Ergonomics
There are many factors involved in choosing the right ergonomic office equipment for your workplace. Because most people in an office setting sit for long periods of time, the choice of an executive chair is very important.
What are Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the study of how people interact with their environments in the workplace. It focuses on how people use things such as furniture to do their jobs. Its goal is to make sure that people can accomplish their work safely and efficiently. The science of ergonomics continues to evolve as we learn more about the mechanics of the human body and how prolonged and repetitive movements impact health and safety.
Ergonomic Features of Office Seating
An ergonomic office chair is fully adjustable. It will be usable by the vast majority of employees due to its flexibility. Otherwise, employees should undergo an ergonomic assessment to measure things such as height, arm length, leg length, etc., if a non-adjustable ergonomic solution is to be provided.
Fully adjustable means that the chair has adjustable arms, seat height, head support height adjustment, lumbar support, and tilt tension control, and it encourages good posture. Mesh chairs are made of a breathable mesh that provides a cooler seating surface. Ball chairs that promote a good posture is also an option. Ball chairs come in different sizes and can be adjusted slightly by how fully inflated they are. Desk chairs and task chairs should be ergonomically optimized so that both employees and visitors to your office can be seated without fatigue.
In addition to ergonomic seating, standing desks are another ergonomic option. These desks are often fully convertible from a sitting desk to a standing desk at the touch of a button. This allows employees to get up and to stretch while still getting their work done.
What Are the Benefits of Implementing Ergonomic Equipment in the Workplace?
- Costs from workers' compensation claims due to repetitive stress injuries are often significantly reduced.
- Productivity is improved. Poor ergonomics creates fatigued and frustrated employees. Workers with ergonomically optimized environments are naturally more productive.
- Quality also improves. Fatigued workers make mistakes. By reducing fatigue, ergonomics improves performance.
- Good ergonomics improves employee morale. Again, reducing fatigue and providing a comfortable work environment leads to happy workers.
- Providing an ergonomically optimized environment shows that the company cares about its workers and creates a culture of safety in the workplace.
By optimizing the ergonomics of your company's environment, you will create a culture that lets employees know that they care about their health and safety. This culture ultimately improves productivity, safety in the workplace, and general employee satisfaction, all of which positively impact your bottom line.
Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely —called also biotechnology, human engineering, human factors. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Why Invest in Ergonomics?
via Humanscale
For many companies, the implementation of a sound ergonomics program represents a significant investment.
Organizations often require a business case in order to justify such a solution. Toward this end, an effective ergonomics program can offer a positive return on investment (ROI) that is often many times the cost of executing the program.
A growing body of evidence suggests that the presence of an organizational-wide approach to health and wellness has long-term financial implications. The National Business Group on Health recently found that employers that have health and productivity programs are able to reduce disability days between 10% and 35%, improve return to work rates by at least 6% and experience an ROI ranging from 3:1 to 15:1.
Demby outlined case studies that demonstrate positive ROI, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, which implemented a comprehensive ergonomics program and saw a 70% reduction in lost workdays and 89% decline in workers’ compensation costs.
How to Easily Adopt Ergonomics in Your Workspace
You've got all the essential components of the ergonomic workstation - the task light, the monitor arm, the keyboard support, and, of course, the supportive task chair. So now what?
Even the best ergonomic tools need to be used properly to provide their full range of benefits.
Use the following tips and guidelines to maintain healthy work posture and get the most of your ergonomic investment.
The Active Workspace
via Humanscale
As we work longer hours and the landscape of the modern office continues to shift, our health and wellbeing while at work are more important than ever.
Finding work tools that adjust to the user, promote spontaneous movement and counter the negative effects of sedentary behavior is key for wellness at work. The active workspace is a thoughtful new concept that encourages balance, so workers – whether in traditional work set-ups or in home offices – can build more activity into their daily routine for long term health.