We spend most of the day in a sitting position; it is therefore important to be well. A good ergonomic chair not only has an impact on all our muscles, bones and blood circulation, but it can also have a positive impact on productivity, absenteeism and occupational diseases.
An office chair may not be suitable for everyone, even if it has a lot of settings. That being said, the more numerous they are, the greater the number of people they will be able to agree on. Some manufacturers even offer the option of changing parts such as a longer or shorter cylinder or slide or swivel armrests. This could save you from buying a new chair for your new, very tall employee.
How much should we invest?
In general, the more expensive an office chair is, the more durable it is and the more ergonomic it is. Some manufacturers even offer you a guarantee.
The $200 chairs that are found in supermarkets will not last more than two or three years before the coating is damaged and the mechanism fails. These chairs offer little adjustment and are often very wide to accommodate people with large size, which means they are not suitable for most people.
So you should expect to pay more than $300 for a chair, but you will quickly have a return on your investment.
Selection criteria
The armrests: It’s not a coincidence that I’m talking about armrests first; they are very important and unfortunately, often poorly designed, which leads to shoulder and back problems for users.
To determine whether the armrests of a chair are ergonomic, there are three words to remember: horizontal, adjustable and short. Indeed, they should support all the forearms of the elbow on the wrist, without having to spread their arms. They must therefore be adjustable in height and spacing. People with narrow shoulders will appreciate the zippered armrests that slide under their elbows.
They should also be short enough to get close enough to his desk without moving his arms and without taking off the back of the file. The top of the armrests should be aligned with the top of the keyboard and the underside of the elbows. Models that curl down to the front are to be avoided and will wear quickly by dashing into the office.
The seat: The seat must of course be adjustable in height. The front border should be rounded to promote blood circulation. More and more manufacturers are offering small or large seats. For slender people, prefer chairs that offer depth adjustment, either with a seat on a slide, or with a backrest that recedes.
The backrest: The backrest must offer a firm lumbar support adjustable in height, independently or by adjusting the backrest. It must also be adjustable in inclination and must be able to remain stable.
Casters: You do not need to specify that casters are necessary, but remember to choose them based on your floor covering. Choose nylon casters for carpet or urethane for hard floors.
It can be difficult to navigate the large selection of office chairs on the market. If you are planning to buy a good set of chairs or if one of your employees is having pain, it would be wise to consult an ergonomist before making such an expense.
