Workplace Ergonomics – Top Tips

by Spectrum Wellness

To understand workplace ergonomics, one must first understand the system of ergonomics. Ergonomics is the science of designing the objects and equipment people use in their everyday lives. When you bring that science into the workplace it becomes workplace ergonomics, which utilises those objects and equipment to maximise employee efficiency, performance and overall safety.

The Sides of Workplace Ergonomics
Adapting working environments to suit employee needs is key for a healthier and more productive workforce. But where to get started? There is much more to workplace ergonomics than meets the eye. In fact, ergonomics can be broken up into 3 distinct parts:

• Physical Ergonomics- this deals with the human body and the physical activities it performs, like sitting and typing.
• Cognitive Ergonomics- this deals with the mental processes in the workplace, like situational awareness and decision making.
• Organisational Ergonomics- this deals with the optimisation of sociotechnical systems and chosen forms of communication in the workplace.

Lack of attention to improving one, two, or even all three of the sides can lead to an ineffective strategy on improving the productive output of your organisation. Effective workplace ergonomics strategies need to encompass all three of the different sides of ergonomics in order to produce the best return.

Top Tips
It’s important to keep the physical, cognitive and organisational sides of ergonomics in mind when attempting to improve the current state of efficient and productive output in your organisation. Here we outline 3 of our top tips when it comes to executing great workplace ergonomics in your company, each tip correlates with one area of the various sides of ergonomics.

1 Supportive Chairs

Providing employees with a supportive and comfortable office chair is key to maintaining a thriving workforce, as well as fulfilling the physical side of ergonomics. Employees who have an office chair that leaves them feeling unsupported can lead to several consequences for your organisation, like:

• Workplace injury, such as neck or back muscle strain
• Decreased levels of productivity
• Higher healthcare costs for your company
• Increased levels of absenteeism

2 Ample Lighting

Creating an office space that provides ample lighting to employees is key to keeping workers focused and alert. A dimmed or dark office space can leave employees feeling tired and unmotivated, which can affect the cognitive side of ergonomics. Low levels of light can have serious repercussions for your company, such as:

• Unmotivated employees
• Decreased concentration
• Lower levels of productivity
• Increased levels of stress

3 Consistent Breaks

Lastly, it is vital that employees take regular breaks in order to work at their most productive capacity. Taking regular breaks allow employees to be more creative and refreshes their mind on their tasks at hand. In addition, consistent breaks satisfies the organisational side of ergonomics, which combined with the other two tips would help maximise the performance of your company. Not permitting employees to partake in regular breaks can lead to the following ramifications:

• Higher levels of absenteeism
• Higher healthcare costs due to sedentary behaviour
• Increased levels of workplace injury
• Decreased levels of performance and attention

If your company interested in carrying out ergonomic assessments onsite why not visit this page to learn more information.