Ideal Office Work Station

Key Features

Notes

Height of work table

• Should ideally be adjustable, at elbow level, to allow user to sit comfortably on the chair.

Legroom

• Adequate legroom for the user to sit as close to the table as possible.

• In view of this, work tables with keyboard trays are generally not recommended.

Work station surface

• Should not be reflective. Not advisable to put a glass panel over the desk as it causes reflection and hence, glare.

• Should also be large enough to allow for flexible arrangement of stationery and equipment without causing clutter.

Lighting

• Work stations should not be placed near a source of glare. For example, having a window without blinds next to your work station will cause too much glare. This will be made even worse if you are seated next to a mirror or glass panel.

• Lighting used should be a combination of warm and white light. Naked fluorecent tubes will cause too much glare and should be covered.

• Ideally, the work station should be position between 2 light sources on either side of the table.

Features

Notes

Back Rest

The user should be able to sit against the back rest with comfort and still have about 2’’ between the edge of the seat to the back of the knees. If this is not possible, adjust the seat depth accordingly.

Height of chair

Should be such that when the user’s back is supported, the feet are flat on the ground and the height of the table should be at elbow level. If the table is not adjustable, it is important to have the table at elbow height. If this means that the feet are no longer supported on the ground, a foot stool is then required.

Tilt angle of the chair

Traditionally, most people have been advised to seat at 90’, i.e. with the back upright. Current research show that if the back is tilted at 100? to 130?, the muscle activation in the lower back as well as disc loading falls dramatically. However, the lower the tilt, the more neck and shoulder flexion would be required to do the same work. So, we create a new problem by solving one. What then is the solution? If the user has primarily a back problem, then perhaps, the chair should be tilted at 100?. If the user has primarily a neck problem, then the chair should perhaps be angled at 90? to minimize shoulder and neck strain.

Arm rests

Should be adjusted downwards or inwards, so that the chair can be pulled in as close to the table as possible to allow the forearm to rest on the table.