Workplace Ergonomics: The Simple Truth

Workplace ergonomics is a thoughtful, well-organised space maximally adapted to the tasks a person solves. Beyond spatial arrangement and sizes, a modern office worker’s workplace must meet standards and its functional purpose — and that is a question not only of furniture but also of engineering.

In this guide we explain the complex simply: how to ensure office ergonomics through furniture, posture, lighting, microclimate and equipment. After all, a comfortable workplace is about more than convenience — it’s about the team’s health and productivity.

Furniture and posture: the basis of ergonomics

The basis of ergonomics is furniture and correct posture. To protect employees’ health, it’s important to provide:

• an adjustable chair with lumbar support;
• a desk of suitable height with enough work surface;
• a monitor at eye level, about an arm’s length away;
• a comfortable keyboard and mouse position to avoid strain on the wrists.

Non-adjustable, uncomfortable chairs and small desks lead to back pain and the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. On choosing the right furniture, see the article Requirements for Office Furniture.

Workplace lighting

Light is needed both on the desk and in the area around it. After developing the layout, we always perform a lighting calculation — taking into account the size and colour of the furniture, the finishing materials, the presence of translucent constructions, windows and passages.

This matters, because both too much light and too little directly affect productivity — as do the light temperature and the diffuser type. Where needed, functional and local lighting provides the required comfort and savings. More on light is in the article Office Lighting: How to Get It Right.

Microclimate

Air temperature, humidity, air-flow speed, noise level and carbon-dioxide content — these parameters directly affect people’s emotional state in an office. During design, the team carefully calculates and places equipment to achieve not merely acceptable but optimal figures: fresh-air supply both per person and for the whole room, plus comfortable humidity and temperature.

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems are designed with their placement in mind, sound and heat insulation is always applied, and dispatching and automation significantly save the company’s budget. On choosing climate systems, read the article Ventilation or Air Conditioning: What to Choose.

Power and communications

The location of sockets and ports and their mounting type are determined by the wishes and functions of the workplace. The main mounting options:

• classic wall-mounted;
• a floor hatch;
• floor columns and towers;
• a block built into the furniture — hidden under the countertop or a pull-out recessed or desktop one.

The task is to balance functionality and cost, providing not only the usual 220V and RJ-45 but also USB, HDMI, DVI. Cables should be hidden in an organiser or trunking, and it’s worth remembering that employees bring their own chargers. A typical problem in working offices is a shortage of sockets, which breeds a mess of extension cords and adapters and sometimes emergencies. The principle of “sufficiency” is unconditional, but if “redundancy” isn’t possible, the best solution is a modular, scalable system.

Wireless networks and smart systems

Even with a stationary desk, you need to provide for wireless networks. Wi-Fi has long become the norm and provides not only connection for mobile devices but also:

• IP telephony;
• multimedia content streaming (DLNA);
• file sharing with network storage (NAS);
• IoT — control of climate, lighting, blinds, video surveillance, access control and meeting-room booking with Outlook or Google Calendar sync.

Specialists plan not only the placement of access points but also seamless roaming, a guest network and equipment manageability. On intelligent control, read the article The Smart Office System: How It Works.

An ergonomic workplace with Partner Create

Ergonomics is a whole: furniture, posture, light, microclimate, electrics and networks. The best result comes from combining them as early as the design stage, when all the systems are coordinated. Partner Create will design and deliver ergonomic workplaces under general contracting.

Examples of completed offices are in the office spaces portfolio.

Workplace ergonomics in brief

• Ergonomics is a space adapted to tasks that meets standards and function.
• The basis is an adjustable chair, a desk of the right height, a monitor at eye level, good posture.
• Lighting is calculated technically; the level, light temperature and local light all matter.
• The microclimate (temperature, humidity, CO₂, noise) affects emotional state and productivity.
• Power is planned on the principle of “sufficiency”, or better, modular and scalable.
• Wireless networks provide Wi-Fi, IP telephony, IoT and control of the office’s systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Set up an ergonomic workplace with Partner Create

Ergonomics means the team’s health, comfort and productivity. Partner Create will combine furniture, light, microclimate and equipment into a single system and deliver workplaces with responsibility for the result.

Explore our work in the portfolio, read useful materials on the blog, or get in touch to discuss your project. Call +38 050 388 24 49.

We also recommend Requirements for Office Furniture and Factors Affecting Work Efficiency in the Office — they will complement the topic of a comfortable workplace.