The Office Chair

The selection of an office chair is critical in reducing the potential for injury in people who work in a sitting position. When selecting an office chair, check to make sure that the chair has the following features:

Adjustable seat height.		Armrests with adjustable height and angle.
Adjustable seat depth.
Adjustable height and tilt of the back rest.		Front edge of the seat curves downwards.
Lumbar or back support.

When selecting a chair, perform the following:

• Tighten the backrest to your satisfaction. Stand in front of the chair. Adjust the height so the highest point of the seat is just below your knee cap.
• Sit so that the clearance between the front edge of the seat and the lower part of your leg just fits a clenched fist.
• Adjust the backrest of the chair so that it supports the hollow of the lower back.
• Adjust the chair height so your elbows are about the same height as your work surface.
• Use a footrest if your feet cannot rest flat on the floor or if there is pressure on the back of your legs. The footrest should be adjustable and support the whole foot.

Workstation Layout

To help reduce the potential for injury from poor office ergonomics, follow these tips to improve your office workstation:

Make sure the chair’s back rest/lumbar support fits the curve of your spine.		Place your monitor about an arm’s reach away. The top of the screen should be at or below eye level. For bifocal wearers, the monitor should be on the desk.
Adjust your chair so that the chair’s arm rests are at elbow height, so your arms can be supported while typing.		Keep your knees slightly lower than your hips.
Keep the keyboard and mouse directly in front of you and at elbow height.		Use a foot rest if you feet can not rest flat on the floor.
Place your CPU on the floor to free up valuable desk space.		Place the monitor directly in front of you.
Place your telephone to the side of your non-dominant hand.		Use a document holder to keep documents upright.

Acknowledgement:

This material was reproduced with permission from Dan Parrat at Bowling Green State University.
 

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