Osmond Ergonomics

This article was originally emailed as issue 160 of our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 08/03/2023. You can register here to receive them monthly.

WELLBEING & PRODUCTIVITY WEBINAR SERIES

We have now started to roll out our 2023 plans for further webinar and training topics. These cover a broader spectrum of subjects. They go beyond our traditional DSE base but they still fall under the heading of Wellbeing & Productivity. General webinar sessions are available free and cover the fundamentals of each topic. They can also be branded or tailored for use on your intranet, in Lunch & Learns, on Wellbeing Days or as part of a more comprehensive Learning and Development programme. For a full consultancy service, we are teaming up with industry experts to offer a holistic approach to your L&D needs. See our free webinar programme here or view the new ones individually: Email Management – Sleep – Biophilia.

DSE ASSESSOR DAY EVENT – 18.04.23

We have been agreeably surprised by the number of registrations for our Bristol training day. We thought the venue would be big enough but we are getting close to capacity. Whilst the content is obviously attracting delegates, several have also mentioned the vineyard venue. Is there a better way to end a great day of learning and networking than a bottle of wine to take home afterwards? To be sure of a place, check out the agenda and register now.

WORKPLACE TRENDS RESEARCH SUMMIT – 19.04.23

The 2023 event is on April 19th. This year looks very promising once again with a broad range of UK and overseas presenters from both commerce and academia. Employers everywhere are asking for data on which to base their decisions about hybrid working, corporate real estate and employee wellbeing. This is the place to find it! This year’s topics include Indoor Positioning Systems, Organisational Network Analysis, Acoustic Perception, Human-Centric Transformation and Self Determination Theory. It may sound like Buzzword Bingo in a single sentence but it’s actually lots of really valuable information! Find out more and register here.

TOP TIPS VIDEOS

When we declared 2022 our ‘Year of Knowledge Sharing’, one of our new initiatives was the introduction of our Top Tips video library. We continue to add to this and now have over 20 clips covering topics as diverse as ‘Acoustics’ and ‘Why use a compact keyboard?’. Almost all of them last less than a minute so they are a great way to share wellbeing and ergonomics ideas with your colleagues or clients. Check the latest additions at bit.ly/oe-top-tips  or here if you prefer YouTube. And feel free to share them!

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE OFFICE FURNITURE INDUSTRY

Historically, the process of equipping and re-equipping the workplace has been very wasteful and sustainability was not given much consideration. In recent years, and especially since the post-Covid focus on Net Zero, designers, manufacturers and office dealers like ourselves have been reviewing every element of the industry to see where improvements can be made. Perhaps 3D printing will also become a key part of that process. I explored this idea in my recent blog about the Stockholm Furniture Fair.

This article was originally emailed as issue 159 of our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 11/01/2023. You can register here to receive them monthly.

BRISTOL DSE EVENT

Following last month’s teaser, we are delighted to announce our next event for DSE Assessors on Tuesday April 18, 2023. This time, we are teaming up with our friends at Ergochair and the location is just outside Bristol. We always aim to ensure our events are far-from-standard so we have chosen a vineyard location (and guess what your goodie bag will include!). Since it’s a little out of town, we shall be providing collection and return services for both Bristol Temple Meads Station and Bristol Airport. Obviously, it’s a full and varied programme with plenty of interaction and networking opportunities. And, of course, it’s free! Find out more and be one of the first to register here.

CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS

Depending when you read this, I am actually attending – or just back from – the Stockholm Furniture Fair. Watch out for my report blog in the near future. We are now entering the conference and exhibition season so here are a few more events that I shall be attending as a delegate. Depending on your background and role, one or more of these should be of interest.

Workspace Design Show (London)
Health & Wellbeing at Work (Birmingham)
Workplace Trends Research Summit (London)
Clerkenwell Design Week (London)

Let me know if you decide to attend one or more of these and want to meet up.

PRODUCT RADAR

We introduced our Product Radar emails in September 2020 to provide an effective way to keep subscribers informed of new products as we add them to our range and ensure they are ‘on your radar’. All products have been through our WoW Factor process so they are tested and endorsed by us, not just ‘new stuff’. This has proved particularly popular with assessors, Health & Safety professionals and Occupational Health personnel supporting office workers. We have had a flurry of new products since the start of the year so it is opportune to remind our readers who have not yet subscribed. You can see the archive of postings here or register here.

VAT ONLINE

You may have noticed that everything on our website has increased in price in the last few days. In fact, no prices have changed but everything is showing a 20% increase because we now show VAT-inclusive pricing. In an ideal world, we should be able to give you the choice to see VAT-inclusive or -exclusive pricing but that apparently straightforward requirement turns out to be far more complicated than expected with our current website platform (and we have researched this thoroughly). Since we are receiving more and more personal purchases for homeworkers, this change makes sense for the time being.

WEBSITE FEEDBACK

For many reasons, including the VAT issue, we are currently working on a new platform for a brand new website. We would love more feedback from users about your experience. Please let me know anything you think is missing, what drives you up the wall, what you find really useful or just a general comment about how you get on with the current format. We have lots of our own ideas but your feedback is even more important. You can email me here.

This article was originally emailed as issue 158 of our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 11/01/2023. You can register here to receive them monthly.

DXTMOUSE 3

We rarely use the eBulletin as a product platform but the imminent arrival of the new DXTMouse 3 ambidextrous mouse is something I am keen to share. I was involved in discussions about the DXT as far back as the first design outline, cut from a piece of wood from the designer’s garden shed! It was the first truly ambidextrous mouse with strong ergonomics credentials and a radical departure from the traditional ‘power grip’ of most vertical mice. The DXTMouse 3 extends the capability of the ‘precision grip’ concept to include programmable keys, enhanced performance, increased resolution and a slightly larger size. Our first deliveries are on the way from the factory now. Pre-order yours here and get a 10% discount with code DXT3TEN.

STOCKHOLM FURNITURE FAIR

My October visit to Orgatec in Germany reminded me why I used to attend so many overseas events (in a far-away time pre-Covid). I believe it is important to see the market from different national and cultural perspectives whilst examining new products and concepts that may not yet be known in the UK. In the still-fluid world of Hybrid Working, it is also valuable to see and hear different international attitudes and approaches to homeworking and redesigning the traditional office. I shall be at Stockholm Furniture Fair at the beginning of February and blogging about it soon after.

DSE ASSESSORS’ EVENT

Following the significant success of our 2022 events at Orangebox, we are now working on our next event in the Bristol area with our friends at Ergochair. Plans are well under way and full details will be circulated via social media and the February eBulletin. Expect excellent content, a brilliant location, fine food, great networking, a CPD certificate and, as always, a noteworthy goodie bag! Watch this space.

ARTICLES & PODCASTS

As regular readers know, 2022 was our Year of Knowledge Sharing. During the year, we introduced several new features, including our Top Tips videos and the events referred to above. We also had several articles circulated in on- and offline publications. The significance of published articles is they all have to be approved by the editor and they are often on topics they suggest, unlike blogs which, of course, are self-published. Access to all of these has now been consolidated, together with two podcasts in which I was interviewed. Others will be added as they are published (We already have two more on the way). Find them here.

CHAIR & EQUIPMENT MEASUREMENT

When specifying chairs and furniture for homeworkers, one problem that has arisen many times is the leg clearance under the desk or table. This has never been an issue in the office but many homeworkers use dressing tables and other domestic furniture with central drawers that cause posture issues. When we decided to add this data to our Chair Measurement Form, we also decided it was time to completely refresh it and add a few more key questions. The new format is also available as an online form here.

This article was originally emailed as issue 157 of our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 14/12/2022. You can register here to receive them monthly.

ANOTHER YEAR OF EBULLETINS

Compared to our other anniversaries this year (company 60th and 30 years in ergonomics), 13 years may not seem very long but we believe delivering our email newsletter consistently, at the scheduled time on the same day each month for 156 consecutive months is quite an achievement! The appearance has evolved over those 13 years but the intent remains unchanged: to deliver useful, interesting and valuable content in a professional but casual format. Our steadily growing audience in a world of email bombardment is reassuring and very much appreciated. Thank you for your continued interest and support.

YEAR END INFORMATION

As we approach the festive season, please note that the order deadline for pre-Christmas delivery of stock items is 12:30 on Tuesday 20.12.22. We shall be closed from 12:30 on Friday 23.12.22 and reopen at 08:30 on Tuesday 03.01.23. As usual, we are making a donation instead of sending Christmas cards. On behalf of all of us at Osmond Ergonomics, we hope you are able to have an excellent break, spend quality time with your loved ones and recharge your batteries.

OUR YEAR OF KNOWLEDGE SHARING

At the start of 2022, we committed to a significant increase in the valuable content we create to educate, inform and advise our clients, friends and influencers. To that end, we have published 12 blogs, hosted three full-day seminars with our partners at Orangebox, run free monthly webinars, trained umpteen DSE assessors, had articles in 14 publications, participated in two podcast interviews, created 19 Top-Tips videos, countless social media postings and, of course, published 12 eBulletins! Watch for more new ideas in 2023.

STOCK AND LOGISTIC ISSUES? WE CAN HELP

I know I mentioned this last month but it is now even more apparent that conscientious employers are being let down by furniture dealers who have made homeworker supply promises that they can’t deliver. Either the supplier can’t cope with the demands of homeworker deliveries (it really isn’t as simple as it sounds) or they have agreed terms on products with growing lead times or that are simply not available. With years of experience in homeworker supply, we have the stock, processes and logistics that just make your life easier. Try us!

PRIZE DRAW WINNERS

We don’t take part in many exhibitions these days but, when we do, there’s always a prize draw. We also give away a £180 voucher code every two months to one of the people who has provided feedback about our products or services. Recent winners have been Louise Weald of Wokingham (Mid Downs OH Group), a customer in Oxford (Sept/Oct feedback draw) and Debbie Martin of BWT Physio (DCCI Business Exhibition). You would be amazed how difficult it actually is to give things away. We usually have to send an email, a separate explanatory text and sometimes even a LinkedIn message so that people don’t think it’s a scam!

This article was originally emailed as issue 156 of our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 09/11/2022. You can register here to receive them monthly.

ORGATEC 2022

I attended my first Orgatec in 1994. At the time, I was overwhelmed by the scale of the event. It was certainly the largest exhibition I had ever attended, with a couple of manufacturers even occupying their own complete hall.  It was also the year that Herman Miller launched the Aeron chair. Orgatec occurs every two years but, due to Covid, this year’s event was the first since 2018. It was about half the size I remember, many major manufacturers did not exhibit and the most innovative design I encountered was an unfinished product presented by a component manufacturer! However, as a bellwether for the furniture industry, there was still a lot to observe. [read more]

60TH ANNIVERSARY

We decided that the company’s sixtieth anniversary warranted a month of celebrations, rather than a single day so you may have noticed that we were more active than usual on social media. It was fun looking back on our various adventures and milestones through the years, although there were some pretty dodgy mugshots dragged out of the archives! The net impact was that a couple of our most successful posts on LinkedIn achieved nearly 4,000 impressions and our October reach was more than double our highest previous month. What that actually means for the business, I’m not altogether sure, but it was fun anyway. You can see some of our reflections in the October blogs.

YEAR END ORDER CUT-OFF

With more manufacturer price rises scheduled for January 1st, there is still time to fulfil most orders before we close for the year end break. The last order deadline for individual items to be delivered before Christmas is noon on December 20th. For larger enquiries, please start the conversation with me or your Customer Development Manager as a matter of urgency.

LOGISTICS PROBLEMS OR SUPPLY ISSUES?

We are receiving a steady flow of enquiries from clients who are being let down by their existing supply partners. It seems that some furniture dealers took on homeworker delivery commitments during Covid, assuming it would be much like office worker supplies but ‘with a few extra drops’. From our 12+ years of homeworker support, we know that communications and logistics are far more complicated and require bullet-proof systems and processes – as well as a reliable supply of products to deliver! Contact us if you’re being let down, even if it’s for a short-term solution until you get everything back on track.

OCTOBER FACE-TO-FACE EVENTS

Following the success of our July DSE Assessor Event, we repeated it in October and added a similar day for Facilities Managers and Health & Safety professionals. Feedback was very favourable with an average satisfaction score of 9.3/10 across all 3 events. We now have a proven format with lots more content still to share. In particular, there is no doubt that all delegates enjoyed the opportunity to meet other professionals face-to-face and discuss common problems in a relaxed and supportive setting. We are working on more events for 2023. Watch this space.

This article was originally emailed as issue 155 of our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 12/10/2022. You can register here to receive them monthly.

TIME FOR SOME NOSTALGIA

As Osmond Group celebrates 60 years in business on 02.10.22, I have taken a look back at the changing world of ergonomics – a space we’ve inhabited for the past 3 decades.

When I think back to the beginnings of the business, the extent of change over that time is astonishing – not just for the company, but for the wider ergonomics sector and the world of work it serves.

Whilst Osmond Group has been around for 60 years, Osmond Ergonomics was founded 30 years ago, born of a serendipitous encounter with Dr James Robertson, the rheumatologist I went to see about my recurring back injury. [more]

ORGATEC

For the first time since 2018, I shall be attending the international furniture exhibition in Cologne this month. It is much smaller than in pre-Covid times so it will be interesting to see who’s exhibiting, who has decided not to bother and what’s new. In particular, I shall be looking for homeworker furniture that addresses the shortage of space that so many people experience in the UK. Apart from the excitement of my first international exhibition in 4 years, it is also my first trip abroad since before Covid and, as I’m driving, there will also be time for an essential pre-Christmas visit to Boursot’s Wine Collection!

DSE ASSESSOR EVENT

With less than a week to go, we still have a few spaces left at our Clerkenwell event on October 18th so don’t miss this excellent free opportunity. Delegate feedback from our July session rated ‘meeting expectations’ at over 100%! As well as great session content, delegates will each receive a new laptop stand and a new mouse. The post-event follow-up will include a CPD certificate and access to numerous online resources. Please note: it’s in-person only. The nature of the content is not suited to virtual delivery and the use of the whole showroom is crucial to the experience.

JOURNAL OF BIOPHILIC DESIGN

Issue 1 of this new publication is out now. It is available free as a Kindle download or can be purchased as a print-on-demand magazine. The first edition is packed with 140 pages of articles covering acoustics, wellbeing, mindfulness, vertical gardens, landscaped office, biophilic cities and, of course, the link between ergonomics and biophilia (on page 44 to save you searching!). Order/download here.

WORKPLACE TRENDS: EVOLVING WAYS OF WORKING

I shall be missing this month’s WT on October 18th due to the clash with our DSE Assessor Event (referred to above). However, it is worth your attention if you are not a DSE Assessor already committed to our event! I really enjoy the Workplace Trends conferences: they are packed with interesting and thought-provoking content from internationally renowned speakers. Coffee and lunch breaks are also stimulating due to the broad mix of delegates with whom to network. You can attend in person (my recommendation) or virtually. Details here.

DORSET CHAMBER BUSINESS EXHIBITION

Although we have cut right back on exhibition events since before the pandemic, we like to support our local Chamber of Commerce and we shall be participating in this small event on November 10th at AFC Bournemouth’s stadium. Come and chat with my colleague, Neil Hurst, between 9am and noon. Amongst other things, he will be displaying some new input devices that I can’t yet tell you about! Register here (it’s free).