When your employees are tired, they aren’t going to do their best work. Even worse, uncomfortable and fatigued working conditions can lead to workplace injuries and higher rates of absenteeism or turnover. You can avoid these problems with an ergonomic office, which involves designing your office space to fit the work instead of expecting employees to fit themselves to the various tasks.
An ergonomically-correct office will help avoid discomfort and fatigue and may improve overall productivity. Not sure where to start? These tips can send you in the right direction.
5 Tips for an Ergonomic Office
Here are some of the top ways you can create an ergonomic office space.
1. Provide Customizable Desks and Computers
Every desk and computer in your ergonomic office should be completely customizable to employees’ wants and needs. The workspace should include:
- Desk — Items should be laid out with those most accessed having the shortest reach.
- Monitor — A computer monitor should be placed approximately an arm’s length away, with the top of the screen at eye level.
- Keyboard and mouse — The employee’s elbows should be bent at a 90-degree angle for the keyboard with the wrists straight. The mouse should be located at the same height and right next to the keyboard.
2. Show Employees How to Adjust Their Chairs
Your employees are going to come in all shapes and sizes. So the same make and model of office chair may not work for everyone. Ideally, the office chairs you use will be adjustable for height so that the person’s feet are flat on the floor. There should be sufficient lumbar support, and armrests should be slightly below elbow level.
3. Offer Ergonomic Accessories to Employees
Every employee’s needs will be different. So give your staff options to make their workspace as comfortable as possible. Offer various ergonomic accessories, such as:
- Headsets
- Lumbar supports
- Footrests
- Wrist rests
- Document holders
- Standing desks
- Balance ball chairs
4. Pay Attention to Your Environmental Setting
Something else that is an ergonomic essential is the overall environment of your office space. This refers to things like the temperature, humidity, and lighting in the office. While temperature can be a personal preference, yours shouldn’t be too much to one extreme or another. And the lighting should be as soft as possible to avoid computer screen glare and headaches.
5. Incorporate Breaks Into the Work Routine
A stressful work environment and too much repetitive motion can lead workers to have injuries or be in a constant state of tension. Try to relieve some of this stress by incorporating more breaks into the work routine. Encourage workers to step away from their desks, stretch their muscles, and relax several times per shift.
Find Your Next Ergonomic Office Space
If your current office space is too small or just doesn’t suit some of your business goals, it’s probably time to start looking for something fresh and new. In the meantime, you can make those ergonomic office space changes to improve conditions for your staff.
Caldwell Commercial Real Estate would be pleased to help you locate the ideal commercial office space in the Charleston, SC area. Our commercial realtors and property managers have over 80 years of combined experience, so you can have peace of mind knowing we are looking out for your best interests. Contact us today for more information.
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