For a few years now we have been aware of the promotion of healthy lifestyle. The trend is very visible in the sphere of our private life, but paradoxically we forget about healthy living at the office, where we spend most of our time. Lets think then how to live healthily at the office. We have to create a healthy work-place.
The problem can be analyzed from three points of view:
- psychology
- physiology
- aesthetics.
Psychological view
As follows from research on how space is felt and evaluated, conducted by architects and psychologists, small rooms provide a feeling of safety, while big ones – create a feeling of freedom and power. The bigger your office or desk is, the more powerful you seem to be. One of the ways to win in the world of business is to organize meetings or conduct negotiations in our own office because we feel stronger in our own area. More important however is, while designing work-places, to take into account the employee’s spatial conditions. He is the owner of the work-place and his mood and productivity depends on how it is organized.
Equally important is the distance of 1 metre that gives us a feeling of safety. Of course, our private space varies depending on culture. Americans and Brits usually need more space, while Italians less.
Physiological view
Our physiological predispositions are equally important. Interiors should be organized and arranged using the body’s anatomical dimensions, extent of movements, biomechanical data and kind of work performed. The same applies to the height and area of the workplace, chairs and other equipment used by an employee. All of us have experienced that these dimensions are different to the dimensions considered by a designer. Desks or other areas of work are sometimes too low or too high and chairs do not conform to the spinal curvature. It is important that minimum ergonomic requirements specified in the appendix to the ordinance of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy dated 1 December 1998 on safety and hygiene of work in the work-place equipped with screen monitors be met. And it is important that all these guidelines are consistently met. Since I am only outlining the problem let me mention a few basic elements:
- Desk – the height should be adjusted (recommended height: 64-84 cm)
- Chair – should be equipment with among others back-rest adjustment, seat height adjustment (40-50 cm), back-rest leaning adjustment by 30 degrees
- Monitor – should be place below the vision line so that we look 20-50 degrees down;
- Keyboard – should be place on the desk within min. 10 cm from its edge.
It is important for us to know how to adjust the furniture and first we should adjust the chair height and then the desk height. We have to know how to sit correctly on the chair, too.
How these things are adjusted for their intended purpose is especially important at the work-place because we spend a lot of time there and we often do not move at all. Whether it is a chair or armchair – all seats should conform to the anthropometrical features of the population for which they were designed. By referring to research of modern physiology, guidelines for specifying work areas in a sitting and standing position, dimensions of office furniture and other equipment were prepared:
- maximum height of the extent is calculated by multiplying the man’s height by 1.24
- comfortable height of the extent is within 65-150 cm
- cupboard 60 cm deep is easily accessible only to the height of shoulders i.e. approx. 120cm
- when specifying the height of a work area one needs to remember that a human is most agile and hands are strongest when the elbows are lowered and the arms are bent at a right angle.
And finally the requirements and relations describing limits of the work area, dimensions of seats, location of equipment operated etc. cannot be taken into account separately. They should be composed into one consistent solution.
Aesthetics of the work-place
We cannot forget to mention aesthetics of the work-place because it determines the character of our desk. Well designed furniture, composition and harmony of furnishings and choice of colours can stimulate and activate, dispel boredom and monotony, reduce tiredness, relax and increase the feeling of comfort. Meeting mental, physiological and aesthetic needs can significantly improve health conditions at a work place and our satisfaction from work. It can satisfy our ambitions and increase motivation.
Prepared on the basis of the report by E. Górska and K. Plucińska-Smorawska “How to organize your work-place?” and Ergonomic Report prepared by Prof J. Nofer Labour Medicine Institute. | 
