active ergonomics flo User manual

Causes of stress?
Some things that happen in your life can be stressful such as changes at
work, working in noisy or neglected environments, or difficulties with
handling new technology. Domestic changes such as moving house or a
relationship breakdown can also all attribute to stress.
How can I help myself to cope with stress?
The first step in tackling stress is to become aware that it is a problem
for you. The next stage is to make a plan to take control of the causes
and effects of stress. Here are some practical points to keep in mind to
enable you to take control of stress.
Health check for the mind
Stress and back pain are major contributors to long term absence from
work. Many people can feel stressed when the demands of their life
seem to be becoming too great for them to cope with. This ability to
cope varies from person to person, but long term stress is known to be
bad for our mental and physical health.
What are the signs of stress?
Physical signs - such as headaches, muscle tension or palpitations are
common signs of stress. Emotional signs include temper outbursts, changes
in eating habits, withdrawing from usual activities or rushing around.
How to beat stress
olidays -plan at least one each year with a change in surroundings.
pen up - and talk, if your relationship is part of the problem.
ork -is that the problem? What are your options? What aspects
are stressful? Could you delegate? Could you get more support?
ry to concentrate on the present - Don’t dwell on the past.
wn up to yourself - admit to yourself that you are feeling stressed.
e realistic -about what you can achieve.
at a balanced diet -eat slowly, sit down and allow half an hour.
ction plans -write problems down and make a plan to deal with them.
ime management -plan your time, do one thing at a time and
build in breaks. Don’t make too many life changes at once.
www.active-ergonomics.co.uk
et priorities -if you could only do one thing, what would it be?
alk things over with your manager - or someone else you can trust.
elaxation is important -Try new ways to relax - reflexology or yoga.
xercise regularly -at least 20 minutes two or three times a week.
ay no - and don’t feel guilty about saying it.
eek professional help -if you have tried these things and your
stress is still a problem then seek professional help.
The series of images below show some suggested stretches that you can
do in your chair, that may help you to stay relaxed through the day.
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mind
with everyone in mind

Adjusting the chair to suit your body.
Ignoring the adjustments on a chair is like driving in first gear for
8 hours a day. Take a few minutes to learn how to set-up and
drive your chair then record the settings at the back of this book.
Then you’ll be set up for a more enjoyable experience at work -
we promise! - and like sharing a car, if someone else has used
your seat, it won’t be a big deal to re-set it once you’ve recorded
your personal combination code.
You can use the scale below to measure the correct seat height
and then make a note of it along with your other chair set up
measurements on the last page of this booklet.
If you want to find out more about the chair or how to look
after your body and mind at work, log on to our website.
www.active-ergonomics.co.uk
seat height
The seat height can be adjusted by
pulling up the seat height paddle. Put
your weight on the seat to lower and lift
your weight off to make it higher. Your
knees should be lower than your hips,
with your thighs gently sloping down-
wards - this helps you to sit in a more
natural upright posture.
seat depth
To adjust the seat depth press in the seat
depth button and slide the seat into the
desired position. Make sure your bottom
is fully back into the seat, with a two to
four finger gap between the back of
your knees and the front of the seat.
Your legs now have the freedom to shift
backwards and forwards.
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back angle
The back angle can be adjusted by turning
the control - turn it clockwise to bring
the back rest forwards and anti-clock-
wise to move it back. Ensure that the
back rest is never far away from your
back when you are sat in a balanced
upright position.
back height
To adjust the back height, grip the back
and lift up. Make sure the height is set to
ensure the pronounced curvature of the
backrest sits in the small of the back. You
can use the inflatable pump to fine tune
the amount of additional lumbar padding
you may need.
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back recline tension
To balance the chair to suit your body
weight, turn the body weight control -
clockwise to increase and anti-clockwise
to decrease the resistance. Make sure
when the chair is unlocked that it’s not
too hard to recline, or too weak so that
you don’t feel supported. You can lock
the back into position by pulling up the
back lock paddle.
head rest adjustment
To adjust the head rest grip it under-
neath and twist forward. Ensure it’s
positioned to support the nape of your
neck when you are sat in an upright
working position. The headrest can be
adjusted in height, orientation and
depth accordingly.
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8Head Office & Manufacturing
Penallta Industrial Estate, Hengoed,
Mid Glamorgan CF82 7SU
T. [phone]
F. [phone]
www.active-ergonomics.co.uk