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Download the brochure here. Antimicrobial High-Pressure Laminate: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new set of challenges to organizations around the world, but it has also increased the awareness of issues concerning the spread of germs and hygiene in the workplace. While properly cleaning and disinfecting high touch areas such as worksurfaces can help minimize the spread of viruses, anti-bacterial surfaces are an effective way to provide additional protection for the health and safety of employees and visitors. A reduction of up to 99.5% of microbes found on surfaces. To respond to this issue, Sustema developed a line of antibacterial high-pressure laminate surfaces and powder coated paint treatments for its products including control room consoles, 911 dispatch furniture, workbenches, and conference tables. So, how exactly do antimicrobial surfaces help prevent the spread of germs? Antimicrobials help reduce up to 99.5% of microbes found in high touch areas by avoiding the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, and fungi. The result is a cleaner and safer work environment. If properly maintained, the antimicrobial agents can remain effective for the entire life of the product. In order to be made available to the public, antimicrobial work surfaces went through multiple tests such as the ISO22196:2011, JIS Z2801, and ASTM G21 to prove their effectiveness. Advantages of Antimicrobial Surfaces: Kills and inhibits the growth of 99.5% of surface microbes, bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungi. The antimicrobial solution is built into the surface itself and cannot be washed away, retaining its anti-microbial properties even after washing it. In combination with proper maintenance, the silver ions additives are an effective barrier for most species of bacteria. The antimicrobial agent does not change the look of the product, with many colors and finishes available. Conclusion While the console surface represents a higher risk in terms of hosting germs and bacteria, Sustema can also provide fully-coated solutions to protect the entirety of the console to include the metallic structure. Sustema has over 20+ years of experience designing and manufacturing custom control room and dispatch furniture across North-America. For any questions or inquiries please contact us by phone at 1-800-455-8450 or by email at info@sustema.com.

All Sustema team wants to wish you a very Happy Holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. Please note that we will be closed from December 25th to January 2.

Dear customers, Please note that due to the Quebec National Holiday and National Day of Canada, we will be closed on Monday, June 26th, and Monday, July 3rd. Do not hesitate to contact us for any questions, On behalf of the entire team, Have a wonderful summer!

Since we have a lot of clients that require help choosing monitors for their consoles, where is a list of the Best Thin Monitors of 2017. Please note that all of them have VESA Mounts 75×75 or 100×100. Top Five of Thin Bezel Monitors

We would like to wish you all the best during this holiday season. Thank you for 2016 and looking forward to work with you in 2017! Sustema Team

You can have the best ergonomic set up at your desk with a great monitor arm, keyboard support, and chair, it still does not help the fact that we are sitting too much and doing little physical activity when it comes to the workplace.  We were made to move, not sit at a desk for 8-10 hours a day.  Sitting all day increases our risk for obesity and puts us at risk for back pain, headaches, poor posture, leg cramps, tense muscles, heart disease and makes us less productive.  Many think that we need a lot of time to exercise, so we invariably put it off or don’t engage at all.  Exercise is simply the act of keeping your body busy, using muscles and bones while the heart keeps pumping.  Here is a list of 6 easy exercises to do in your own workspace. Phone walking: Using a headset, every time your phone rings stand up and walk around your office.  It’s good for increasing your daily steps. Leg raises: While sitting at your desk or turned around, straighten both your legs (or do one at a time) in front of you and hold for 10 seconds.  Lower them almost to the floor then raise again and hold.  Repeat 10 times.  Great for working the abs. Standing calf raises: While standing behind your chair with your hands on the back, feet together, rise up on your toes and hold for 10 seconds.  Slowly release and repeat 10 times.  A good exercise for circulation while strengthening the calf muscles. Knee lifts: Stand up away from your desk and lift your knee up in front and put your arms down.  Do 20 reps each leg.  This is a great exercise to wake up the hip flexors and quadriceps. Toe Touches: With feet positioned at hip distance, slowly bend down reaching for your toes.  Go as down as far as you can, when you feel tightness, count to 5 then reach some more.  Do 10 times and feel the release in the hamstrings and lower back. Desk pushups: Place your hands on the edge of the desk, shoulder-width apart, legs out behind at 45 degrees.  Push off with as much force as you can repeat 10 times.  Good for your arms and shoulders.

S'il est vrai que le coût élevé des blessures au travail justifie en partie l’investissement nécessaire à l’adoption des surfaces de travail à hauteur ajustable, il n’en demeure pas moins que l’argumentaire en leur faveur ne s’arrête pas là. En tant que fournisseur de mobilier spécialisé ergonomique, j’ai souvent l’impression de prêcher à des convertis lorsque je me trouve en présence de professionnels de santé et sécurité au travail.  Ceux-ci apprécient déjà les avantages des consoles à hauteur ajustable. Si cela ne tenait qu’à eux, tous les utilisateurs de centres de contrôle seraient obligés de travailler dans un environnement ergonomique. Les travailleurs de la construction portent un casque sur le chantier, les travailleurs d’usine portent des lunettes de sécurité, pourquoi leurs utilisateurs n’auraient pas le même souci de réduction des risques de blessures? Historiquement, les professionnels de santé et sécurité ont encouragé les efforts en ce sens, soulignant le coût élevé des blessures liées au travail. La preuve n’est plus à faire; les environnements de travail réussis réduisent les blessures déclarées et accélèrent les retours au travail. Peu d’organisations recueillent ce type de données ou font le lien entre les employés en bonne santé et la productivité de l’entreprise. Sans compter que le coût réel d’un accident de travail n’est pas toujours évident à calculer lorsque les coûts des blessures sont pris en charge par les compagnies d’assurance. Pour influencer les décisions au niveau du mobilier, afin d’assurer le confort des employés, les professionnels de santé et sécurité avertis ont appris à faire des recommandations dans un langage que les décideurs d’entreprises allaient instantanément apprécier. Ces derniers veulent non seulement entendre parler de retour sur investissement et de prévention des blessures, mais aussi d’impacts positifs concrets et observables. Dans cette perspective, une étude basée sur une organisation ayant une centaine d’opérateurs de consoles nous apparait pertinente. L’entreprise en question envisage l’achat d’un poste de travail ajustable qui va augmenter le coût unitaire des stations à hauteur fixe de 1000 $. Les exemples qui suivent montrent une série d’hypothèses sur le revenu des employés, le taux de mobilité, les frais de recrutement, autant de facteurs qui concernent vos collègues. Des hypothèses qui sont, bien entendues, sujettes à modifications, au besoin. Augmentation du temps de tâche En assumant que les employés travaillant dans un environnement ergonomique vont augmenter leur niveau de confort et ainsi accroître leur productivité, quel serait donc le coût réel des pertes de productivité dues à l’inconfort? En admettant que les postes de travail confortables permettent aux employés de travailler environ 2 % plus longtemps à leur poste, à chaque jour (soit 10 minutes dans une journée de 8 heures), ce gain modeste se traduirait par un gain annuel de cinq jours ouvrables (2 % des 250 jours de travail annuels). De quoi amplement justifier le coût plus élevé d’un poste de travail réglable. De façon concrète, les stations réglables utilisées par des employés qui gagnent en moyenne 50 000 $ par année permettraient à l’organisation de “gagner” 1000 $ en productivité par station (2 % de 50 000 $). Le retour sur investissement (ROI) peut ainsi se faire en 12 mois (1000 $ / 1000 $). Réduction du taux de roulement des employés Quel est le coût d’attraction et de rétention du personnel? Est-ce qu’un poste de travail confortable peut réduire le roulement d’employés? Dans l’optique d’attirer et de retenir les employés talentueux et qualifiés, on voit de plus en plus d’organisations promouvoir un environnement de travail ergonomique, voire esthétiquement impressionnant. Avec des travailleurs qui passent de longues heures devant l’ordinateur, le confort devient un véritable enjeu. S’il en coûte 5 000 $ pour recruter, embaucher et former chaque nouvel employé, et que des postes de travail réglables peuvent ralentir le taux de roulement de 20 % à 15 %, imaginez les économies! Dans notre exemple, les postes de travail réglables nous permettent de gagner 25 000 $ par an en coûts de ressources humaines (20 % – 15 % = 5% sur 100 employés = 5 employés x 5 000 $ = 25 000 $) ou 250 $ par station. Le retour sur investissement se fait donc en quatre ans (1 000 $ / 250 $). Installer plus de gens, plus fréquemment Quel est le coût relié aux modifications de mobilier pour le service des immeubles de votre entreprise? Un mobilier confortable ne pourra pas retenir les employés infiniment. En moyenne, les employés sont réaffectés, promus, ou remerciés à tous les trois ans. Avec la popularité croissante des horaires flexibles, il se peut que plusieurs personnes soient appelées à partager un même poste de travail. De plus, ces postes peuvent aisément devoir accommoder de 3 à 6 occupants pendant leur vie active (estimée entre 10 et 20 ans), et se voir déplacés ou reconfigurés tout aussi souvent. Si la politique de santé et sécurité du service des immeubles exige que les surfaces de travail correspondent aux besoins des employés, les efforts d’ajustements manuels requis augmenteront nécessairement le coût à long terme des postes de travail inflexibles. Les utilisateurs qui peuvent aisément modifier leur surface de travail contribuent donc à réduire les coûts de service des installations. En supposant qu’à chaque année, environ 40 postes de travail doivent être déplacés, reconfigurés ou ajustés à la hauteur des nouveaux usagers, et qu’un coût approximatif de 200 $ par station est à prévoir, on en arrive à un coût total de 8000 $ par année (40 x 200 $) ou 80 $ par poste. Le ROI se ferait donc en 13 ans (1000 $ / 80 $). La réduction des coûts dus aux blessures Proposons qu’une réclamation moyenne se situe à 11 000 $ et qu’une organisation donnée reçoit 4 demandes par année liées à une mauvaise posture et aux mouvements répétitifs. Si les postes de travail réglables réduisent les blessures d’environ 50 %, les revendications annuelles chuteraient de 4 à 2, passant ainsi de 44 000 $ à seulement 22 000 $. Les économies par station seraient ainsi de 354 $ par année et le ROI se fait en 2 ans et des poussières (1000 $ / 354 $). Passer de « Bof » à « WOW! » La plupart des organisations compartimentent leurs budgets, et si l’investissement en tables ajustables semble rentable pour un département, il n’en sera pas nécéssairement pour autant du point de vue d’un autre. Par exemple, le département des achats pourrait rechigner devant le coût d’acquisition d’un poste de travail ajustable en hauteur, même si ce poste minimise les coûts d’autres départements. Qu’à cela ne tienne, l’acquisition d’un poste de travail ergonomique bien conçu est l’un des investissements les plus sûrs aujourd’hui. De plus en plus d’organisations comprennent l’importance d’adopter une approche plus holistique à ce niveau, de par le ROI assez impressionnant de la solution proposée. Sans contexte, les économies individuelles suscitent peu d’intérêt, voire quelques bâillements, mais dans une perspective d’ensemble, comme nous l’avons démontré, les économies annuelles cumulées s’élèveraient à 1 684 $ par station, un retour sur investissement d’environ 7 mois (1 000 $ / 1 684 $)! Résumé La question ne devrait donc pas être “comment allons-nous faire pour payer des surfaces à hauteur ajustables?”, mais plutôt “est-ce que l’on peut se permettre de continuer à payer le prix de postes de travail inadéquats?”. Suffit d’identifier les faits démontrant qu’il nous en coûte plus cher de travailler dans un environnement de travail déficient, et le tour est joué!

Technology is advancing really fast in the Healthcare field.  So fast in fact, that sometimes the virtual world takes over the real world.  Adaptability is an important factor to consider when installing technology in Healthcare facilities.  We may tend to forget that technology has to be used by human beings.  As an example, let’s take Katie, the chief nurse in the ICU.  She’s a small woman with her 5 feet 2 inches.  Last year she injured her neck.  Now she struggles finishing her shifts without pain.  She‘s a very dedicated nurse and she would like to be able to offer the best care to patients whose lives depend on her.  She‘s the eyes and the arms of the medical team ultimately saving lives on an everyday basis.  We could help her a lot by improving her workspace not only for her but also for her colleagues.  It cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution.  We must think that many members of the medical team will be using the same workplaces.  I had the opportunity to visit an ICU unit in a small town’s hospital.  Although everyone was so passionate about giving their absolute best to the patients, you could see the discomfort in their eyes after an eventful weekend. Telemetry tools allow them to facilitate continuous surveillance of numerous critically ill patients all at once.  The monitor panel is the main focus in the ICU unit and must be adapted to different uses.  The most relevant information must be readily available 24-7, and easy to access in emergency situations in which the response of the health worker is critical in life and death situations. One of the key elements in designing control centers for healthcare cannot only rely on the elements connected to the patient and on technology to save lives.  It should encompass all health professionals using them and provide them with the best tools and height-adjustable tables with ergonomics applications. Often, 24-7 telemetry have to be followed closely by a single nurse who also single-handedly manages multiple patients. These mission-critical control center are heavy duty workstations meant to provide comfort throughout the 10-12 hours shifts with maximum adaptability for the women’s 5th Percentile (4’10’’ Height) all the way to the men’s 95th percentile (6’3’’ Height). Feel free to reach us if you need any help designing emergency, telemetry or any ergonomic station that will improve your day to day work.

In recent years, we have all increasingly sought to adopt a healthy lifestyle and have exercised to improve our health and lifestyle. We have carefully selected our food at the grocery store and checked their calorie intake. You may have heard the expression: “Sitting is the new smoking”; Indeed, although the percentage of smokers in the population is declining year after year, a trend is emerging to the effect that the adverse effects of the use of tobacco products seem to have changed and are now in our too sedentary life, especially in our workplaces. According to a study by the “American Medical Association” (AMA), we estimate the time at which we are in position sitting day to 7.7 hours. This statistic may even go up to 15 hours for some individuals. A simple and increasing way to reduce the time in which we are sitting is by using a height-adjustable workstation. Indeed, statistics show that standing past an hour, compared to sitting, will burn fifty additional calories.[i] Remaining sitting during long periods of time also makes us more vulnerable to develop diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.[ii] According to the latest study by Alan Hedge, the optimal solution is shown in the matrix below, a period of 30 minutes of work should be distributed as follows; 20 minutes sitting, standing 8 minutes and 2 minutes where we’re moving and stretching.

Focus Flex®, the Revolution in Training Rooms Focus Flex® is basically a computer desk that can transform itself into a multifunctional desk when needed, in a few seconds. Yes, it’s that easy! This desk is equipped with an internal actuator (an electric mechanism) that supports either one or two monitors. It offers the possibility to raise the LCD screens up when their use is required and to hide them back again with the simple push of a button. The LCD monitor can be positioned at the desired height, in order to adapt to the user’s height and it can also be used by people with disabilities. The computers can either be hidden inside the structure or supported under the work surface (as per the picture). A tray under the LCD screen has been conceived to store the keyboard and mouse. Also, when in a closed position, the door can be locked to secure the IT equipment and therefore protect the material from damage and theft. This model is offered in various sizes from 48’’ to 72’’ wide and a depth that varies from 30’’ to 40’’, depending on the user’s needs. All Focus Flex® desks are built to order and can be customized as desired. With today’s growing needs for flexibility, the Focus Flex® is the ideal solution for any computer lab, training and education environment, lobby, reception, or even your personal workstation. Day to day usage reduces the need for new buildings and increases the return on investment in the facilities. It optimizes floor space, secures the IT equipment, offers a multipurpose platform, and increases ergonomics. How much does this beauty cost, then? Even though it is equipped with a state of the art electric actuator and controller, a high-pressure laminate work surface, a 14 gauge Steel structure, and CPU supports, these desks can be acquired for as low as between 1000$ and 2000$, depending on the configuration. The Focus Flex® also comes with a lifetime warranty, while the actuator system is covered for a period of two years. For more information, feel free to contact us at 1-800-455-8450.

People who are old enough to remember the arrival of personal computers in the workplace and at home, at the end of the 70s, intuitively understand the CPU’s revolutionary character. The productivity increase potential seemed limitless at the time. And with reason. That being said, in order to fully harness the productive power of those technological tools, one needs to understand the importance of ergonomics – by fine-tuning the work environment to the human body’s needs. It’s not only a question of tools but a question of knowing how to use those tools in the most natural way possible, from a physiological standpoint. Experience tells us that a mediocre understanding of ergonomics will unmistakably lead to eye fatigue, migraines, musculoskeletal disorders… and so on, and so forth! It’s not surprising to learn then that, according to experts, improvements made on the CPU intensive workers’ environment leads to an increase in productivity of roughly 10 %. This is why it’s all the more surprising to see that while most of us spend countless hours in front of a computer screen on a daily basis, we don’t necessarily often ask ourselves how our comfort could be improved. There are tons of tools at our disposal. And monitor arms – or LCD/LED screen supports – are more popular than ever and well worth looking into as an entry solution to our day-to-day woes. The monitor supports come in all shapes and sizes, in terms of quality, and in terms of the number of screens supported by the mechanism. On most models, screens can be moved at will; one can change their height, make them pivot, extend their reach… the possibilities are endless, granted one has the necessary budget. Depending on the needs – does the user have 1 or 8 screens, for instance – one can easily go from $100 to $1,500 per set up. Once the choice has been made, here are some tips that should help you increase your productivity and comfort in front of your screen. Position the screen right in front of you, so that the upper edge of the screen is roughly half an inch higher than your gaze. Your screen should be at arm’s length when you are comfortably seated. Try not to set the screen too high or too low; your back should be straight and your eyes looking slightly downwards when you’re looking at the center of your screen. Make the screen pivot so that it stays relatively parallel to you. Ideally, try to minimize the amount or reflections on the screen. Change your position during the day and take short breaks often. Recalibrate the arm if you change position, in order to stay comfortable. Take the time to stretch regularly. In essence, your productivity is not only a function of the tool which you are using but of the use, you make of it. An effective workspace is an ergonomic workspace, adapted to the user. And ergonomics begin with one of the most crucial interfaces of all, the monitor. All you need is a little bit of support, and everything will be clearer!

Headaches and pains can cause huge losses in productivity in most workplace environments. By adhering to some simple ergonomic principles, businesses are likely to solve most if not all of their migraine-related problems. Health experts agree: migraines are responsible for, at the very least, billions of dollars in lost productivity each year, in the United States. The same could arguably be said of the States’ cousin to the North, in relative terms. The phenomenon is known as attending work while being sick or in pain, and in essence doing little to no work, is so prevalent that a keyword was coined specifically for it: presenteeism. Obviously, the cause of this phenomenon can sometimes be attributed to factors that cannot be controller by the employer. That being said, a significant number of headaches are a direct result of the workers’ immediate environment while they’re on the clock. A workstation that is not suited for long uninterrupted hours, seated in front of a computer, would be a good example. This is where ergonomic principles should kick in. These principles are at the heart of what most specialized technical furniture specialists aim to do with their work. By harmonizing the work and the work area – which is, in essence, what ergonomics is all about – these businesses are working towards getting rid of unnecessary eye fatigue, headaches, neck and back pains, tendinitis, etc. Generally speaking, most of the pains caused by an inadequate workplace are due to bad posture. An employee’s work focus should be straight in front of him, with little to no contortion required. Head and neck should be straight when the gaze is locked on the screen. Arms should be bent at an angle of at least 90 degrees with the surface, with the forearms held parallel with the keyboard shelf, when the user is typing on the keyboard. And even then, one should try to get up and move a little at least 2 or 3 times per hour. Most of these problems are easy to correct if you’re using the right tools and if you pay attention to the important details. Ergonomic products, such as monitor supports, keyboard and mouse supports, ergonomic chairs, and adjustable surfaces, are all steps in the right direction when one wishes to minimize the risks of presenteeism. From a more global standpoint, the so-called workplace “climate” plays an integral part in ergonomics. Controlling the luminosity, noise, and temperature of the immediate environment should not be a luxury, but a prerequisite if one aims to get the most out of its workforce, while also lowering the number of aches and pains. The harmony between mind, body, and work may have a cost, but it’s certainly way more affordable than presenteeism, or absenteeism for that matter!