Ergonomic furniture is a must for any workforce dedicated to protecting their employees’ health and wellbeing. Unlike standard office furniture, ergonomic furniture is tailor made to provide comfort while also protecting employees against workforce related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Which is why Singapore, as one the world’s largest corporate empires, is dedicated to maintaining their employees’ health. This is easily proven by their continued top rank in the Global Workplace Safety and Health Performance ranking.
In this article we’ll go into detail about the different types of ergonomic office furniture in Singapore that employers can consider utilizing for a healthier and more productive work environment.
The Benefits of Ergonomic Furniture
First, it’s important to establish what the actual benefits of using ergonomic furniture are.
Improved Posture and Comfort
Designed specially to promote good posture; ergonomic furniture provides proper support for one’s neck, arms and spine, reducing the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders from prolonged sitting. Furthermore, these special types of furniture are equipped with adjustable features that can be customised to suit each users’ needs.
Improved Employee Satisfaction
By providing a healthy work environment, employers prove their sincere dedication to maintaining their employees’ well-being. This in turn has a positive impact on employees’ morale as they understand that they are a valued part of the workforce.
Enhanced Productivity
Improving employee satisfaction in turn leads to increased productivity, as comfortable employees are able to concentrate considerably better.
Different Types of Ergonomic Furniture for Offices
There are various different types of ergonomic furniture that one can consider, so here’s a list of the 10 most essential ones:
1. Mesh Office Chair
Being quite possibly the single most vital piece of furniture for any office; ergonomic office chairs are the first step towards ensuring an employee’s wellbeing. While there are several different ergonomic chairs to choose from, the mesh office chair can be considered the most versatile option. Equipped with armrests, lumbar support and adjustable height; the mesh chair takes comfort a step further by being made of soft, breathable material. Easily keeping users comfortable for prolonged siting.
2. Monitor Arm
Utilizing a monitor arm helps prevent users from developing neck strain during long work hours. It supports and elevates the monitor, allowing users to customise the height and tilt to suit their needs.
3. Sit-Stand Desk
This is a desk that allows the user to adjust the height of the desk so they can easily alternate between standing and sitting. This offers users with significant health benefits as reducing sedentary behaviour improves circulation and reduces the risk of both developing heart disease and chronic neck/back pain.
4. Balance Board
Great for both improving posture and circulation while building core strength. A balance board pairs extremely well with a sit-stand desk, allowing the user to remain physically active without sacrificing productivity.
5. Wrist Rest
A wrist rest is essential for proper wrist alignment and reducing the pressure placed upon the tendons and muscles on one’s hand and forearm. This helps prevent the user from developing repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
6. Keyboard Tray
Helping keep the keyboard at a comfortable and adjustable height; a keyboard tray is another piece of office furniture that, similar to a wrist rest, helps reduce repetitive strain injuries.
7. Footrest
Excellent for improving one’s ergonomic posture by reducing slouching, and reducing the strain put on the lower back; a footrest supports the feet and ensures that the hips, knees and ankles are kept properly aligned. It pairs excellently with the mesh office chair, as the two combined covers almost all bases when it comes to maintaining one’s posture.
8. Laptop Stand
Those who tend to work on a laptop rather than a desktop, should consider utilizing a laptop stand. Not only does it prevent a laptop from overheating, but it also helps users maintain the ideal viewing angle, reducing neck strain.
9. Document Holders
Neck stain can also be prevented by making sure that all essential equipment is kept at eye level. This is where document holders can come in handy. Keeping both the desk clutter-free and important papers within sight; document holders can definitely be considered essential for those working extensively with physical documents.
10. LED Desk Lamp
Essential for reducing eyestrain and improving visibility, this particular piece of ergonomic furniture is excellent for those who tend to spend long hours working at the desk.
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Which of These Ten is a Must-Have?
As you can see there are a large variety of different options to consider when it comes to office furnishings. However, the most vital one would be the mesh
chair. Comfortable and excellent for maintaining posture, it’s an absolute must have for anyone spending time at a desk.
What to Look for When Choosing a Mesh Office Chair?
There are few things that potential buyers should look for when it comes to selecting a high-quality mesh chair for the office.
● Materials Used
It’s important to make sure that the material used for the mesh is soft, comfortable and breathable with closely woven fibers.
● Durability
Buyers should make sure that materials used are durable and will withstand several hours of usage without any degradation.
● Adjustability
As the chair is meant to help one’s ergonomic health, it’s important to make sure that it has adjustable features so that it can be customised for one’s needs.
● Warranty
A sure-fire way of being able to tell that something is built to last is to check how long the warranty period is. Manufactures who offer long warranties essentially guarantee that their mesh chairs are of high quality.
Interested in Bringing Healthy Living to Your Workforce?
Then it’s time to search online for a store selling ergonomic office furniture in Singapore, browsing their wares and selecting the ones that best suit you.
