Command-station chairs affect safety and alertness

A command-station chair must support its occupant through shock and allow access to the controls and a quick exit in an emergency. Ordinary wheeled chairs can roll dangerously when a ship heels, so the seat needs to stay fixed in position, although it may swivel. Some stations are occupied around the clock whenever the ship is at sea. An uncomfortable chair or badly arranged working position makes each watch harder and can reduce the operator's alertness. Crew involvement helps test these practical requirements before the layout becomes permanent.