| The place of work is where
we spend a good part of our time and must be as comfortable as possible
to encourage greater well being and health for staff members.
The design of office furniture has evolved over the
years as a direct result of the increasing influence of IT on the
office environment and the changing functions of the people within
it. In the modern office, daily tasks can be achieved without the
user leaving their 'workstation'. As a consequence of this, office
workers are becoming more and more static as more tasks can be achieved
from the seated position via the PC. This office evolution creates
a number of key areas for consideration, including:
Furniture
Legislation has been introduced to control the characteristics of
workstations and chairs for computer users. It reduces the chance
of any physical and mental strain caused to the user by working
at unsuitable workstations and it also reduces the chances of any
claims made against an employer by an employee who does suffer an
injury which could relate to a non-compliant workstation.
Office Layout
Many offices function without a well thought-out plan that addresses
the current needs of the business, as well as accommodating any
growth for the future. As a new employee arrives, an extra desk
is usually shoehorned into the most accessible corner of the office
without a great deal of consideration being given to lines of communication,
work flow, access etc. It is more important to identify whether
or not change in office layouts should be made.
Finishing Touches
The use of screens and coordinated colour schemes will transform
an office from a noisy and low productive workplace into an efficient
operating environment.
Providing a good working environment will
achieve much more than cutting costs to the point where staff feel
they are unimportant.
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