Ergonomic products help worker productivity by allowing a person to perform with reduced physical discomfort and fatigue. This in turn lowers mental fatigue and stress.
Benefits of Ergonomic Workspaces
The science of designing workspaces and products that allow workers to focus on their jobs, and not their pain, is called ergonomics. Back, neck, shoulder, wrist and hand injuries are frequent problems with office workers who use computers and phones in their daily activities and communications. By placing equipment properly and using products to support their posture and musculoskeletal system, workers can adept their environment to suit their unique needs and genetics.
Designing Ergonomic Workspaces
An ergonomic chair is one of the most important pieces of equipment for allowing a worker to interface comfortably with the tools of their trade. A chair should be adjustable so that you can bend your knees at a right angle when your feet are placed flatly on the floor. It is best to sit in an upright position, with the spine extending straight up and down. A proper chair will help support this, or alternatively, accommodate those with back injuries or other spinal concerns who may not be able to sit upright.
Learning to sit with proper posture, with shoulders back, chest opened, head up and level, allows for greater circulation. For many people, having a chair that allows them to sit properly is enough to relieve many back, neck, and shoulder problems. Proper posture can reduce muscle tension and aches. It also makes it easier for the heart to circulate blood and oxygen to the brain. This decreases headaches, allows a worker to perform with less fatigue, and helps to alleviate stress.
Ergonomic Products
Other ergonomic products are used to prevent and reduce the pain of repetitive stress-induced injuries. Monitor lifts, wrist pads, armrests, mouse pads, ergonomic mice, keyboards, and keyboard trays allow a worker to personalize the comfort and placement of their arm position at their workspace. Footrests and anti-fatigue mats position the lower limbs, which can have a drastic affect on lower back comfort.
Ergonomic products are specialized for use in particular industries, such as products for cashiers in retail settings, or safety footwear and impact reduction footwear for warehouse and hospital workers. A quick Web search will show a host of companies selling ergonomic products, with most catering to office environments. Kitchen products, such as knives with handles that mold to the grip, are also popular.
Ergonomic Guidelines for Employers
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the government agency most responsible for promoting ergonomic guidelines with employers. OSHA offers voluntary guidelines to assist employers in noticing and controlling hazards in specific industries, such as poultry processing, nursing homes, and retail grocers.
Employers have found that provided proper ergonomic equipment to employees is not only a good way to increase productivity and creativity, but it is also cost efficient. The cost of providing a proper chair and workspace is minimal when compared to the costs of lumbar surgery. By providing proper work equipment, employers save on health care premiums and retain employees.
Ergonomic Products: How They Can Help
