What’s So Important About Dispatch Center Console Furniture?

What’s so important about dispatch center console furniture? We’re so glad you asked! If you are designing, building, or retrofitting a dispatch center, don’t forget about the furniture. It’s easy to get caught up in the technology and infrastructure of your control room. Productivity and effectiveness of your operators is the key to success. Here’s what you need to know about the furniture and why it’s such a critical piece of the design puzzle.

The Importance of Ergonomics

Integrating people and technology is a key factor when designing a dispatch center. And, ergonomics should be the focus. When we think about safety in a workplace, our minds often go to things like trip hazards, faulty wiring, and spills on hard floors that can cause slipping.

What we often fail to consider is the hazard of poorly designed furniture and workstations. We also don’t consider what that can mean for the employees who use them. Ergonomic risk factors include poor posture, awkward and repetitive motions and movements, and having to reach beyond a certain threshold.

Studies have shown that lack of ergonomic design in workspaces where operators sit and work for extended periods of time can be detrimental. Poorly designed workstations result in poor focus, physical discomfort, fatigue, poor work quality, repetitive motion injuries, lack of job satisfaction, and absenteeism.

Benefits of an Ergonomic Dispatch Center

Ergonomics is about more than just a comfy chair. Here are the primary benefits you’ll find in your organization when you invest in the right console furniture:

• Reduced worker’s comp expenses
• Increased operator productivity
• Improved operator response time
• Improved employee engagement
• Increased job satisfaction
• Reduced employee fatigue, both mental and physical

Elements of Ergonomic Console Furniture

Consider carefully things such as work tasks, body parts needed for job function, and the reach required for tasks. In addition, consider what sight lines are necessary and the amount of movement required by techs and operators. Everything should be within arms’ reach. If more than one operator uses each workstation, it is critical that the furniture is flexible and adjustable. This will help when designing and choosing not only your console but also the furniture. The furniture includes the chairs, monitors, articulated monitor arms, video displays, and auxiliary furniture.

Investing in workplace comfort and safety can result in a significant return on your investment. It simply reduces complaints and accidents resulting from poorly designed workstations. Find the dispatch center console furniture you need to keep your team happy and healthy. Contact our team of experts at Fountainhead Control Rooms.