We all know what an office chair is, but what does it mean if we add in that “ergonomic” word? This means a chair which makes it safe, comfortable and effective for people who use it. Put simply a non-ergonomic office chair would be for instance a metal chair with no armrests, no adjustment mechanisms, no headrest etc. Over the years the office environment has changed and expanded, and now for many includes our homes. The never-ending focus on health and safety at work has advanced the need for proper considerations on the office furniture used. If you have more specifics question on the UK health and safety framework, have a look at the guidance of Ergonomic Expert called Summary of UK Health and Safety HSG57 “Seating at Work".
It is little surprise therefore the science of ergonomics has responded to the changing requirements with a vast array of ergonomic office chairs and features which can be a little overwhelming. We have high, mid and low back chairs, chairs that swivel, tilt, recline and lock into position with endless tension adjustment options. The glossary of ergonomic terms which our experts have identified that you should understand before buying your next office chair include:
However, do not despair, it is possible to navigate the world of ergonomic office chairs with more confidence if you take on board what we believe is a very important thing to remember, and that is: “what is an ergonomic chair for one person, will not be an ergonomic chair for another person”. That is because our bodies are all different, our work is all different, so the chair which will be ergonomic for us may also be different.
So in our view the best ergonomic office chair is not necessarily the chair which can be adjusted the most, rather it may simply be the chair that has the right amount of adjustments for the work that you do. So before setting off through the ergonomic office chair journey, just pause and take a few moments to ask yourself the important questions, “What is the type of work I do? How long will I be seating? Do I have any back and head pain? How tall am I? What is my height? Are my shoulders width standards? What is my budget?”. Armed with these answers, the task of finding the right chair for you becomes much more straightforward. We would recommend you look first at the SIHOO Doro-C300 as one of the leading ergonomic office chairs in the UK.