Choosing the Right Chair
Selecting an Ergonomic Chair · Selecting a chair is like selecting a bed, a lounge or any other product you · The primary purpose of the chair should be to provide you with the maximum · However, the primary purpose of selecting a chair should be based on · Nowadays most office people spend a large portion of their time using computers In summary, selection of a chair should consider the following: - The tasks that one is performing - Physical stature of the individual, short, medium built or tall However good a chair may be, if the settings are not used correctly, then Sitting for long periods has a negative effect on your body and results in lower What is an Ergonomic Chair? Do you know that we spend one third of our lives sleeping and another third of An ergonomic chair is one which provides you with maximum comfort and is An ergonomic chair should: · Be easily adjustable and suit various users, or a single person · Should have good lumbar (back) support which can be easily adjusted and has · The foam in the seat base should be reasonably thick and heat sensitive. A heat What is the price of an ergonomic chair? Is it more expensive than a Chairs that are sold in various retailers vary in price and this often reflects the The next range of chairs are called task chairs, which may have height adjustability These chairs will vary between $100-250 and is generally the range of chairs Ergonomic chairs vary in cost from approximately $300 and can go up to $1500, Each organisation should look at medium and high backrest chairs with two How Do I Adjust my Chair? The adjustment of a chair is vitally important in providing maximum comfort of Back Tilt The lever with the longer arm is referred to as the back tilt lever. The tilt will Seat Tilt The lever on the left is the seat tilt lever. Generally the tilt is downward as Backrest Height Many users do not know how to use the backrest properly and this is where all the Examples of Good and Bad Posture Under Occupational Health and Safety standards, it is the employers responsibility Most chairs are only rated to 110kg, but with the rate of obesity in Australia forever
want to be comfortable. There are different ranges of chairs, varying in seat
pan size, back height and adjustability
comfort when performing a range of activities. Generally, ergonomics chairs are
chosen to provide comfort or to alleviate symptoms such as back pain or neck
pain symptoms
the task one is performing most of the time
it is of no value.
back or neck discomfort. A suitably designed comfortable chair which provides
maximum comfort will reduce or minimise the risk of discomfort.
our lives sitting? This fact alone makes it very important to make a correct
decision in purchasing a chair, especially an Ergonomic Chair.
equipped closely to match your physical stature. Chair manufacturers and sales
people will provide features of height adjustability, back tilt adjustability and
seat tilt adjustability. They may also mention headrests, arm rests and discuss
the various characteristics of seat cushions. These features are standard in most
chairs, and does not make them ergonomically designed.
a high backrest
sensitive base will spread the weight on your bottom evenly and make it more
comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time
traditional chair?
quality of the fabric, adjustability and features. Student chairs are normally priced
between 40 and 60 dollars and these are standard chairs with no height adjustability
and no extra features. The cushions offer minimal comfort and support.
and often have knobs to raise the height of the backrest. These chairs have a
concave hump two thirds of the way down the backrest, designed to be positioned
behind the lower back. This is referredto as lumbar support.
that employers purchase for their employees.
depending on the features, types of cushion, size of the seat pan and backrest
height.Budget restriction often prevents companies from purchasing expensive
ergonomics chairs…for most workplaces, an ergonomic chair worth between
$300-500 should suffice, however someone with specific ailments, symptoms,
poor posture etc. may need to purchase a chair which specifically suits their
needs.
varying seat depths. This will cover a population of approximately 90-95% of
people.
a chair. Generally, there are two levers on the right hand side of the chair and
one on the left.
extend backwards to approximately 130 degrees and forwards to 70 degrees.
opposed to upwards to provide more comfort.
problems begin. Sitting for prolonged periods is the commonest cause for back injury.
the seat too low will have a user reaching up to the keyboard, while having it too
high will place strain on the users neck. Adjust the height of your chair until it feels
comfortable to sit at.
Occupational Health and Safety
to provide suitable ergonomic equipment for their employees.
increasing, this is a problem. Manufacturers do not provide warranty and therefore
it is extremely essential for employers to ensure that chairs are rated to up 150kgs
to maintain manufacturers warranty and avoid breaching anti-discrimination laws.
