This article was originally emailed as our monthly Workplace Design & Management newsletter at 11:00 on 15/03/2018. You can view older newsletters here and register to receive them monthly.
HEALTHY PEOPLE – HEALTHY THINKING – HEALTHY WORKPLACE
An updated approach reflecting disruptive times
Within a week of writing this month’s newsletter, I shall have attended the Agile Working Event 2018 and the HSE Musculo-Skeletal Disorders Summit. Whilst these two London events may sound very different, they both address issues facing organisations and individuals in today’s rapidly changing workplace. What are the trends and challenges faced by support professionals to maintain an effective workforce and how can they be addressed? We see a common thread that requires a three-pronged approach to mental and physical wellbeing. We call it Healthy People – Healthy Thinking – Healthy Workplace. To reflect this updated approach, a lot will happen between now and our next newsletter
- We shall be launching a new (and dramatically different) web site
- We shall be launching a brand extension to reflect these three strands
- We shall also be updating our general web presence and literature
- We shall be merging our two monthly newsletters
- We shall be revising our newsletter design to colour-code the different features
Watch this space!
STANDING NOT SO GOOD FOR YOU AFTER ALL?
Sit-stand desks are not the panacea promised by many
Recent statements in the press quote new research from Curtin University in Perth, Australia. This research outlines short-term cognitive and musculoskeletal deterioration from ‘prolonged’ use of standing desks. In our sound-bite society (which coined the phrase ‘Sitting is the new smoking’), few readers look beyond the headlines to discover there was only a small sample (20 people) and a single session. We have never advocated two hours of uninterrupted standing and have always stressed the importance of movement. By coincidence, my blog with all the key points to avoid this deterioration preceded the research!
IMPULSE NPR
Extremely adjustable seat depth suits most users
With multi-national, multi-cultural offices so widespread, the demand for ‘tall person chairs’ continues to grow. Every week, we are introduced to workers of 6’6” (2m) and taller who are unable to get comfortable in the standard office chair provided for them. The NPR is designed to meet the demanding Dutch NPR1813 dimensional standard and, uniquely, also fits much shorter people. This makes it a viable option for hot desking and multi-user environments. With a 10cm seat slide, larger base, wider ranging seat slide and 4D+ armrests, the Impulse NPR accommodates a surprisingly large proportion of the working population. For more details, please contact the Customer Service team.
TRAINING SERVICES
Another accreditation and more services
The first of our brochures to be updated with the new brand extension is the one showing our full training portfolio. As well as gaining accreditations from both the International Institute of Risk & Safety Management and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors, we have strengthened our portfolio with a number of expert partners. In addition to our published list of open course topics, we have a broader selection of mental and physical wellbeing tools and sessions so we shall be delighted to explore your in-house needs.
Posted by Guy Osmond 
An enormous amount has happened in the world of workplace ergonomics since we published our first monthly eBulletin in December 2009. We thought this, our 
Before the nostalgia, please take a peak into the future with details of our national roadshow, bringing our Product Showcase and new training opportunities to venues near you. Leicester, Southampton and London are already in the diary for April and May. Details of dates and locations in Bristol, Glasgow and Leeds will follow shortly. This unique format enables you to compare the latest products with best-sellers and/or update your knowledge about DSE-related processes and products. Download the Roadshow brochure 
Do you remember the first laptop stands? They were bulky, acrylic, fragile and not really portable! Since that time, we have seen a variety of products (such as 
It became clear early on that standard computer mice encouraged bad habits and postures. We were early resellers of the Contour range of mice which were originally available in three left-handed and four right-handed sizes. The XL model was more like a rat than a mouse! The majority of today’s ‘ergo’ mouse products evolved from those original designs. Contour then shifted its focus to the RollerMouse concept and we were the UK’s first retailer of the original model. As the RollerMouse went through various incarnations, little happened with the renamed 
Although we have been selling these (and using them in our own offices) for nearly twenty years, they have only become ‘big news’ since 2014 when the ‘Sitting is the new smoking’ slogan first appeared. Since that time, I have been shouting about the misunderstandings and misrepresentation that comes from grabbing soundbite headlines without reading or understanding the underlying research. My 
We recently encountered a client still using an example of this Organiser – our first ever product! It was a Mk II version so probably 17-18 years old. Can you match that? Or maybe you have something even older. We are looking for the oldest ergonomics product purchased from us and still in daily use. The oldest verified item we can find will win a £150 Red Letter Day voucher. Don’t worry about paperwork: we are not looking for a 20 year old invoice! Just tell us about the product and we can probably verify the details. To take part, send a product photo to 
Osmond Ergonomics 