24-hour office chairs – The best chairs for shift workers

When you or your staff are sitting on a chair for a long period, this equipment must offer the utmost comfort and support.

When shift patterns and the nature of a job mean that your office chairs are being used 24/7, a robust piece of kit is necessary. Considering that the key daily operations and essential control of your business may be run from this room, choosing chairs for 24-hour call centres, CCTV or control rooms and site security offices can be challenging. Comfort and ergonomics must go hand in hand and it’s vital that your chairs are heavy-duty and designed and tested to withstand intensive use for many years.

Chairs being used in this sort of environment may need to be used by a number of different staff around the clock so your control room chairs must be highly adjustable to ensure access to multiple screens and easy movement around the office. The chairs need to provide comfort for staff of different shapes and sizes and should cater for a variety of different working positions.

What is a 24-hour office chair and how is it different to a standard chair?

A 24-hour chair is an office chair that is used day and night by different shifts of people. This means that one chair could have up to 3 people a day of different shapes and sizes using it.

Not all chairs are designed for 24-hour use. If you were to use a standard office chair for long shifts, it would wear down pretty quick and you’d be buying a replacement chair every few years. 24-hour chairs are designed to last longer and provide comfort and support for long periods.

If you use a standard chair for 24 hours, it dramatically shortens its expected life (i.e., warranty period). Most chairs have either 2 or 5 years. All our chairs have a minimum of 5 years, but if you use them 24 hours a day, then it cuts the warranty period in half.

Common issues shift workers might face Shift workers can face more issues than you might think. Some short-term issues they could face are Insomnia, feeling unwell more often, fatigue, and upset stomach and those are just a few. Some long-term issues they could face are depression, diabetes, obesity, and impaired brainpower.

Advice for shift workers

•When travelling to or from work make sure you are alert and awake enough to drive safely. If possible, consider a taxi or public transport.

•Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. One of the biggest issues shift workers face is fatigue due to lack of sleep. If you live with other people, make them aware of your sleeping schedule so they can keep noise to a minimum. Make sure your bedroom is as comfortable as possible and avoid any distractions that could keep you up such as TV and your phone.

•Avoid caffeine before bed.

•Eat a healthy and balanced diet and avoid fatty and sugary foods.

•Try and exercise regularly, 30 minutes a day at least.

•Avoid drinking alcohol, it can disrupt your quality of sleep.

Tips for keeping alert at work

•Take regular breaks and walk around

•Make sure the room is well lit, a dark room will make you more tired

•Talk to your co-workers, conversation will stimulate your mind

Sitting in a poorly chosen chair can cause extreme discomfort, reducing staff productivity and increasing the likelihood of time off work due to back pain. Give your staff the chance to show their best at any hour of the day by providing comfortable, adjustable, durable chairs for them to sit on.

When choosing control room chairs you need to consider the following questions:

• Does the chair offer sufficient support to the spine?
• Chairs for 24-7 use must be specified in 24-hour fabrics with reinforced bases – without them, you might cut your warranty in half!
• Can the chair be easily adjusted to accommodate different staff members? Consider seat height and width, as well as back and armrests
• Is the chair comfortable for long periods of time?
• Does the chair allow users freedom of movement and allow them to change their posture?
• Are the cushions made of tough but breathable cloth or mesh, to prevent staff from being uncomfortable in warm environments?
• Is the chair safe to move, allowing multiple screen access and movement around the room?

Choose a fully adjustable chair that offers the right support and doesn’t become uncomfortable after a few hours. The best chairs will include levers and bolts to let you raise, lower, tilt, adjust, expand and slide, with adjustable arms and seat depth being a particular feature of 24-hour chairs. to provide optimal comfort for any shift patterns.  Your operators and staff will thank you for investing in their well-being and will think they’re excellent, especially if they’re working a 12-hour shift.

Chairs we recommend for users that work long shifts

Axia Focus 24-7

 The Axia Focus is perfect for larger individuals. This chair is built to last and offer comfort. Ideal for surveillance, observation and monitoring work. The backrest has a movable centre that offers constant back support and moves with your body. The Axia Focus is super quick and easy to adjust and can hold users up to 30 stone.

The AM:PM chair

The AM:PM chair is also great for larger individuals. Made with a sturdy internal steel structure, moulded foam and durable fabrics, this chair offers comfort and support that will last. It has a high support back which is perfect for taller people and a weight capacity of 30 stone. The AM:PM features a high performance fully adjustable mechanism providing easy adjustment and dynamic sitting.

RH 400 24/7

The RH 400 24/7 is durable and lasts a long time due to its replaceable parts, you can choose to replace: the seat pad, backrest, neck rest and gas lift height. This helps to save money, instead of having to buy a new chair when your old one wears out or breaks, you can just replace the broken parts with new ones. The RH 400 comes with a lumbar pump, soft floor castors, and an aluminium base but you also have the option of adding a neck rest and armrest.

We supplied RH Logic 400s to Sussex Police and they are loving these chairs. Read our case study to find out about Sussex Police’s experience with these chairs.

In our experience, it’s best to work with each individual to find a chair that’s perfect for them. Think about who will be sitting on the chair and what they will be doing. Some of our larger chairs, an Axia Focus or the AM:PM chair, may be perfectly suited to a larger individual working, but would not be right for someone with a petite frame working in a police emergency call centre, for whom an RH Logic would be much more suitable.

If you’re still not sure, we can offer you advice on which 24-hour chair is most suitable for you or your staff. Just get in touch with us on 0330 332 0880 or drop us a line below to talk to one of our ergonomics experts about 24-hour office chairs.