People spend 8, 10, or even 12 hours in the place where they are employed. That also applies to home-based workers; they spend even longer hours in their home offices and workstations.

Such a long time in a day, don’t you think? But boredom, exhaustion, and monotony aren’t the only problems. If your workplace isn’t “in tune” with human physiology and psychology (hey, your workers are human beings), your business operations will be negatively affected.

That’s why it’s important to have good ergonomics in the workplace. That is, all the elements in the workplace should allow your team to work comfortably, safely, and efficiently. At the end of the day, the business benefits from faster production, more efficient operations, lesser injuries, faster turnarounds, happier workers, and—subsequently— better end results.

 

Let’s now talk about how to improve the ergonomics in your workplace.

 

Importance of Ergonomics in the Workplace

Unless you’re unemployed or not eligible to work, you spend long hours in your workplace each workday. Even if you’re working at home, you tend to sit in front of your computer all day doing your tasks. These long hours can take a toll on you if your workplace does not work with your body.

This is where ergonomics comes in. Ergonomics, sometimes referred to as human factors, is about utilizing physiological and physical principles to the design and engineering of products, processes, and systems.

Thus, good ergonomics in the workplace can

* reduce human error when doing tasks

* enhance safety

* increase productivity and speed

* boost efficiency

* increase comfort

 

Conversely, a workplace whose design and facilities do synchronize with the actions of the human body results in the following ergonomic hazards:

* causes musculoskeletal issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back strain, and repetitive strain injury

* causes discomfort and premature exhaustion

* lessens speed, productivity, and efficiency

* makes the workplace less safe for everyone

For these reasons, it’s easy to understand why ergonomics is important in the workplace.

 

6 Simple Steps

Having a safe, productive, and healthy workplace using the application of ergonomics does take some investment or, in some cases, a modification of operational processes. But don’t fret. It’s actually easier—and cheaper—than it sounds. Here are some straightforward and practical tips for applying ergonomics in the workplace.

Use an ergonomic keyboard in each workstation.

A lot of a worker’s day is spent in front of his computer. Since he’ll be using his keyboard for long hours, your company might want to invest in an ergonomic keyboard for each workstation. Such a peripheral properly positions the hand, wrist, and forearm to be aligned in a natural and rested position. As a result, the worker will be typing longer, faster, but with less strain.

We highly recommend the Cloud 9 Ergonomic Split Mechanical Keyboard. The ergonomic mechanical keyboard actually splits in half. The worker can position each half so that he can type with his hands and shoulders in their natural width. The keyboard can be negatively aligned (i.e., the front end can be positioned, pointing slightly downwards), so his hands and wrists are always straight and supported.

Encourage correct sitting posture.

Workers should exercise proper posture at all times; this is a critical key to achieving good ergonomics. A worker should not slouch when sitting as this puts undue pressure on the back. Instead, he should sit straight with his hips towards the back of the chair for support. His shoulders should be relaxed, his feet flat on the floor, and his elbows level with the keyboard.

A worker can unconsciously slip back into poor posture. Fortunately, this can be remedied by putting a fully adjustable ergonomic office chair with lumbar support in each workstation. The elements of the chair can be adjusted, so it perfectly fits—and supports—the person sitting on it.

Make each workstation efficient.

Put yourself in your worker’s workstation and attempt to complete a task. Have you unearthed any issues? Is the workstation design and arrangement making your work easier or more difficult?

The workstation should enable you to work efficiently. It should be well lighted, the temperature should be comfortable, and tools and equipment should be in easy reach. The worker should have sufficient space to move around, but everything he needs should be at arms’ length. Finally, the worker should be able to adjust the monitor, keyboard, peripherals, and other workstation elements to customize the workstation to his preference; this ensures that he’s comfortable as he works throughout the shift.

Allow your workers short breaks.

No matter how ergonomic the workplace is, exhaustion and strain will undoubtedly creep to the worker; he’s a human being, after all. Allowing him to have short breaks during his shift (excluding hour-long lunch or dinner breaks) significantly reduces fatigue and re-energizes him.

Let him take 3 to 5-minute breaks to stand up, stretch, and walk around the room. Allow him to take a 1-minute break after every 30 to 40 minutes to take his eyes off the screen. Let him go out for a minute or two to have a breath of fresh air.

Check your flooring.

Bad floors can definitely make standing or walking on them uncomfortable or painful. Fortunately, there are now companies that manufacture ergonomic floors. Using ergonomic research and technology, these “ergo floors” flex as people step on them. This provides far better contouring and support than hard floors made of ceramic tile and polished concrete.

If installing ergonomic floors isn’t in your budget, make sure your existing floors are level and in good condition. If you have a carpeted office, schedule a regular carpet maintenance session to ensure the carpet remains clean, soft, and comfortable to walk on.

Let natural light in.

Hold on. What does natural light have to do with ergonomics? A lot, actually. The human body is physiologically and psychologically attuned to natural sunlight. That’s why it feels constricting and exhausting if you stay in a room with no windows.

Open your office shades and let the sunshine in. If you have the budget, install large windows to maximize natural light.

 

Conclusion

Having an ergonomic workplace stabilizes and improves all aspects of the internal operations of the workplace. Follow the tips mentioned above, and make your place of business actually work in sync with you and your team.