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Call Center Furniture: How to Buy the Right Chair

TMCnews Featured Article


July 30, 2007

Call Center Furniture: How to Buy the Right Chair

By Stefania Viscusi, Assignment Desk Editor


Call center furniture plays an important role in the call center as it has shown improvements in productivity and eliminating stress and other injuries in the workplace.
 
The demanding call center environment is especially in need of comfortable and supportive furniture set-ups that help agents to do their job, while also being safe and efficient.
 
Furniture that is flexible and that can be adjusted for each user is important. A key focus, and one that raises many questions as call centers look to set-up their call center floor, is the chair.
 
To find out more about the importance of the chair in the call center furniture design set-up, TMCnet spoke with call center furniture provider, Interior Concepts.

 
How important is the chair to the furniture design setup?
If you have ever sat in an office chair for hours at a time you know that selecting a comfortable ergonomic chair is very important to the comfort and safety of the user. A chair is a key component of an ergonomic workstation.
 
How big of a role do ergonomics play in the chair?
Ergonomics play a huge role in selection of the correct chair. The chair should adjust to fit a variety of users. Typical adjustments are height, seat depth, lumbar, and armrest height and width. Matching these adjustments to the user will allow them work comfortably and safely. 
 
What are some of the standard elements to look for in a chair?
Some options depend on the call center, for example, if one person or multiple people sit in the chair each day. If multiple people sit in the chair, the chair should feature a Multi-shift upgrade package for durability. Regardless of the shifts, the chair should be adjustable.
 
There are different levels of adjustability in chairs. A few different types of chairs are: basic, intensive task, and multi-function. A typical chair with basic adjustments will allow height and adjustable back depth adjustment. An intensive task chair offers many more adjustments, typically including back height adjustment, seat and back angle adjustment, and height adjustment. A multi-function chair will feature all of the adjustments of an intensive task but will add tension control, forward tilt, and an infinite tilt lock.
 
Are there common mistakes people sometimes make in purchasing a chair?
One common mistake is buying a cheap and poor quality task chair. These chairs typically do not last as long as higher quality chairs. We find that the less expensive chairs fall apart in a year or two and require replacement. If a chair is purchased that has a good reputation and warranty, it may cost more, but in the long run it will last longer.
 
Are their health risks involved with not choosing the proper chair?
By now most people realize that not having properly adjusted ergonomic work tools can cause physical problems for people that spend a lot of time sitting and working on computers. Not choosing the proper chair may cause a person to work with improper arm, wrist, and back angles. This can cause musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpel tunnel, and back problems. The cost of an employee being out of work or having a worker’s comp claim far exceeds the cost of a quality chair. For information on how to properly adjust ergonomic accessories such as chairs, we suggest that you visit the ergonomic tools for computer workstations on the OSHA websitehttp://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/index.html
 
How does having the right chair help employees to perform better?
It is not only having the right chair, but also knowing how to properly adjust the chair that may make employees perform better. Healthy and comfortable employees will ultimately perform better than those that are suffering from health issues due to improper or improperly adjusted equipment.
 
What solutions does Interior Concepts offer/ recommend?
Interior Concepts recommends a chair with multiple adjustment options and a lifetime warranty. Please remember that a multi-adjustable chair is only part of the ergonomic solution. We also recommend adjustable monitor arms, adjustable keyboard trays/mechanisms, task lights, and footrests.
 
 
For more on Interior Concepts Call Center Furniture offerings, CLICK HERE.
 
 
Related Articles:
 
Call Center Furniture Not New to the 'Green' World
How to Improve the Functionality of Your Call Center Furniture
Furniture for Call Center Training Rooms
Aesthetics and Functionality Important Considerations in Call Center Furniture
Workplace Ergonomics and the Telephone
What to Consider When Designing the Set-Up of Your Call Center: A Checklist
 
 
 
 
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Stefania Viscusi is an established writer and avid reader. To see more of her articles, please visit Stefania Viscusi’s columnist page.
 







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