FM MONITOR PAKIZE NASUH
HOW TO
Pakize Nasuh, Managing director, Humanscale
ERG ON OMIC SE AT I N G
nvesting in good ergonomic seating will save you more in the long run. Pakize Nasuh, Humanscale managing director, UK and Ireland, explains why
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The aging demographic (and their younger counterparts)
Initial costs can be a huge constraint in providing employees with good work tools. But it’s important to factor in the longterm savings when providing employees with quality seating. Here are reasons to properly invest in your employees’ workspace.
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It’s all about priorities
Mark Mercer, Acxiom’s head of property and facilities for Europe, Middle East and Africa, decided on a new approach when managing a complete refurbishment of the company’s UK office. He removed the large, awkward L-shaped desks and replaced them with smaller desks. This enabled Mercer to fit the budget around better ergonomic components, such as Humanscale’s ‘Liberty’ task chair. Unlike typical office environments, in which companies can spend up to £2,500 for each cubicle, yet rarely spend more than £100 on each chair, Acxiom UK saw the value in spending less on the bulky built-in items and more on the tools. “The most important elements are the things you interact with… that’s where the money should be spent,” says Mark.
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The longterm cost argument
A strong business case for proper ergonomic tools is that they are 34 | 19 SEPTEMBER 2013 | FM WORLD
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“The number of applicants has increased by about 30 per cent as a result of the move, attendance to open days is up, and a significant improvement in behaviour has been noted,” says David Pigden, deputy principal of the college.
an investment in a company’s greatest asset – its employees. You buy cheap, you buy twice. Choose high-quality task chairs with a 10-year warranty. Calculate the spread of costs over that time period, compared to cheaper chairs you’re replacing every couple of years.
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The key to a flexible space
When London’s City of Westminster College needed to upgrade its amenities, seating was one of the most important aspects of the project. It had to suit the needs of a modern learning environment, and be intuitive and flexible to accommodate the college’s vastly growing diverse community, with students of all ages. Humanscale’s Liberty chair was chosen because it adjusted to each individual easily without the need for a lengthy instruction manual.
Facilities managers in the UK face a conundrum. On one hand they need to specify equipment that accommodates both the aging population – which is growing as a result of the abolition of the compulsory retirement age – and on the other, younger workers, backing the argument for flexible task seating. Recognise that no matter how advanced technology may be for workers, if they have to adjust complex controls and various levers on a chair, they will not use it properly. “I’d hate to be approaching retirement, working alongside a ‘millennial’ and be given a hi-tech chair that’s difficult to use,” says Sacha Burn, associate ergonomist at Humanscale. “It’s essential to have intuitive equipment that fits a space shared by a team of all ages.”
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Health awareness
Statistics from the Office of National Statistics tells us that around £35 million was lost in the UK in 2011 from absences due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Common causes were poor workplace conditions, posture and placement of equipment. “So, you have overall costs of compensation claims and absenteeism equalling more than
what you would have initially invested in proper workstations,” says Sacha.
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Increase in injuries
Musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, are on the rise. Millenials, who have grown up using their smartphones, laptops and iPads for much of their lives, are entering the workforce and are already starting to show symptoms of MSDs. “Unfortunately, many people only speak up about discomfort when they’re injured, and then it’s too late,” says Sacha. The key message is to prevent bad practice with correct ergonomic tools.
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Staff retention and productivity
If you want the best staff, you need to be attractive to them – and this naturally applies to staff retention too. Korean company Ahnlab’s main priority was comfort for their highly trained employees. Having received complaints about the uncomfortable working conditions, the company set to buying chairs that would accommodate employees’ ergonomics needs throughout the long hours they spend at work. This was achieved with proper ergonomic seating. Through the inclusion of such tools, the company noticed a positive difference in their employees’ health and happiness. Employees showed a decrease in pain in their necks, backs and lower backs, while also demonstrating increased efficiency on the job and overall contentment. FM www.fm-world.co.uk
12/09/2013 14:34