As the American workplace has shifted from farm and factory work to less physically demanding careers where Americans spend most their days sitting, major health risks have emerged.
Recent research has linked sitting for long periods of time with several health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels, not to mention chronic back pain. Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Adjustable workbenches provide a solution to this growing concern. Adjustable workstations are work surfaces that can be adjusted to accommodate both sitting and standing positions. These workstations are designed to promote ergonomic flexibility and reduce the negative health effects associated with prolonged sitting.
If you manage a laboratory, manufacturing space or industrial facility, it can benefit both your employees and business to incorporate adjustable workstations in your workspace design. Here are some of those benefits of an adjustable workstation.
Benefits Of An Adjustable Workstation
In an industrial or laboratory setting, there are several benefits of adjustable workstations, including:
- Ergonomic support for diverse tasks: Industrial and laboratory work often involve a variety of tasks that require different working positions. A height adjustable workstation can accommodate these needs by allowing workers to adjust the height of the work surface to suit the task at hand, whether it involves precise measurements, assembly or other activities. This helps reduce strain and fatigue, improving overall comfort and productivity.
- Safety and injury prevention: Many industrial and laboratory tasks require workers to handle heavy equipment or perform repetitive motions, which can increase the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. An adjustable height workstation promotes proper ergonomic positioning, reducing the likelihood of strain injuries such as back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injuries.
- Flexibility in workspace design: Industrial and laboratory environments often have specific space constraints and equipment requirements. Adjustable workstations offer flexibility in workspace design, allowing for efficient use of space and easy integration with other equipment or machinery. Workers can adjust the height of the workstation to optimize workflow and accommodate different equipment setups as needed.
- Adaptability to diverse user needs: Industrial and laboratory settings may have workers of varying heights and physical abilities. Adjustable workstations can be customized to accommodate the needs of different users, ensuring that each worker has a comfortable and ergonomic workspace. This inclusivity promotes employee satisfaction and well-being while also reducing the risk of injuries.
- Improved productivity and efficiency: By promoting ergonomic comfort and flexibility, adjustable workstations can help workers stay focused and productive throughout their shifts. Workers can adjust their workstations to minimize discomfort and fatigue, allowing them to maintain optimal performance levels over extended periods.
Investing in adjustable workstations can contribute to a healthier, more efficient and more collaborative work environment. But which type of adjustable workstation is best?
Types Of Adjustable Workstations
Whether in an office, laboratory or factory setting, adjustable workstations provide tremendous flexibility to workers. The height of these types of workstations is easily adjustable allowing workers to move from a sitting to a standing position by using either a hand crank or a motorized system.
Adjustable workbenches essentially shorten or elongate the legs of the bench so that an employee can sit or stand at a supportive level. This feature allows employees of all sizes and heights to adjust the workbench to a comfortable level.
There are four lift mechanism options for your industrial adjustable workbench:
- Slot adjustment
- Hand crank
- Hand crank with hydraulic features
- Electric
Slot Adjustment Workbench
With a slot adjustment bench, a worker must make adjustments by raising the work bench legs and removing bolts or spacers. Because this type requires the worker to manually lift the bench, this design isn’t the most ergonomically-friendly option.
Hand Crank Adjustable Workbench
A hand crank adjustable height workbench allows workers to rotate a hand crank to lift or lower the bench. A hand crank
makes the process of lifting the workbench easier for workers, but there are limitations. If there are heavy tools or other objects on the bench, it may be difficult to move the worksurface.
Hand Crank Workbench With Hydraulic Features
When cranked, the hydraulic fluid in the cylinders force the shafts in the legs to elevate. This pressure that lowers or lifts the work surface is ideal for workbenches that hold heavy loads. Hydraulic adjustable versions can often lift up to 1,000 pounds.
Electric Adjustable Height Workbench
An electric adjustable height workbench provides some of the highest levels of ergonomic support. An employee can easily lift or lower the surface with the simple push of a button. This type can also lift heavy loads and you may be able to preset positions for convenience. This can be useful if multiple workers use the same bench in multi-shift operations.
Adjustable Workstations – The Solution?
Providing an adjustable height stand up workstation allows employees to transition from sitting to standing easily and may be one of the most effective tools in fighting the damage being caused by too much sitting.
By making it more comfortable to work, ergonomic benches can reduce lost time from work and worker’s compensation claims, as well as boost employee satisfaction.
