Osmond Ergonomics

This article was originally emailed as our monthly Workplace Design & Management newsletter at 11:00 on 21/07/2016. You can view older newsletters here and register to receive them monthly.

MILLENNIALS & THE AGEING WORKFORCE

Much has been written about these two social groups but the reality is that we are all ageing and each of us has our own preferred ways of working and communicating. Employers need to celebrate the chronological, social, physical, philosophical and racial diversity of their people and find flexible and pragmatic ways to accommodate and involve everyone. Following many discussions and two public presentations, I have now distilled a number of my thoughts and suggestions into a free 45 minute webinar entitled One Workforce: Four Generations. Check here for date(s) and time(s).

SIT-STAND DESK OR ADAPTER?

With some sit-stand desks now available at less than half their cost 15 years ago and some adaptors costing more than desks, we have been asked many times why anyone chooses an adaptor. The three most common reasons are: 1) Organisations who are contemplating the sit-stand concept want something less permanent to try initially; 2) Employers providing for individuals with back problems want equipment that can be redeployed when the condition improves; and 3) Employers using bench desking systems often find it is too much trouble (or simply impossible) to replace one or two workstations. There are other reasons, and then there are the choices of desk or adaptor format to consider as well. Many of the design factors are not obvious and may not be explained (or even understood!) by mainstream furniture suppliers. Contact us for expert guidance.

SMART BUILDINGS

As the range of communication technologies continues to grow, the scope for digital management of our buildings, people and resources expands exponentially. Building access systems, meeting room management and occupancy sensing are amongst the techniques that are now well established. However, in recent weeks, we have been looking at how this technology can all be integrated with other resources such as dynamically-allocated lockers, height-adjustable workstations, desk lamps and HVAC settings. Some of these individual technologies have been around for years but IoT-thinking is finally bringing them all together. As a ‘gadget geek’, I love it – and I can see the enormous potential. For more information or just a geek chat, please contact me.

HOW LONG SHOULD AN OFFICE CHAIR LAST?

This is a question that crops up from time to time and it is one that employers should ask whenever they are thinking about replacing chairs or buying more. Obviously, there is no simple answer but addressing the issue will prompt managers to think about wider topics such as warranty periods, repair and recycling. Warranties of 10+ years are now well established on premium products and cradle-to-cradle designs allow for much more cost-effective disposal or reworking. Whether or not a purchase is imminent, considering these factors will inform a better procurement process. Read more in this 2013 blog.

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 13/07/2016. You can view older eBulletins here and register to receive them monthly.

ADJUST YOUR CHAIR – IT’S A NO BRAINER!

One of our frequent conversation topics with Health & Safety and Occupational Health professionals is the fascinating (and frustrating) issue of why people do not bother to adjust their work chair. For some reason, these individuals prefer to be uncomfortable! To focus users on this issue, we compare the work chair situation to adjusting your car seat for driving, an idea we have recently share

ONE WORKFORCE, FOUR GENERATIONS

My recent talk at IIRSM drew together a range of topics and provided ideas for integrated and consistent management approaches to millennials, the ageing workforce and the changing work environment. We have now added the presentation to our webinar portfolio and I shall be offering it as a free session over the next couple of months. For booking details and more information about the content, please visit our events page.

HUMAN APPLICATIONS TRAINING

We now have confirmed dates for our next courses in conjunction with Human Applications. The popular two-day Advanced DSE Assessors course will be on September 7-8, 2016 and, for a good general ergonomics grounding, the three-day Ergonomics in Practice course will be on October 18-20, 2016. Venues are currently being finalised but both will be at locations in Clerkenwell, London. For further information, please follow the links or contact the Customer Service team.

LAUNCH OF ISO 27500:2016 THE HUMAN-CENTRED ORGANISATION

I have mentioned this new standard previously. It provides a top-down approach for executive board members to integrate ergonomics and human factors into the everyday business of an enterprise by celebrating and capitalising on individual differences and making health, safety and wellbeing organisational priorities. The new standard will be launched at a free half-day conference on September 1, 2016 at BSI in Chiswick, London. Details here.

BREXIT FUNDING REVIEW

Whatever your view of the referendum, the one current certainty is that there is quite a lot of uncertainty around! Whilst many of our customers are taking the ‘business as usual’ approach, some organisations will be more affected. If you are currently reviewing any project funding, keep in mind that we can offer competitive leasing which is specifically geared to the office furniture industry. As well as easing cashflow, it can also provide tax benefits. Please contact us for further information.

This will be quite a short blog and there is a good reason for that! It is about a subject that needs a short, sharp message.

One of our frequent topics of conversation with Health & Safety and Occupational Health professionals is the fascinating (and frustrating) issue of why people don’t bother to adjust their work chair.

For some reason, these individuals prefer to be uncomfortable!

In search of a simple message that most adults would understand, I created this:

Adjust your office chair – it’s a no-brainer!

Do you have a driving licence? Would you drive off in a vehicle without making sure you can reach the accelerator and brake?

Then apply the same ‘safety’ thinking to your office chair! Take a minute to set it up.

Why sit on a chair hour after hour (or day after day) if it’s uncomfortable? When you know what to do, setting your office chair is as quick as adjusting your car seat.

Less than a minute provides a day of comfort. 

Why wouldn’t you do that? It’s a no-brainer!

Not sure how to do it? Speak to your Health & Safety Manager or check your intranet.

Getting no help? Look here.

This will be our next One Minute Video and will appear here when it has been created.