FIRA’s Ergonomics Excellence Award is being relaunched, with a new logo and a new marketing campaign to help specifiers understand the benefits of ergonomic excellence.

The Award identifies genuine ergonomic excellence in both domestic and workplace furniture products, and clearly distinguishes those that are outstanding from other products in the marketplace which do not meet FIRA’s stringent criteria.

Safety, user-friendliness and the comfort and wellbeing of the user are considered, as well as whether the product is fit for purpose both structurally and ergonomically.  FIRA also checks the quality standards and environmental policies of the manufacturers.

All items of domestic and workplace furniture and all computer workstations are eligible, provided that they comply with the latest relevant British (BS), European (EN) and International (ISO) standards, which FIRA’s trials will require them to exceed.

According to Levant Caglar, FIRA’s ergonomics expert: “Consumers respond positively to the term ‘ergonomically designed,’ and manufacturers therefore use the term freely. FIRA’s recognition of genuine ergonomic excellence in the design and manufacture of products will provide distinction from competitors.”

Ergonomics in the workplace have become increasingly prominent. However, many products, whilst exhibiting some ergonomic features, would fall short of many decent ergonomic criteria.

Ergonomically excellent products are likely to improve efficiency and productivity as well as eliminating and minimising the ill effects of twenty first century offices and work practices.   They are also likely to reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s) as well as the absence due to MSD’s.

For a product to earn this award it must fulfil the following criteria:

• Excellent ergonomic qualities

• Designed according to appropriate ergonomic criteria

• User friendly

• Promote comfort and well being for the user

• Fit for purpose both ergonomically and structurally

• User safety

• Comply with relevant health and safety regulations

• Meet or exceed the minimum requirements of the state of the art  European, British and FIRA standards on ergonomics, structural integrity and safety

• Manufactured by a company with high quality standards and a good environmental policy