By spending hours in a static position at work, operators unknowingly damage their health and shorten their life expectancy by several years.
So it's natural to wonder how to design an ergonomic workstation that promotes well-being and boosts productivity.
How should a supervisor's workstation be arranged? Should I work sitting down or standing up?
Ergonomics is a major issue for companies, as failure to take account of the body's needs can lead to discomfort and, consequently, lower productivity.
Every posture at work has its advantages and disadvantages for health, and thus influences the worker's well-being.
The sitting posture recommended for precision work, which requires stability, has its limits: it causes problems with blood circulation, spinal discs and muscle atrophy.
Similarly, the upright posture, which promotes mobility, allows you to exert yourself, work your muscles and put less strain on the lumbar discs, but is uncomfortable if you have to spend hours in a standing position.
There's no such thing as an ideal work posture. However, it is important to meet the requirements of the job: sitting posture for work requiring stability, and standing posture for work requiring mobility and a lot of movement. The standing position is also adopted by people who are regularly on the phone as part of their duties.
Furniture for work areas and supervision rooms in particular
To boost productivity, the workstation, whether seated or standing, must be functional and meet ergonomic requirements, to promote safety, comfort and well-being.
And it's to meet these requirements that SOA designs and manufactures ergonomic furniture for work areas and control rooms in particular.
Indeed, SOA's mission is to improve well-being and working conditions, with the aim of boosting productivity and concentration for all users of an optimized workstation.
SOA offers :
- sit-stand desks for a variety of postures;
- ergonomic screen supports for optimum reading height;
- functional office furniture that promotes comfortable posture (wrist positioning, accessibility of storage units, etc.);
- ergonomic chairs for office use only or for all-day use.
Why use SOA?
Ergonomics influence employee productivity, as demonstrated by figures put forward by the Direction de l'animation de la recherche, des études et des statistiques (Dares, 2016).
- 87% of occupational illnesses are linked to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
- 34% of ailments affect the carpal tunnel, which causes pain in the wrist,
- 29% shoulder tendonitis
- and 20% elbow and lumbago.
Similarly, 50% of MSDs recognized by the social security system leave after-effects.
These ailments are caused by repetitive movements, prolonged immobile postures (sitting or standing) and the handling of heavy loads.
Ergonomics, which defines working conditions and the relationship between man and machine, influences productivity, which in turn is linked to employee well-being.
Aware of the consequences of poor posture on health, and therefore on productivity, SOA recommends the use of dynamic workstations.
This is a height-adjustable workstation for control, command and supervision rooms, enabling operators to combine safety, efficiency and health.
This is why dynamic workstations are becoming increasingly popular.
Recent studies demonstrate the damaging effects of a sedentary lifestyle on the heart and colon. In fact, the risk of premature death is 37% higher for women who sit for at least 6 hours a day than for those who sit for no more than 3 hours. (Source: American Cancer Society)
By working in a standing position, employees can exercise all their muscles, stimulate blood circulation and reduce the risk of lymphatic problems.
And since the standing position distributes the body's weight, the lumbar region is less stressed.
Added to this is the great freedom of movement. However, standing for hours on end can lead to fatigue, lymphatic problems and varicose veins.
Alternating postures: the ideal solution?
There are ergonomic furniture solutions that combine the advantages of each posture: the dynamic workstation, characterized by its adjustable height.
The choice of manual or electrically adjustable lecterns makes it easy to switch between sitting, standing and sit-stand positions.
To find out more, visit www.soa-agencement.com.
Avoid static posture for greater comfort
There's no such thing as the ideal posture, but by setting up a dynamic workstation, employees can enjoy the benefits of alternating postures.
The sitting posture, less tiring at first glance, is far from perfect. It significantly increases the risk of heart problems and colon cancer. Prolonged sitting also puts pressure on the lumbar region, the cause of back pain.
Similarly, the standing posture, which oxygenates the muscles and reduces the feeling of fatigue, can lead to blood circulation problems and lymphatic disorders resulting in heavy legs.
So, if you want to design a supervision room that meets ergonomic requirements, you need to consider alternating postures.
This third option avoids static positions. That's why it's the most interesting solution.
