Importance of ergonomics

Ergonomics is an important part of research in the product development process. Its purpose is to increase the safety,
comfort and performance of a product or an environment, such as an office.
Ergonomics uses anthropometrical data to determine the optimum size, shape and form of a product, and make it easier
for people to use.
Ergonomists can help you to identify which user characteristics you should take into account during your design process.
This is important when you consider how much individuals vary in terms of:
body size, body shape, strength, mobility, sensory sensitivity, mental ability, experience, training, culture, emotions
Categories of ergonomics
There are three broad areas of ergonomics:
Physical ergonomics looks at how human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics
relate to physical activity. This includes:
working postures
manual handling
repetitive movements
musculoskeletal disorders
workplace layout and environment
Psychological ergonomics studies mental processes (eg perception, cognition, memory, reasoning and emotion) and
how people interact with products, systems and environments. This includes:
mental workload
decision-making
human-computer interaction
human reliability
attitudes
stress
motivation
pleasure
cultural differences
Organisational ergonomics is about optimizing the organizational structures, policies and processes of socio-technical
systems. This includes:
communication
work design
staff resource management
working time patterns
co-operative work
quality management
organisational culture
10 Impressive Benefits of Ergonomics in the Workplace
1. Health Benefits
People who work in ergonomic workplaces benefit from improved health. The effect of ergonomics starts within the
cardiovascular system and spreads to other areas. Your heart will be healthier than it would be if you worked in a
standard environment. Ergonomics can improve the health of your employees by reducing work-related injuries, most
often caused by strains and over-exertion.
Ergonomic workstations can help you and your employees feel less tension in your body because you’ll adjust the
workstations to fit your height. A neutral position will prevent you from straining your eyes, neck, and back. Your legs
can also benefit from better blood flow.
2. Improved Productivity
Ergonomic workplaces are efficient workplaces. Ergonomic workstations combine different ideas to improve workers’
ability to complete their tasks—from organizing items and supplies to integrating computer equipment and monitors. An
optimized workstation allows a worker to focus on their task and not be distracted by discomfort or a lack of
organization. The more focused your employees are, the higher the level of productivity they can have.
3. Improved Mental Clarity
Reducing physical discomfort and improving your posture can improve your mental clarity and allow you to do your
work more successfully. Ergonomics can also help you reduce stress and improve your concentration.
When you’re feeling comfortable, you can focus better on your work. Ergonomics helps decrease pain, strengthen
muscles, and increase blood flow. Combined, this can improve mental insight.
The improved moods and focus will allow you and your employees to be more productive and engaged in your work.
4. Decreased Pains
Ergonomics focuses on optimizing the design of the workplace, tools, and equipment to reduce strain on employees,
minimize fatigue, and improve overall comfort and safety.
Ergonomics can also help improve posture and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, such as back pain, by
providing ergonomically designed chairs, desks, other furniture, and adjustable workstations. By creating an
ergonomically designed work environment, employers can help to ensure that employees remain healthy and
productive.
5. Eliminates Hazards
Part of creating a more productive work environment is eliminating the daily hazards that can hurt your employees.
Ergonomics contributes to identifying and eliminating hazards in the workplace by creating work environments that are
tailored to fit the user.
6. Quality Of Work Improves
The benefits of ergonomic workspaces range from employee well-being to the quality of work. Aches, pains, fatigue, and
other problems can affect a worker. Ergonomics can eliminate those issues and help workers work.
Additionally, ergonomics can help ensure that employees are using the most effective tools and equipment to do their
job and that they can reach and use the tools and equipment safely. A straightforward example is the way how proper
lighting can reduce the number of mistakes that happen in a work process just by ensuring the worker can adequately
see all details.
7. Reduce Absenteeism
Ergonomics can improve absenteeism by helping prevent workplace injuries that lead to missed work days and creating
a more comfortable working environment for employees.
8. Focus on Safety
Ergonomics will create a safer work environment and increase awareness. You’ll remove hazards, improve workstations
for less discomfort, and teach your employees to update their spaces with safety in mind.
9. Increased Employee Satisfaction
The more you lean into the ergonomics culture, the more positive your work environment will be.
Ergonomics in the workplace can help improve employee satisfaction by reducing physical and mental stress. As a result,
your employees will enjoy coming to work more than they did before, affecting those around them.
10. Lower Insurance Costs
Ergonomics in the workplace can help lower your insurance costs by reducing the risk of employees suffering from work-
related injuries and illnesses. By reducing the number of Workers’ Compensation claims, you could be able to save on
insurance premiums.
Ergonomic improvements such as adjustable workstations, ergonomic chairs and keyboards, and improved lighting can
help reduce employee fatigue and improve your overall working environment. In such an ergonomic work environment,
your employees are less likely to become injured on the job.
In addition, implementing ergonomic policies and programs can provide you with greater legal protection in case of a
worker injury.
Time to Implement an Ergonomics Program
Now that you know these essential benefits of ergonomics in the workplace, it’s time to start implementing the changes:
A good start would be to plan your workstations. Make sure to talk to employees to get their opinions and combine
them with your thoughts.
Analyze your situation, the layout, and your needs before making changes. With proper planning, you will achieve the
best possible workplace. You should read more tips about helping set up ergonomic workstations for your business.
More Ideas
According to the National Institutes of Health, even small adjustments can improve comfort and productivity. They
recommend the following for adults:
Eye exercises
Back exercises
Warming up first
Proper rest
For industrial environments, we recommend paying particular attention to these areas:
Provide adjustable workstations where possible
Ensure adequate lighting
Schedule regular training sessions
Encourage frequent stretches and breaks
What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is “an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and
things interact most efficiently and safely;” defined by Merriam-Webster.
Types of Ergonomics
Before buying hundreds of new chairs, it’s important to develop an understanding of how ergonomics affects people.
There are three types of ergonomics: physical, cognitive, and organizational. Each of these differently affects how people
interact with their environment, contributing to how effective they are in their work.
Physical Ergonomics
Physical ergonomics is the most commonly known form of ergonomics, and for good reason. It deals with the physical
load on the human body when performing activities. Understanding physical ergonomics and how to integrate it heavily
influences on-site safety.
Cognitive Ergonomics
Cognitive ergonomics is the method of designing and arranging information and data to create a light cognitive load.
Perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response all affect how someone interacts with and performs their work. A
higher cognitive workload causes more stress on the worker.
Organizational Ergonomics
Organizational ergonomics combines the knowledge gained from other areas of the factory, like physical and cognitive
ergonomics, to optimize safety and efficiency across the entire organization.
Business Wire explained that “this entails finding ways to optimize teamwork, improve communications, increase output
and bolster the overall quality of a product. This can show itself in many ways; standardized training, unified data
storage through the cloud, or lean manufacturing techniques.

Top 9 Types of Ergonomics

List of types of ergonomics
1- Physical Ergonomics
Physics is the most common type of ergonomics. This one is in charge of studying the human anatomy and the
anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical traits in relation to the development of physical activities. This
ergonomics studies the interaction between work teams and their users.
She is responsible for the design of products to treat or prevent physical conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome,
deviations in the spine, among others. For example, you can create more comfortable chairs, desks and computer
keyboards.
It should be noted that the creation of products is not the only task of physical ergonomics. It also studies elements
concerning the correct position of the human body when performing an activity.
2- Ergonomics of specific needs
Ergonomics of specific needs is a subtype of physical ergonomics that is responsible for the design of alternatives for
people who have some type of determined need.
For example, this type of ergonomics studies and encourages the creation of spaces in which a child can develop
naturally, without having to be helped by adults.
3 Cognitive Ergonomics
It refers to the study of mental processes and how they affect the relationship between individuals and other elements
of the system.
This discipline studies processes such as perception, memory , reasoning, speed of response to external stimuli, among
others.
It also studies decision making, work-generated stress, mental pressure, mental skills, and so on.
4- Organizational Ergonomics
Organizational ergonomics is responsible for optimizing systems concerning the policies of an institution.
Some of the aspects that are part of the organizational ergonomics are the improvements in the communication system,
the promotion of teamwork , among others.
5- Environmental Ergonomics
Environmental ergonomics is oriented toward the study of human relations with physical space. In this sense, they take
into account conditions such as climate, temperature, pressure, light level, sounds, among others.
This type of ergonomics determines which spatial configuration is most suitable for the development of a mild
environment.
6- Corrective Ergonomics
Corrective ergonomics is the branch of discipline that is responsible for evaluating the spaces in which human beings
develop.
It verifies that measures are taken to protect the physical and mental integrity of individuals working in such
environments.
In case of ergonomic problems, corrective ergonomics offers suggestions to improve the operation of the system.
7- Preventive ergonomics
Preventive ergonomics aims to create awareness among workers about safety in workplaces and the importance of
physical and mental health.
It also highlights the importance of working in comfortable spaces that reduce muscle fatigue as much as possible.
8- Micro-ergonomics
Micro-ergonomics has as main objective the creation of products that are characterized by being easy to use and to
integrate in the environment in which the individuals develop.
In addition, the designs developed by micro-ergonomics are functional, reliable, comfortable and safe
9- Macro-ergonomics
The macro-ergonomics is based on the design of programming and software that facilitate the work of the users.
He favors a system in which human and technological factors coexist in order to maximize the functioning of the
institution.
What is Ergonomics in the Hospitality Industry?
The hospitality industry involves submitting to the client’s desires. That is in terms of entertainment and satisfaction.
Therefore, various activities are done daily, including reaching, lifting, and repetitive movements.
How are Ergonomics Related to the Hospitality Industry?
The goal is to prevent clients from worrying and stressing over nothing and to ensure clients always strive to be happy
and satisfied. With all the hard work behind the scenes, a lack of ergonomics can lead to a high number of injured and
sick employees.
Why is Ergonomics Important to Facility Planning in the Hospitality Industry?
Since ergonomics works as a preventive measure, it’s considered a priority in all setups in the hospitality industry. The
facility planning should incorporate strategies that create a user-friendly and safe workspace. Businesses in this industry
require an environment that can accommodate future instability like diseases, disability, injury, and aging.
Ergonomics helps facilities planning with reliable guidance on;
Adjustment, size, and padding of furniture
Positioning, colors, and signage
Handling
Storage
Air climate
Cleanability, noise, warmth, and friction of floors
Space handling, security, and crowd movement
The facility planners apply the information to furniture, lighting, slip and fall prevention, disabled access, and glazing.
Furniture
A workplace with adequate seating and furniture promotes the well-being, performance, comfort, productivity, and
health of the workforce.
Lighting
Good lighting in the hospitality industry applies to sunlight management, relative curtaining, reflection management,
excellent color selection, and effective glare.
Slips and Falls Prevention