Workplace Ergonomics: Benefits

And Ways To Improve It

We can define workplace ergonomics as the study of designing a workplace in

a way to make work more efficient and minimize strain, injuries, and
accidents.

For example, sitting for long hours at a stretch stresses the body and can cause
musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) and other problems. These problems can
further cause low productivity, increased absenteeism, increased health care
costs, etc.

Research has shown that effective and successful workplace ergonomics

programs reduce the number of MSDs by 61% and staff turnover by 87%.

As such, adopting steps to minimize these risks and practicing good

ergonomics has become quite crucial for employers around the world.
Moreover, a properly designed workplace reduces fatigue and increases
performance and productivity among employees as well.

Benefits of Workplace Ergonomics

Ergonomics can have a significant impact on a company and benefit it in many

ways.

Here are a few benefits of workplace ergonomics for organizations -

 Increases productivity
 Increases morale
 Improves employee health
 Reduces absenteeism
 Improves workplace safety
 Increases savings
 Reduces costs
 Reduces employee turnover
 Improves product quality

Ways to improve Workplace Ergonomics

Proper workplace ergonomics assessment and adjustment helps identify and

reduce risk factors. A great ergonomics program is a continuously improving
process that is proactive and prioritized.

So, how do you go about improving workplace ergonomics?

Little things like correctly positioning chairs, desks, and computers can help
make a workplace ergonomically correct and make a big difference for an
organization.

If you are an employee, here are some tips that can help you improve
ergonomics at work -

Proper posture.

Maintaining good posture is an integral part of being healthy and fi t. It helps

prevent back problems and also creates a good impression of a person.
As you spend most of your time at work sitting down, you must maintain
proper or neutral posture and avoid awkward positions.

Neutral posture can is a position in which a person feels comfortable, and

which places minimum stress on the joints and muscles. Whereas, a position
which puts pressure on the muscles and joints of a person can is an awkward
posture.

Look after your eyes.

Staring at computer screens for long hours is unavoidable for corporate

employees and causes eye strain, affecting many people around the world. Eye
strain can cause stress, headaches, and hamper productivity.

Position your computer monitor at an appropriate distance from you. Make

sure it’s at eye level when you’re sitting in your chair. Moreover, if there is a
light or a window behind, adjust the position of the monitor so that it reduces
glare.

Also, if your monitor has a low resolution or has a damaged display, replace it
as soon as possible.

Take breaks.

Even if your workplace is designed ergonomically, stress at work can cause

severe problems to your body and mind. Workplace stress can cause strain on
your muscles and cause them to tense up.

Take breaks to relax from work and prevent the build-up of stress. Even a
short 5-minute break can help reduce fatigue and prevent musculoskeletal
disorders. Moreover, taking breaks combats boredom and increases motivation
and productivity.

Make things comfortable and avoid harmful practices.

Keep things like phones, printers, keyboards, etc. close to your body so that
you can effortlessly reach them. Having to excessively reach out to access
items can put unnecessary strain on your muscles.

Also, avoid corrupt practices such as slouching and jamming your phone i n
between your ear and neck. Such practices put stress on the spine and can
cause serious problems.

Stretch often.

As already mentioned before, sitting for long hours is very bad for the body. It
causes fatigue and leads to various health problems, such as obesity and
diabetes.

Make it a point to get up from your chair and stretch frequently. Stretching
your muscles can improve muscle strength, balance, and also coordination.
Also, stretching re-energizes the body and increases blood circulation,
reducing the risk of injury.

Now, here are some ways to improve ergonomics if you are an employer -

Invest in good chairs.

Make sure that all the furniture in your workplace is ergonomic, especially the
chairs. Buy adjustable chairs that have settings for different postures. A good
chair should provide lumbar support, arm-rests, foot-rests, and should have
adjustable height settings.

Providing good chairs will make sure that your employees maintain proper
posture while sitting, and it will also prevent back problems, etc.

Provide proper lighting.

Your workplace should be a well-lit one where there is adequate lighting, be it

natural or artificial. Insufficient or excessive light can seriously affect an
employee’s performance and productivity. It can cause eye fatigue, headaches,
and even cause workplace injuries and accidents.

Make sure your workplace has adequate lighting in all areas. Check if all the
lights are working correctly. You can also provide table lamps for people who
work on desks.

Layout and placement.

Office ergonomics is about the interaction of your work environment with

your body. As such, the design and layout of your workplace must be well
planned.

Ensure that all the equipment in your workplace is properly placed according
to your employees’ convenience. Items that are used regularly should be
placed in a way that minimizes strain and effort to access them.

Also, plan the layout in such a way so that employees don’t get in each other’s
way, and the working space is not cramped up.
Ensure safety by overcoming ergonomic problems.

Safety and prevention of workplace hazards are the main objectives of

ergonomics. After all, a safe workplace is a happy and productive workplace.

Identify the ergonomic issues affecting each employee’s health and safety and
accordingly address them. Ask your employees if they are having any
problems and if they think something needs to be changed.

Eliminating existing ergonomic issues is the first step in optimizing your

workplace.

Create employee awareness.

Training is an essential element of a successful workplace ergonomics

implementation program. The implementation of proper ergonomics at work
can be a lot easier if employees are trained and educated on the same.

Conducting training sessions for your employees can increase their knowledge
of ergonomics and help them identify potential problems in your workplace.
They will also be able to minimize workplace accidents and injuries, creating a
safer work environment.

Workplace ergonomics isn’t as complicated as it may seem. Taking the steps

mentioned above can significantly help you to improve ergonomics at your
workplace. The most important thing is to be able to recognize potential
ergonomic risk factors and accordingly find solutions to eliminate them.