To put it simply, ergonomics is about studying how people work in relation to their respective roles. But ergonomics is far more encompassing than most people realize at first glance. To us, ergonomics is 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 and require 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 a UC Davis article, the total economic cost of work-related injuries and illnesses is estimated to be $250 billion per year. The most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work days? Lower back pain.
Ergonomics strives to foster new workplace practices for businesses who understand the growing need to create safe, comfortable, and productive workspaces for their employees 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 states that “the US’s 65-and-older population is projected to reach 83.7 million in the year 2050.” 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 suffering from 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 to learn how to make adjustments to their workstation and practice safe work habits. First, we evaluate and can make on-the-spot adjustments to custom fit 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. Learn more about how we help businesses.
The end result is a workplace with fewer health problems, happier employees, and more productivity!
Looking for more information? Contact us today!
