What ergonomic features should I look for when purchasing seating for several different departments

To clarify what makes a chair ergonomic, one must relate the chair user to his or her work setting, and then explore how the chair can enable the user to make the best of the work environment. Keep in mind that today's varied work atmospheres in the healthcare fields entail a multitude of specialty seating, such as medical/surgical, lab, task, guest, management, big and tall, and 24 hour - intensive use. There are three different aspects of ergonomic seating that sets it apart from standard seating: Custom fit, adjustable features and comfort.

When you hear "custom fit," what comes to mind? Clothing? How about a custom fit chair? Just as that tailor-fitted suit or those custom made boots fit you precisely, an ergonomic chair should do the same. Three specific areas that an ergonomic chair focuses on are the seat pan, the chair back and the arms.

Because people are not flat-bottomed creatures, the seat pan of the chair should offer contouring. The back of the ergonomic chair should provide adequate thoracic, or mid-back, and lumber, or low-back, support. The chair may also have a neck-roll, which offers cervical, or neck, support. The chair's arms should offer variable functionality through adjustability and adaptability.

Even though a chair has features that allow for an individual fit, it will not be ergonomic without understanding the impenitence of adjustments. The human body is made for motion. The ergonomic chair offers movement and flexibility for individuals that find themselves stationary in one-workstation for an eight-hour day of even longer. Look for the ability to change the tilt of the seat pan, the height of the cylinder, and the position of the chair back.

While motion is a good thing, too much repetitive motion can lead to problems. The arms of the chair should have foam for a soft support, and may pivot, moving with the user. This encourages proper neutral position of the wrist and arm, thus ending the repetitive motion cycle.

Some might suggest that ergonomics is a comfort issue. Absolutely! The goal of ergonomics is to make workers more comfortable, so they can be more productive - not focused on aches and pains that should not be an acceptable byproduct of work. Personal preference may prevail in regard to materials, fabrics and design, but an ergonomic chair highlights adjustability and adaptability to ultimately meet the needs of the user.