktop computers. If laptops are to be used in the office environment (either as a replacement for desktop computers or when hoteling/hot-desking) they need to be used with a separate high clarity height adjustable screen, a keyboard and an independent pointing device (such as an external mouse) at a docking station.

Are you sitting comfortably?

The nature of office work can result in people spending prolonged periods of time in the seated position. It is vital therefore that any seat provides stable bodily support in a position that is comfortable over a period of time, physiologically sound and appropriate to the task or activity

Does the use of laptops violate the display screen equipment regulations?

In April 2003, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published amended guidance on these regulations, entitled ‘work with display screen equipment: Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002’. One of the key changes has been that portable display screen equipment (DSE) such as laptop computers is now subject to the DSE regulations.

Myths and facts about height adjustable desks

Fixed height office desks have been around since the conception of offices. Work practices, types of workers, our knowledge on ergonomics, and health & safety requirements have been changing continuously yet we still use fixed height desks.

How safe is your display screen?

Display screen equipment legislation places a duty upon employers to control the risks associated with DSE use

Cutting edge designers are creating school furniture of the future

In 1999-2000, £950 million was spent on educational resources, but only about ten percent of this was spent on furniture (£42.9 million in primary and £51.3 on secondary schools). Unfortunately key criteria for the selection of furniture in most schools have been dominated by price, ease of ordering and availability. As can be seen from the picture here, it is generally accepted that the furniture in schools is not appropriate for the size of today’s children and types of activities children do, and also it looks worn out, out of date and uninspiring.

How does office furniture (desks and chairs) comply with the display screen equipment (DSE) regulations?

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) guidance document on the Display Screen Equipment Regulations state that standards will provide specifications for new equipment, they may also be used as a yardstick for assessing the suitability of existing installations. The guidance notes go further by stating that workstations, which comply with the appropriate standards cited in the guidance, would meet, and in most cases exceed the relevant requirements of the Display Screen Regulations.

How can I be comfortable sitting at work?

Sit-stand height adjustable desks

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