Office Equipment for Big and Tall
Whether you are creating a home office or are in a physical corporate setting, the new “buzz” word is ergonomics. Ergonomics is the study of the relation of man to the environment in which he works and the application of anatomical, physiological, psychological, and engineering knowledge to the problems involved. In other words, ergonomic equipment is designed for the purpose of improving efficiency, comfort, and/or safety. So what you should be looking for in an office is one that is ergonomically designed for you.
Heavy Duty Chairs and Desks
The most commonly referenced ergonomic item is the chair. Ergonomic chairs should be adjustable to a comfortable height, have a good seat width and armrest spaced far enough to accommodate your without rubbing your upper legs, ample seat padding, an adjustable back that both reclines and lowers or raises to give proper back support. It should also have a locking mechanism to prevent reclining when you find the need for back support, easily able to move around, and able to hold your weight capacity.
In addition to an ergonomic chair, an ergonomically designed desk is also a necessity. Desk should allow for a variety of working positions (allows for adjustable levels as well as keyboard trays.) It should allow for appropriate leg room and not cause you to have to contort into awkward positions to be comfortable. It should have adequate space to place all of your items, for example, if you have a monitor on your desk, the monitor should fit and allow for a distance of at least 20 inches between the monitor and your eyes. If the desk or keyboard tray does not have a built in rounded edge for you to rest your wrists, buy a soft wrist rest to avoid injuries associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Other Size Friendly Office Considerations
If you are building a home office, you may want to consider a thin carpet much like you would see in an office building. This type of carpet limits static electricity and allows for easier chair mobility. If this is not an option, and you have a thick carpet, you may want to buy a plastic floor mat made for these types of carpets. These have “spikes” that grab the carpet and provide stability to the mat. If you have hardwood or tiled flooring, then a non-slip rubber bottomed mat can be used and will protect the floor from scratches.
It is best not to store items under your desk, for instance a common item stores under a desk is a file cabinet. This can cause you to have to position yourself awkwardly at the desk. Items such as file cabinets, bookshelves, cube refrigerators, boxes and even waste baskets should be stored aside of or away from the desk to provide for maximum comfort. Keep in mind that you have to have room for your legs, your chair and computer cables and other electrical equipment. So keeping everything clear under the desk will not only provide the maximum comfort, but will also provide ease of access if you ever need to disconnect wires to your computer or the peripherals.
If you are designing a private office in which you will have clients meet with you, consideration should be given to providing size friendly chairs and/or couches and meeting tables. There is a wealth of these items available, it shows that you have no size bias and provides for a comfortable atmosphere in which to conduct business