Setting up a home office can often be difficult due to the demands of the home environment. Separating the responsibilities specific to the home from those of your work is often difficult to do. Keeping the physical location of your office away from the areas of heavy traffic in your home is a good start. To make this transition easier you should consider each of the following, as they apply to you:

• Effective time management
• Creating and following a priority list
• Rules for children and other members of the household
• Knowing when to take breaks
• The importance of exercise
• Allocating family time

How can I design a functional workspace?

A workspace is generally the area that can be swept by arm motions pivoting at the elbow with some shoulder movements and no upper body twisting. This main area is used for a variety of basic tasks including writing, reading and computer work. The size or span of the primary workspace should complement the task being performed.

Things To Consider, Possible Concerns and Solutions

1. Is your workstation used by more than you alone? Your work habits and personal body size may be quite different from those of the person you share with. Make sure all furnishings are easily adjusted to suit the needs of all parties.
    
2. Do you use a pointing device, such as a mouse? Overuse of the mouse and awkward posture could bring on repetitive strain injuries. Make sure you have a comfortable and stable platform for your pointing device (mouse), and your chair has armrests for additional support.
    
3. Extensive use of the telephone during key-stroking or writing. Fatigue due to holding the phone handset and operating a keyboard at the same time. Use a hands-free telephone or a phone head-set which will allow you to maintain a normal posture while operating your computer.
    
4. Tasks requiring computer use for extensive periods. Fatigue and discomfort from constantly sitting in the same position. Teach yourself to take small rest breaks, stretch your muscles and adjust your chair for a fresh posture position.
    
5. Handling and processing of a large amount of paper. Repetitive unnatural twisted reaching could cause repetitive strain injuries. Organize your primary work area to include the paper flow; additional desk tray organizers may be a cost-effective solution.

Global manufactures ergonomic office seating for every application, and the  comfort possibilities are endless!

Ergonomic and Task Chairs

Task seating is an ideal choice for individuals spending large amounts of time seated at their workstations, dedicated to certain tasks. Task, or Operator, chairs are "ergonomically" designed to work with you. Easily adjustable chair surfaces allow you to move around freely and help to maintain support for your back, legs and arms as you change body positions. Task chairs can be the difference between absolute comfort and irritating distress.

Global manufactures a complete range of the most up-to-date ergonomic Task chairs with prices to suit any budget and styles that respond to your individual, everyday needs. The products featured below are some examples of our most popular Task and Operator seating lines.

Management Chairs

Managerial, or Executive, office seating is designed to provide hours of comfort, for the manager that is the sole user of his/her chair. Traditional managerial seating comes equipped with high, wide back, deep seat and 'ergonomic' features to facilitate the time spent at a desk, computer or workstation. Modern work ethics require a comfortable chair which will encourage the user to remain productive throughout the often long work week. Although Management seating does not offer as many seating adjustment options as many other chairs, today's executives can take advantage of sophisticated knee-tilt and other tilter mechanisms. These will ensure that feet are kept flat on the floor for added comfort. For the executive, Management seating is often covered in Leather or Upholstered in other quality fabrics.

Conference Chairs

Formal meetings, impromptu team gatherings and presentations, are typical business situations all requiring stylized, conference seating. The traditional boardroom setting is migrating towards conference meeting rooms flavored by the culture and traditions unique to the individual organization. These conference areas can be furnished with Task, Guest or Management seating – the choice is entirely yours!

Guest Chairs

Guest seating or side chairs are generally offered with a sled base or as a four-legged chair without casters. Guest chairs often function as a comfortable seating solution for short periods of time, most commonly in a waiting area. Designed to complement Executive and Task seating, these chairs are usually available with or without arms.

Global commonly features a side chair in each of its seating series to provide you with the best options possible for your total office needs.

1. A contoured backrest will give your back the comfort and support it needs. Pick a chair shaped to match the natural contour of your spine.
    
2. Global offers backrests that are height adjustable, providing your back with customized comfort and support.
    
3. Don't go too soft. For total comfort, seat and back foam must be dense enough to support your weight evenly and it should be sculpted to fit the human form.
    
4. Look for 'waterfall' seat cushions that slope down at the front of the chair. This important ergonomic feature helps improve circulation to your lower legs.
    
5. Rest your arms. Armrests help keep your arms in a comfortable position, reducing shoulder, neck and back strain. Global's height/tilt adjustable models are especially good. Ask about the new MAXsupport™ arm.
    
6. The pneumatic height adjustment on a Global chair lets you alter your seating position throughout the day with a smooth, easy, one-touch action.
    
7. Please remain seated. Make sure all adjustment controls can be reached from a seated position. Keep moving. Multi-tilt and operator mechanisms are important for data entry or computer work. They let you vary your position while maintaining maximum support.
    
8. Good chairs have casters for easy mobility. Be sure to get the right kind for your floor. Choose a chair with a choice of casters designed for carpets, hard surfaces or a combination.

At the center of your office chair is the mechanism which interacts with you through different seating functions. Each individual has a unique, optimal comfort level when seated. Chair mechanisms are offered in a variety of designs which all provide a different degree of manual or automatic adjustment. The user should consider a pneumatic cylinder which gives you "finger-tip" seat height adjustment. Your daily work routine will help you to decide which style of mechanism is best suited to your needs.

There are three seating positions in the workplace pertaining to proper ergonomics:

• Forward/Recline Position – Dedicated Tasks
• Upright Position – Dedicated Tasks and Multi-Task
• Backward/Recline Position – Relaxed Position

To Adjust An Ergonomic Chair:

1. Stand in front of the chair.
    
2. Adjust the height so the highest point of the seat is just below the knee cap.
    
3. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor, when you sit. This allows you to place your feet on the floor insuring good circulation in the legs.
    
4. Use a footrest if the feet cannot rest flat on the floor or if there is pressure underneath the thighs. The footrest should be adjustable and support the whole foot.
    
5. Sit so that the clearance between the front edge of the seat and the upper part of the legs behind the knee, is at least one finger width.
    
6. Adjust the back height to provide support to the lumbar or lower back area. This will help you to maintain correct posture and reduce back pain.
    
7. Adjust the seat angle by unlocking the mechanism to tilt the seat forward or rearward when working for extended periods of time. This mimimizes pressure on the underside of the thighs and reduces tension on back muscles.
    
8. Adjust the back angle to provide firm support and help reduce back fatigue.
    
9. Adjust the optional armrest height to your comfort.
    
10. If using a fixed height worksurface, raise the chair to obtain the proper arm and upper body position.
     
11. Adjust chair height so elbows are about the same height as the worksurface.

Operator

• Pneumatic Height Adjustment (2)
• Back Angle Adjustment (3)
• Seat Angle Adjustment (4)
• Manual Back Height Adjustment (6)
• Hinged Back
• Optional Free Floating/lLock Seat and Back*
• Tilt Forward Seat*
• Pneumatic Height Adjustment
• One Lever Seat and Back Angle Adjustments*

Application: Keyboard Operators, Telemarketing

Posture Task

• Pneumatic (2) or Manual Height Adjustment
• Back Angle with Tension Control (3)
• Manual Back Height Adjustment (6)
• Hinged Back
• Spring Back*
• Seat Depth Adjustment*

Application: Clerical, Keyboard Operators, General Office

Task

• Pneumatic (2) Level for Manual Height Adjustment
• Seat Depth Adjustment (8)
• Hinged Back*
• Back Angle Tension Control*
• Fixed Back*
• Back Height Adjustment*

Application: Clerical, General Office

Multi-Knee Tilter

• Tilt-Tension Control (1)
• Pneumatic Height Adjustment (2)
• Independent Back Angle Control (3)
• Multi-Tilt with Infinite Tilt-Lock Control (5)
• Manual Back Height Adjustment (6)**

Application: Management, Senior Management, Multi-Task

Knee Tilter

• Tilt-Tension Control (1)
• Pneumatic Height Adjustment (2)
• Knee-Tilt with Infinite Tilt-Lock Control (5)

Application: Executive, Management

Multi-Tilter

• Tilt-Tension Control (1)
• Pneumatic Height Adjustment (2)
• Back Angle Adjustment (3)
• Multi-Tilt with Infinite Tilt-Lock Control (5)
• Manual Back Height Adjustment (6)**
• Forward and Rearward Seat-Tilt (7)

Application: Management, Multi-Task, Dedicated Keyboard Operator

Synchro-Tilter

• Tilt-Tension Control (1)
• Pneumatic Height Adjustment (2)
• Synchro-Tilt with Infinite Tilt-Lock Control (5)*
• Dual-Tilt with Two to One Tilting Ratio
• Anti-Kick Back*

Application: Executive, Management

Tilter

• Tilt-Tension Control (1)
• Pneumatic (2) or Manual Height Adjustment
• Infinite Tilt-Lock Control (9)*
• Tilt Action

Application: Supervisor, Meeting Room, General Office

Swivel 

• Manual Height Adjustment (2)
• 360 Degrees Swivel
• Stationary Height for Uniform Appearance

Application: Meeting Room, Guest Seating

* Selected models only. Mechanisms may differ from one chair to another.
** Ratchet back height adjustment on selected models only.

Back Angle – Back angle adjusts forward and rearward. Some chairs lock in an infinite number of positions

Back Height – Back height adjusts up and down and locks in various positions

Seat Angle – Seat angle adjusts independently of the backrest using a single lever

Seat Depth – ​The backrest can be moved in and out to allow additional seat depth

Seat Height – Seat height can be increased or decreased with either a pneumatic or manual adjustment

Forward Tilt – A 6 degree forward seat tilt is available if desired or it can be locked out

Multi-Tilt – Seat and back tilt simultaneously at the same ratio. Multi-tilt action can be locked out in an infinite number of positions

Knee-Tilt – Seat and back tilt simultaneously at the same ratio from a pivot point under the front of the seat. Knee-tilt action can be locked in an infinite number of positions

Synchro-Tilt – Seat and back tilt at a two to one ratio. Synchro-tilt action can be locked in an infinite number of positions

Tilt-Control – Seat and back tilt simultaneously at the same ratio. A tilt-lock control is available on some models

Tilt-Tension – Degree of tilt tension can be increased or decreased

Swivel – 360 degree swivel only. Chair does not tilt. Fixed height chairs do not tilt

Armrests are an important comfort feature of your chair. In most seating series, armrests can be added to armless chairs, and standard arms can be replaced with optional arms.

Armrest Awareness

Too High

• Raises the shoulders tensing the muscle

Too Low

• Places you in a leaning posture
• Closes the rib cage around the lungs
• Reducing your capacity to draw oxygen that the blood needs to carry to your muscles

Too Far Apart

• Shoulders will overwork

Too Close

• Interferes with relaxed keystrokes
• Not able to place your hands on your lap when not in use (should do this as often as possible, palms facing down, to let the whole system relax)

Too Thin

• Requires extra muscular effort to keep your arms on them

Additional Armrest Options

Specialty height and height/angle adjustable armrests enable you to place your arms in a comfortable working position determined by the task at hand. Global carries many different styles of arms from which to choose. The following are a few examples:

MAXsupport™

The MAXsupport arm provides superior comfort by supporting your wrists and arms through a wide range of motions. Movement is smooth and precise for both mousing and keying.

Vari-Width™

An ergonomic feature, the Vari-Width arm maximizes support of the shoulders as it accommodates individual body types by allowing you to adjust the width by up to 2" outward from either side of your chair.

Ergogel™

Ergogel armcaps are the latest in ergonomic technology providing high shock absorption for your arms. Adapted from the medical field, Ergogel has been used in the treatment of burn victims and those people whose body movement is restricted. This cool, body conforming gel distributes weight evenly and helps to eliminate pressure points.

Do's and Don'ts

Data from the Consumer Product Safety Commissions Injury Information Clearinghouse indicates that people are sometimes hurt by falling from chairs. Usually resulting in bumps, bruises, strains and sprains, these injuries are almost always easily treated. It is still important however, to take adequate precautions to prevent injuries before they occur. This document can help you maintain the safe use of your office chair.

Do's

1. Always follow the assembly directions completely. Make sure all the pieces are placed in proper order so that the chair stays tight and together.
    
2. Pay special attention to making sure the casters or wheels are fully inserted into the base of the unit.
    
3. Look for office chairs that have a 5-legged base.
    
4. Every 6 months or so, make sure all the parts of the chair are tightened to ensure stability.
    
5. Always keep the base of the chair completely on the floor.
    
6. Most office chairs are equipped with casters for use on carpeted surfaces. For other surfaces, speak to your retailer or manufacturer for appropriate custom selection.
    
7. Many office chairs are equipped with a tension control on the mechanism to compensate for different body weights. Always ensure that the control is properly adjusted, resulting in a smooth and controlled tilt motion.

Don'ts

1. Don't lean so far back in your chair that the wheels or legs lift up off the floor. Leaning can cause the chair to slip out from under you, cause structural damage, or can loosen important connections that can cause the chair to fall apart.
    
2. Never put all your weight at the very front edge of the chair. If you sit too far forward, the chair can tip over. Use a chair with a forward tilt mechanism if the task requires sitting in a forward position.
    
3. Don't leave electrical appliances on upholstered chairs. Fire can result if they overheat. Be careful when smoking cigarettes or carrying lighted material around upholstered chairs.
    
4. Don't overwork your chair. Chairs in medical institutions or in other locations that are used 24 hours a day, get three times the use of a normal office chair. Inspect and maintain those chairs at least every 60 days.

1. Determine your needs. Choose either a modern design or wood grain. Writing surfaces are pieces of furniture that are used quite a bit, so you’ll want a choice that finds and combines the best form and function.
    
2. Measure your workspace. If it’s a small area, you’ll need to take a look at a compact desk, possibly with a hutches and lower storage compartments. If it’s a larger area, L-shaped or U-shaped might be an option.
    
3. Look for European connectors if you’re buying ready-to-assemble furniture. Global makes assembly easy – all you need is a screwdriver.
    
4. Avoid tangles. Make sure your desk has at least one grommet hole to keep computer and telephone wires out of the way.
    
5. Give your business an edge. Each Global desk series come with its own attractive edge design.
    
6. Island worksurfaces let you meet with more than two people at once with ample leg room for all.
    
7. Choose one of Global’s height/angle adjustable keyboard trays to go with your desk. Your arms can maintain a comfortable position, reducing shoulder, back and neck strain.

How to buy a lateral filing cabinet?

1. Look for reinforced, welded steel corners. These are the cornerstones of a sturdy file. To ensure years of trouble-free use, make sure all sides of the cabinet are welded together.
    
2. Make sure the cabinet has a central cam lock for document safe-keeping.
    
3. Levelling glides help to keep the cabinet frame square, allowing the door and lock to open easily.
    
4. Suspend your workload. Solid steel ball-bearing suspensions help heavy, full drawers open and close smoothly. 
    
5. Don't lock yourself out. Use a positive action lock. For total flexibility, files should hold both letter and legal size file folders.
    
6. All Global laterals come with a lifetime components warranty for the original purchaser.
    
7. Prevent accidents. Specify cabinets that allow you to open just one drawer at a time so the cabinet won't tip over.
    
8. So your work doesn't fall through the cracks, get a lateral with full-height drawer sides.
    
9. Global has both receding front and fixed front drawers on our lateral files. Receding front openings easily accommodate three ring binders in "B" openings.
    
10. Global's durable finish is environmentally friendly; overspray paint is recycled.
     
11. Global's cabinets are equipped with all metal interlock features (only one drawer can open at a time).

There are five types of filing.

Archive Files – Usually stored away from the main work area and are infrequently accessed.

Current Files – These files are the most frequently used and are normally smaller in scale. They should be stored within reach or very close to your work area.

Active Files – There are two types of active filing.

Personal Files – These files pertain to your work process and affect the performance of your office tasks. These files would be located  within your working area for easy retrieval

Company Files – These files generally support a department(s) and are usually found in a common area within that department(s). Since these files are generally shared by others make sure you place them back in their proper location when you have finished

Within all of the above it is sometimes broken down into the following areas; retrieval, staging, storing materials, supplies, equipment, tools and additional information (like catalogs & reference material). Understanding and implementing the above in your planning will assist you and your colleges productivity. In order to save time and frustration for others and yourself, make a form that indicates who has the file out, this will save time and stress for all.

Consider safety when setting up your filing area.

• Do not place filing cabinets so that the drawers open into the main aisles
• Purchase lateral files that do not permit more than one drawer to open at a time
• Use handles to close drawers to avoid catching fingers
• Place all heavy objects in the bottom drawer
• Do not store heavy objects on top of filing cabinets
• Close filing cabinet drawers when not in use
• Do not move filing cabinets when loaded
• Use professional installers to install your product

Follow this advice and use common sense and you should have a safer office.

How to buy a vertical filing cabinet?

1. Global verticals come in 15" letter and 18" legal sizes. Conversion kits accommodate both letter and legal size documents.
    
2. Keep your papers in place. Adjustable and removable follower blocks ensure that documents are neatly stored in an upright position.
    
3. Always go for a smooth ride. Solid steel suspension helps even the heaviest drawers open and close with ease.
    
4. Global verticals have full-height drawer sides, allowing you to use hanging file folders without hanging bars.
    
5. Keep your documents secure. The positive cam lock locks securely. A key feature.
    
6. Mark your territory. Verticals should have a label holder for every drawer.
    
7. Don't underestimate your storage needs. Get a file that's an ample 26 9/16" deep or 28" deep.
    
8. All Global verticals come with a lifetime components warranty for the original purchaser.
    
9. Our durable finish is environmentally friendly; overspray paint is recyclable.
    
10. File drawers can be set up in many ways.

Selecting the Right Workstation

When searching for the right workstation it is important to consider its purpose which will be decided by the nature of your tasks. It is best to look for products that have been designed and engineered to help make your workspace more productive.

This can be achieved in a variety of ways. As a guide, observe how your work flows through your office in a typical day. It is likely that you’ll uncover a number of distinctive and repetitive task patterns.

Once these patterns have been identified, organize them according to their intended and frequency of their use. Now you are ready to investigate the pertinent factors that will determine the workspace you eventually select.

Insurance

Insurance should be upgraded to include:

• New office and equipment
• Visiting clients, etc.

Tax Regulations

• Qualifying tax regulations which may apply to your business
• This may reflect your purchases

Lighting – Protect Yourself

• If you have to setup near a window make sure your computer sits perpendicular to it, minimize eye-strain inducing glare on sunny days
• If you have fluorescent lights, try to position your set up between the lights
• Use 'Parabolic louvers' to reduce the glare from fluorescent lights
• Use window blinds to control the light source through the day
• Panels or screens may be used to control glare
• Protect your eyes from Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) by using an anti-glare screen

Eye Protection Filter

• Glare from your monitors generate two types of glare, specular and diffuse
• Specular glare is reflected in smooth surfaces and is readily noticed since it has an image, like a reflection in a mirror
• Diffuse glare is reflected from rough surfaces, such as white paper and has no image

Noise

• Try to set up your office in a separate room if possible and away from the rest of the house

Ventilation

• Make sure you have sufficient fresh air and ventilation
• Place your laser printer and photocopier vents away from you and use unbleached paper as it is toxic free, and scent free supplies
• Some household plants will remove benzene, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the air

Chair

• Comfort is personal but should be part of the selection
• Seat pan design; deep and wide enough
• Rounded front edge (waterfall)
• Adjustable slope seat
• Able to adjust your chair, to obtain appropriate height
• Sit back in your chair, with your thighs parallel to the floor
• Place feet flat on the floor, a foot rocker maybe required

Foot Rocker

• A foot rocker helps to prevent possible discomfort resulting from outstretched feet
• The rocking motion creates light activity in the legs and feet and will help stimulate muscles to improve overall circulation

Keyboard Tray

• Angle adjustable
• Height adjustable
• Can accommodate a palm rest, if desired

Document Holder

• Position document holder in line with the monitor to reduce eyestrain

Monitor

• Mid-line of monitor should line up with center of the keyboard (H Key) which should line up with your belt buckle
• Position the monitor at arms length
• Make sure that the top of your monitor screen is slightly below eye level
• A monitor stand may be used to achieve the height

Mousing

• Keep your forearm and wrist in a straight line
• Keep your upper arms close to your body
• Use the whole arm movement, avoid quick wrist movements
• Try to use hot keys and keystrokes instead of using the mouse

Workstation

• Adequate space beneath the worksurface for your legs
• Depth of the worksurface depends on the task and equipment used to perform this responsibility
• Try to place equipment and materials that are used regularly and frequently in arm's reach… to perform your tasks
• Avoid unnecessary reaching and bending which leads to fatigue and possible muscle strains and can reduce efficiency
• Keep in mind other related tasks in your planning
• Establish your work flow then design the essential elements to meet your requirements

Folding Table

• Temporary staging area for those large projects

Office panels can be an attractive, practical and inexpensive way to:

1. Provide 'private' individual and/or group work areas through the use of:
   • Straight panels
   • Curved panels
   • Glazed panels
      
2. Provide additional storage through the use of:
   • Transaction tops
   • Overhead storage units
      
3. ​Direct the flow of traffic through the use of:
   • Five heights of panels
   • Eight widths of panels in six inch increments from 24" to 72"
      
4. Reduce glare by selecting proper panel heights from:
   • Ceiling lighting
   • Sunlight

Global has a number of panels to provide solutions to any of these areas.

Global's GPS Panels are an easy-to-use, completely portable system. 

They may be freestanding or linked by hardware. The 'Chromed', 'Painted Epoxy' or 'Fabric Wrapped' steel frames, which coordinate with existing office furniture. GPS Panels offer four grades of fabrics to enhance any color scheme.

The study of the interactions between office workers and their work environments.

Fit the work environment and the tasks to the worker.

• Increased health and comfort
• Increased safety
• Increased productivity
• Reduced risk of injury

The first thought that often comes to mind when one thinks of a good fit is physically fitting into the chair and workstation. There is more to a good fit than accommodating physical size and shape. A good fit also means your furniture allows you to continuously move from one posture to another and to perform your job tasks.

Simply put: Fit = Move + Match + Support

Your furniture should:

• Allow you to move through a variety postures
• Match your physical shape and size
• Support your body and your tasks including your work tools

Move Condition of Fit

It has long been known that the human body was designed to move. The circulatory system, joints and spinal discs require movement for healthy functioning. As you move, your muscles help to pump blood through your body, which delivers nutrition to, and removes waste from, your tissues. In the absence of good blood flow, not only is food delivery reduced, waste products build up in your tissues that over time makes your muscles feel tired and sore. Movement also contributes to proper lubrication of your joints and proper nutrition of your spinal discs.

Even if your tasks don't require you to move, you must keep moving. When selecting furniture, look for features that allow movement. The chair mechanism has a lot to do with your options for movement as it includes the tilt feature e.g. multi-tilt, weight-sensing, synchro-tilt, knee-tilt. Make sure you choose the one that is right for you and your tasks. Other chair features that allow you to move from one posture to another include seat angle and back angle. Some workstations come with adjustable features that also allow you to move for example an articulating keyboard tray that allows you to change the position of your keyboard and mouse as you move from one posture to another.

Match Condition of Fit

Physically fitting into a chair or workstation is the easiest Fit condition for a user to judge. You know when your feet are dangling, or if the seat cushion is too long and pushes into the back of your calves or if the work surface feels too high. When your body dimensions are accommodated it helps contribute to good blood flow by minimizing pressure points. Also furniture that is properly matched to your body helps minimize awkward or extreme postures, for example raised shoulders, thereby minimizing unnecessary muscular effort.

Some chairs come in different sizes to address differences in body shape and size. Others offer adjustable features, for example seat height which allows you to match the seat height to your lower leg length. Some work surfaces are adjustable in height and others come with adjustable support surfaces and adjustable monitor arms to allow you to match the heights and distances of work tools to your relevant body dimensions.

Support Condition of Fit

Proper support ensures alignment of the upper body, which includes the neck, shoulders and upper back. When properly supported, the muscles in these areas are in the best position to aid breathing. If your lower back is not properly supported when seated, it either straightens or curves the wrong way.

Support for the lower back should allow the pelvis to be tilted slightly forward to ensure a natural lumbar curve in the seated posture. Stabilization of joints goes hand in hand with proper alignment. Well-designed and properly used furniture goes a long way to contributing to the proper support.

Chair features such as back/lumbar height, which allow you to position the lumbar support in the curve of your lower back, are designed to provide the support you need. When your work tools are properly supported it helps minimize muscle fatigue and pain. Workstation features such as keyboard tray height, keyboard tray angle, mouse surface height and horizontal mouse position are designed to contribute to proper support.