Can working in a non-ergonomic office be bad for your health? Yes, say some advocates of the ergonomic way of life. But, let’s face it; people have worked in traditional offices for years without risking their health and well being. Of course being smart about how you work can help increase your chances of staying safe and well.

The truth is that overly stressing any part of your body, albeit a set of muscles and tendons, your immune system or even your mental health can all be dangerous, and since ergonomics relies on bringing the physical, mental, emotional and technological beings together in better alignment and harmony it can only help create a healthier and more comfortable work environment.

Without an ergonomically designed workspace you could be setting yourself up for a myriad of physical ailments including:

• Carpel tunnel syndrome – this can be avoided by using better aligned keyboards and other office tools
• Tendonitis – finding a better fit in office equipment can help alleviate this painful disorder
• Fatigue – something as simple as putting a glare filter on an annoying computer screen can ease eye strain and help alleviate mid-day fatigue
• Chronic colds and flu – stress can lower the immune system. Ergonomics helps to find ways to lower physical and emotional stress by improving the way people view their job tasks and finding better (and easier) ways to accomplish them. Another way to avoid more physical ailments is to make your work environment more physically comfortable in terms of temperature. People who feel too cold or hot in the office may be more apt to suffer with the sniffles or worse on a regular basis. Regulating temperatures and the like can help alleviate these problems once and for all.
• Mental health – psychological issues too can be avoided lowering stress levels, frustration and feelings of incompetence

So, now that you better understand the dangers of working in a non-ergonomic environment what can you do about? First, make sure the equipment and tools you use (computers, desks, chairs, etc), are comfortable to use. Be sure chairs and desks are at the right height to prevent neck and back strain; install extra lighting to stop eye strain; and use keyboards that are specially designed to prevent wrist and hand problems.

Next, make sure the outdoor environment is comfortable. Get rid of plants that may be causing allergy symptoms; lower or raise the temperature in your office or cubicle for the most comfort and add some soft music if that helps you relax more and concentrate better.

Finally, find ways to complete tasks in an easier manner. If you are having hand pain from folding newsletter and brochures, either enlist some help or try to talk your boss into buying a folding machine. You aren’t always going to be able to incorporate the best ergonomics ideas and designs into the workplace, but the key is to find as many as you can to make your work life easier and more comfortable.

Source by Matt Hick

The eight hours (or more for workaholics) we need to spend inside the office is no small matter. That is why we have to give much attention and notice to the ones we spend those eight hours with. And yes, that includes your humble (or not, in some cases) office chair.

However, there are still people who view the workplace chair as lower than what they are really worth. Chances are these are the kind of people who walk into the office and cannot wait for the day to end. And a likely reason why they immediately want the day end is that they are uncomfortable with their seats. Ironic, isn’t it?

In order to make you (and your employees as well) work even more productively, you have to secure a comfortable place for them. You may already have done your part by securing not only comfortable but also ergonomically correct chairs for your office. However, what happens when we suddenly encounter problems with these chairs?

Do not fret or worry. Most of the problems workplace chairs have do not even need the attention of a professional. You don’t have to be an expert in fixing furniture or appliances to be able to fix of these problems, some of which are described in this article.

Your office chair stinks, I mean, sinks

If you have always owned an office chair, this is one of the most common, not to mention most frustrating, problem a workplace chair could possibly have. Office chairs usually sink because of two reasons. The first reason is when the pneumatic lift of the office chair becomes worn out. By then, it will not longer be able to carry weight. When this happens, you may need to replace the faulty lift in the chair from the supplier.

Another reason why chairs sink is when its height adjustment lever becomes damaged. Aside from being damaged, it may also come out of alignment. This happens when the gas lift is permanently set to release all the weight applied to it and so it forces the chair to sink.

To fix this problem, you have to see whether the height adjustment lever is misaligned. Turn the chair over, locate the said lever and try pressing it back into its normal position.

Your office chair shocks you and not in a good way

Getting static electricity shocks while sitting on your office chair is also one common situation. Experiencing it can range from unpleasant to painful. Sometimes, this problem results from another problem in the office chair’s upholstery, clothing and even from the office carpet, made even worse with your office’s air conditioning, which makes the said problem quite hard to resolve.

A possible solution to this problem if it happens frequently is to buy a portable humidifier. Moisture can help lessen static. If static persists, you can try gripping a metal portion of your workplace chair before you get up as it can ground the electrical charge.

Your office chair squeaks and it’s not cute

Children may like the squeaking sound of a chair but for an employee trying to do his job well, the persistent squeaking of his office chair may frustrate him, not helping at all to his work productivity. A squeaking office chair is usually a result of either of these two reasons. First, the squeaking sound may be because there is constant friction between two metal parts. Usually, this metal to metal contact happen where the back is attached to the seat. Another cause for squeaking are the loose fixings that secure the back to the seat.

To resolve the annoying problem of squeaks, expose the office chair’s moving parts and coat them with a special spray which reduces friction and provides lubrication to improve motion. You can also try tightening all the fixings up.

Either it reclines or does not recline!

This is another common problem of workplace chairs which brings upon more frustration to its user. When there is something wrong with the way your office chair reclines, it removes your attention from the work you should be doing and you tend to focus on how to sit more comfortably on such a chair.

When your chair does not recline anymore, a very likely cause is that the back of the chair has been set to a locked position, as most models come with this function. To release it from the locked position, move the control levers which re located on the underside of the chair.

On the other hand, if your office chair can’t seem to stop from reclining, there might be two root causes. First, the back of the chair might have been locked at a full recline position. To resolve this, do the same procedure with the control levers. Another reason for this is faulty mechanism, wherein the chair has very little or no resistance. Look for a round knob which is located under the seat. Turn this clockwise which will increase the tension of the back.

Source by Alan Cassidy