Spring 2017

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Editorial Moving the Workforce Towards Sit-stand Solutions Editorial kindly provided by FIRA Since the launch of the ‘Get Britain Standing’ campaign two years ago, it seems that health benefits of standing up whilst working is being recognised by both employers and employees. People are now more likely to accept that sitting for extended periods without moving, may increase the risk of the onset of cardio vascular diseases, obesity, diabetes and general unfitness. Rapid technology advances, changing the way we work, is also pushing people into ever more sedentary life styles. Long hours, often in seated postures can not only affect our health and general well-being, but also our productivity and efficiency in the workplace. This does not mean, however, that we should switch from prolonged sitting to prolonged standing. Neither is good – the human body is not designed for static postures. Movement is the key for maintaining a healthy body, hence alternating between sitting and standing is the answer. There are no exact defined time periods of sitting versus standing. It depends on the individual and what they are doing; however as general rule 10 to 15 minutes of standing for every hour or so of being seated seems to be beneficial. Levent Çaglar, Chief Ergonomist at FIRA, has been warning about the dangers of prolonged sitting at workplaces, as well as highlighting how rapid changes in technology have pushed people to more sedentary lifestyles in schools, offices and at home. Over the past few years he has been advocating the use of standing work surfaces in offices and schools and has been at the forefront of getting people to alternate between sitting and standing while they work. The furniture industry has been responding by providing new and innovative sit/stand solutions. These desks are very popular in Scandinavia, where it’s been estimated by Get Britain Standing that over 90% of office workers enjoy the health and engagement benefits of being able to easily switch between sitting and standing. Over recent years, as the desks have grown in popularity, the price point for a more basic desk has dropped. There are now many affordable sit/ stand desks, not only electrically operated, but also operated by various mechanical mechanisms, even gas assisted fast crank mechanisms. It is not just furniture manufacturers who are finding innovative solutions to the sit/stand issue. Retro-fit desk top sit/stand solutions such as combined keyboard/monitor arms are now available that fit on a standard, fixed height, desk, allowing the user to move easily from sitting to standing. With such accessories, it is now possible to transform existing fixed height desks into sit/ stand workstations very quickly and economically. Levent continued: “Standing all day is not a viable or doable solution as people get tired. The best solution is to switch between sitting and standing by using sit-stand desks or have alternative work surfaces available. The option is a must for anyone who already has back problems, but more importantly, if you want to prevent an increased risk of developing back pain for your staff through prolonged sitting at workplaces, you should at least consider providing sit-stand desks at your next refurbishment or office relocation.” For advice on how to achieve good sit-stand solutions and ergonomics advice to improve your work environments and efficiency of your staff, contact Levent Çaglar, FIRA, on 01438 777 700, or by emailing lcaglar@ fira.co.uk. Find out more about FIRA Ergonomics visit www.fira.co.uk/ ergonomics. 24 www.ofas.org.uk SPRING 2017
Sit Stand Introducing the new Volt electric sit stand solution from Hawk. One of the most competitively priced desks in the UK offering a 5 year guarantee AND digital display as standard. 30mm per second movement available in a range of sizes and colours. T - 01430 861 229 E - enquiries@hawkfurniture.co.uk W - www.hawkfurniture.co.uk Back2 are suppliers of Conset electric desks, the modern heavy duty solution to sit-stand working. Conset have been established for over 15 years and have a strong focus on quality and dependability. Their range of height adjustable desks features a vast selection of sizes, shapes and finishes. Cosine sit/stand desking has been designed to reduce prolonged sitting time during office work. Developed with an integrated height adjusting mechanism, Cosine stimulates breaks in sitting by encouraging standing positions as an alternative. Individual desk tops can be set to different heights depending on the chosen working position and the user’s height via manual crank handle or electric mechanism. To find out more contact Tangent. T - 0800 389 3112 E - info@tangentfurniture.co.uk W - www.tangentfurniture.co.uk Contact Back2 for further information and to discuss your requirements. T - 020 7935 0351 E - sales@back2.co.uk W - www.back2.co.uk Osmond Ergonomics have been selling sit-stand desks for almost 20 years. Their 2017 Motus desks are about half the price of those we sold in 2000! With quality products from both Europe and the Far East, they can supply exactly what you need with the back-up knowledge and support to match. Osmond Ergonomics, 21 Johnson Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne BH21 7SE T - 0345 345 0898 E - info@ergonomics.co.uk W - www.ergonomics.co.uk Healthy Working by Triumph. Help your staff stay healthy this year by ordering their reduced priced standing desks. Studies show sit stand, height-adjustable desks improve motivation, productivity and health. Their range offers height adjustability by e-pad, manual crank plus a choice of accessories and cable management system. T - 01685 352 222 E - marketing@triumphfurniture.com W - www.triumphfurniture.com Work Better and Smarter for Less Introducing Liberty sit/stand, a new electric height adjustable desk that helps keep users active and productive at work. The Liberty desk is yet another high-quality addition to the market from Century Office, unique in its affordable price point and quality. Unit 4 Brunel Way, Severalls Industrial Park, Colchester, CO4 9QX T - 01206 844 541 E - sales@century-office.co.uk W - www.century-office.co.uk Clerkenwell Design Week Nomique’s new London Showroom is now open in the heart of Clerkenwell, featuring new and existing products in a clever workspace setting. Come in out of the cold and see a variety of task, meeting and soft seating options today. Address: The Old Trading House, 15 Northburgh Street, London, EC1V 0PR T - 01952 585 828 E - sales@nomique.com W - www.nomique.com www.ofas.org.uk SPRING 2017 25
Page 1 and 2: IMPARTIAL | YOUR KEY | OUR PASSION
Page 3 and 4: NEW POWER MODULE BY ABL Chroma brou
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS 6 Product News 12 Company
Page 7 and 8: Product News All new 2017 catalogue
Page 9 and 10: Product News IRIS MONITOR ARM The c
Page 11 and 12: Ofas March 2017_MaineFXadvert 09/03
Page 13 and 14: Company News IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
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Page 17 and 18: e Page Title Here Available in: Eas
Page 19 and 20: Editorial Lockers that look and las
Page 21 and 22: Services TEL: 0207 394 0900 WEB: ww
Page 23: Editorial Choose a Sit/Stand - It
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Page 29 and 30: OFAS Spring Quiz Try your hand at t

Spring 2017

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