Ergonomics of the workstation

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Ergonomics of the workstation

An office that listens to you…

It’s true it’s not something we always think about… And yet to improve our workstations, we need to know ourselves and others. An experimental space, in more than one way. As much by its functional aspect as its environmental design.

Where and how do you set up your desk? A question that we all ask regularly throughout our working lives. A problem which really highlights the link between cause and effect, between a given activity and the type of layout chosen. Inadequate lighting, badly positioned chairs and work surfaces, storage spaces that are hard or impossible to access, poorly soundproofed partitioning, computer stations that are too far away from each other… There are as many causes for inefficiency in a workplace as there is loss in productivity for a business. To solve this and create a workplace that is conducive to communication and creativity, you do have a very effective and comprehensive tool at your fingertips: ergonomics. This discipline, which is the study of “the relationship between the individual and his/her workstation in order to optimise output in relation to the physical effort exerted,” allows you to fully evaluate your needs and establish your priorities where the office surroundings are concerned; in other words, to make the most of time and money thanks to a layout that matches your needs.

• The basics within your grasp

In an ideal world, a work surface reflects the kind of activity that’s carried out there. It’s only efficient if you can easily access the tools that you need. According to current regulations, you should allow for a margin of one metre (1 metre 50 where the room overlooks the street) in front of and behind each workstation. You should keep within 75 cm from your seated position (which corresponds to your arm reach on average) anything that you might need: keyboard, telephone, files. Employees are in the wrong when they admit, in 70 % of cases, to using their desk as storage space. The work surface should be a minimum of 80 cm deep, and adapt to the IT equipment it holds. Desks with right-angled corners risk causing injuries or damaging certain connections. That’s why more rounded and less harsh tabletops are recommended (curved or rounded). If the workplace is intended for static work, it should give the employee a certain freedom of movement.

• Computer comfort

Cables and central computer workstations need to be positioned so that they do not interfere with the way people need to work. The same goes for the screen, which should be perpendicular and more than 1 metre 50 from the source of light. This kind of arrangement will reduce annoying reflections and poor contrasts. Also, the distance between the screen and the keyboard should be no more than 20 cm. The screen needs to be set up in a certain way in relation to the body. The best way is for the eyes to be directed between 50 and 75 cm from the middle of the screen, the computer should not be too high or too low (directly on top of the table for example). Also, the screen should not be placed with light behind it, or opposite a window, nor should it have too high a resolution (1024X768), as this can lead to variations in the image. Arms and forearms should be relaxed, flat and at a right angle, preferably on a sliding shelf, 74 cm from the floor. A small extension to the left or right facilitates movement of the mouse, and will reduce tiredness. Something else to be aware of: you can get anti-glare work surfaces which are treated to reduce unwanted reflections!

• Good posture

Your choice of office chair obviously has an effect on productivity as well as health. Bad posture can indeed cause back pain, muscular strain on the neck and shoulders, circulation problems, slipped discs and cardio-vascular complications. Today there is a trend for office chairs on wheels, with adjustable height and depth (420/510 mm), with backs that you can angle, according to a height (360 mm minimum) adapted to an individual’s body shape. A footrest can be useful if the work surface is raised. Your posture is “correct” when you use all the space available, and if the back and height of the seat is set at the right height. At Sedus, the really clever “dorsokinetic” system has been developed: the “black dot”, with the technology based in the backrest which combines aesthetics and ergonomics. Also in the Sedus range: multifunctional armrests which can be adjusted to an individual’s preferences, the Early Bird system with its very precise support (S-shaped) of the spine. Scientific studies have proved that it is preferable to get up from your work space regularly, and that you should change your position 2 to 4 times an hour. So, a “recumbent” position is, just like the “standing” or “sitting” position, a whole other work position.

• The working environment

Ergonomics involves all the materials used, preferably chosen from materials that comply with safety and robustness norms, are totally insulated, and with low electrostatic charges. If the interior décor has an impact on the employee’s well-being, then anything within visual range also has a role to play. Good lighting and an uncluttered work surface will reduce eye fatigue. For better visual comfort, you should make the most of natural daylight, and combine direct lighting and diffused lighting. The light should be more intense in the working area (between 250 and 500 lux), and then progressively spread throughout the rest of the room so that the eyes are not subjected to excessively harsh lighting. The same demands should be made of the acoustic environment which, according to Afnor (the French standardisation organisation), should not exceed 55 decibels (A), fax machines and photocopiers should be kept in a separate room which has adequate ventilation and the correct interior temperature (between 23 and 26 ° C in summer months and between 20 and 24° C in winter). Basically, ergonomics will not succeed without going hand in hand with the identity of a business, and the identity of its workspace, which necessitates a rethink of the office layout, and a complete understanding of the space involved!