Is your Office Chair Ergonomic?

Are you sitting comfortably as you read this? Many of us spend many hours sat at our office desks. We often spend 40 or so hours a week sat in a chair that we had no input in choosing. Now compare this with the amount of time we spend sat in a chair at home, how long did you take to choose that chair? If you are anything like me I suspect it was several hours.

Most people usually find that they have the same chair as the person who previously used their desk. That would be fine if the previous occupant knew how to adjust the chair to make it comfortable and was exactly the same shape and size as you. Unfortunatly the chances of that happening are very very slim. If you are in this situation then it is possible to make some useful changes.

The first thing you nees to do is to check out the full range of adjustment that your chair has. Start at the bottom and adjust the height so that your arms are at a natural and comfortable height. Then adjust the arms so that you can rest your arms on them. Finally adjust the back so that you get firm support from it. If any of the adjustments don't work or you can't get comfortable then ask for a new chair.

It's a well known fact that badly adjusted chairs account for a large percentage of workplace injuries. Each year thousands of days work are lost through employees taking days off through backpain. A properly adjusted chair will help prevent this backpain from occuring. Employers owe it themselves and their employees to ensure that good quality chairs are being used in the workplace.

There are an number of points to be considered before you buy a new office chair

1. Can it be adjusted

2. Is it leather or fabric

3. Type of construction

Being able to fully adjust an office chair means that a new chair can be used for a range of people with different shapes and sizes. It would be great if we were all the same but unfortunalty we aren't so we need as large a level of adjustment as possible.

The type of covering used on office chairs are usually a matter of personal opinion. many peolle like to go with the luxurious feel of leather. While other prefer the comform and ventilation of mesh office chairs. One think most agree on is avoind vinyl covered seats at all costs.

A quick look around any office furniture store will soon demonstrate that there are many different styles of office chairs. There are many different styles of backs some with headrests others without. Some chairs will offer a great range of support while others offer very little. The key to buying an office chair is to make sure that you try them out before you commit to buying one.