You know that old saying, “you don’t know what you don’t know”, well that certainly holds true in the world of ergonomics and office-based work too.
Sure, most people know the basics of an ergonomic office chair, desk, computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse, and there are some fairly well-accepted conventions or standards that go along with these items. But what you may not realise is that there is also a world of options and specialty items that may be better suited to the work that you perform, or may help to alleviate some of the discomforts that can be experienced from a sedentary or computer-based role.
Every time I go into an office I am dealing with a range of individuals. And that is the keyword – individuals. Everybody is “built” differently and has different needs both in terms of their physical make-up as well as the type of work that they are required to perform. During a workplace ergonomic assessment I take into account the individual’s history, including any prior injuries or current symptoms, as well as their natural posture to determine the items that will suit them best. I take great satisfaction in being able to identify these needs and make clear and accurate recommendations to address any issues based on my knowledge of the options that are available in the broader marketplace.
A great example of this came from a recent workplace assessment project I completed. In the past, the Employer had provided their staff with one type of chair, which for the majority of people was suitable once I had given them some direction in terms of adjustments to improve their comfort and support their natural posture. There were 2 staff members in particular that deviated from the norm – one required less lumbar support than the chair was offering, whilst the other required significantly more. Using my knowledge of available chair models I was able to recommend 2 items (from different suppliers) that I happened to have with me at the time of the assessments that perfectly suited the needs of the individual staff members. A few small adjustments and they were both more comfortable and much happier with the new ergonomic chair. Result.
This is a clear reason as to why you should seek out an ergonomic professional (or dare I say Expert :)) when you are serious about looking after your health and well-being at the workplace, or that of your staff.
Please feel free to contact me for an obligation-free discussion regarding your specific needs – I can be reached on 0409 512 434. Josh
