What is Ergonomics?
To put it simply, ergonomics is about studying how people work in relation to their respective roles, and fitting the workplace to the worker. But ergonomics is far more encompassing than most people realize at first glance. Ergonomics is also about making our roles in the workplace safer which minimizes the risk of injury or harm. As technology continues to evolve, so too do our workspaces, and with that comes new opportunities for people to become injured.
Ergonomics is also about finding the right balance between comfort and performance. A lot of us do our work with computers, which often requires sitting down for long periods of time. As such, computer desks and chairs are constantly the focus of ergonomic design. If these products are poorly designed or incorrectly optimized for human use, then the person using them could suffer from unnecessary problems like fatigue, stress, or an injury.
Why is ergonomics so important?
According to the National Safety Council, the total economic cost of work-related injuries for 2021 was $167 billion...just for one year! The most common cause of lost or restricted work time? Musculoskeletal disorders.
Ergonomics strives to prevent musculoskeletal disorders by fostering new workplace practices for businesses who understand the growing need to create safe, comfortable, and productive workspaces for their employees. A good ergonomics program helps by adapting human abilities and functions into the design of a work area while also taking into consideration their body size, strength, skills, speed, sensory abilities, as well as attitudes.
In addition, research from Census.gov projects that, by 2060, nearly 1 in 4 Americans will be over 65. With this information, equipment, services, and systems will need to be designed to accommodate the increasing needs of such a large segment of the population by applying ergonomics to public transport, building facilities, and living spaces. However, more information will need to be collected to determine the future outcome of people dealing with work-related physical injuries as a result of poor ergonomic implementation.
Where Healthworks Ergo comes in:
Our goal is not to come in and tell you that your employees will need thousands of dollars of new equipment and then leave. What we’re focused on is educating individuals on how to make adjustments to their workstation and practice safe work habits. First, we evaluate and make on-the-spot adjustments to customize the fit of the workstation to the person. Then, we identify additional risk factors that may be present in the workplace, coach your team on healthy habits, and make effective recommendations.
The end result is a workplace with fewer health problems, happier employees, and more productivity!
Looking for more information? Contact us today!