Office ergonomics (Ergonomics) refers to the way the workplace is designed and arranged to suit the needs of the people working there. Ergonomics is based on adjusting workplace equipment and workstations in a way that makes them more comfortable and accessible, ideally allowing employees to improve concentration and reduce mental strain. mentally and physically in their work.
Please refer to that information G Office provided below to learn more about office ergonomics, how to set up ergonomic workstations, and why it's important for your employees and your business as a whole. These tips are also applicable to remote workers who are doing their work from home.
What is office ergonomics?
Office ergonomics is the science of designing and arranging workstations and office environments to suit your employees and the work they are doing. Ergonomics is considered a scientific discipline, and professional ergonomists study how people's environments impact their short- and long-term comfort and health.
Ergonomic stressors are at the heart of any ergonomic design: the physical force required to perform a task, posture, and repetition. Good office ergonomics aims to reduce required force, correct awkward postures and limit repetitive strain using tested, research-based policies and designs .
Ergonomists make recommendations for optimal workplace design by reviewing data from many scientific disciplines:
- Mentality: How people perceive workplace activities, communicate with colleagues, learn new skills, form habits, and adapt to changing tasks affects the efficiency of other office equipment together.
- Environmental physics: Levels of light, temperature, noise, and other sensory inputs from the environment are important aspects of ergonomics. Determining the ideal environmental conditions for your company is as important as having the right equipment.
- Biomechanics: Biology, medicine and applied physics help ergonomists understand how to design for people with disabilities and eliminate physical limitations in the office.
- Anatomy: Ergonomists also study proper body size, shape, and anatomical position to help prevent work-related stress and injuries.
Why is ergonomics important in the workplace?
Ergonomics is important because it protects employees' physical health, mental health, and personal well-being. Well-designed ergonomic equipment can prevent overuse, repetitive injuries, and chronic pain problems. These physical problems for employees can be costly to employers, especially if they complain about poor working conditions.
An ergonomic workspace also has the ability to boost employee engagement, productivity and morale. If an employee cannot get comfortable at their desk or has joint pain due to a poorly positioned keyboard or monitor, they will not be able to reach their full potential and give their work the attention they deserve. necessary. Even if an employee is not at risk of injury, the discomfort can wear them down over time. Comfortable office design that suits their needs helps make the workplace a positive environment that employees are excited to visit every day.
Ultimately, an ergonomic office can make your workplace culture more inclusive for people of all abilities and enable employers to provide employees with disabilities with accommodations reasonable to do their job. Ergonomics-minded employers can problem-solve to find ways to help people with limited vision, hearing, strength, size and dexterity succeed.
Other benefits of a scientific workspace include:
- Reduce sick leave by minimizing injuries and fatigue
- Fewer workers compensation claims
- Employees feel valued and appreciated when their workstations are comfortable
- Leads to better job satisfaction
- Elements of a scientific workspace
Modern offices use many of the same types of equipment to complete essential workplace and administrative tasks. Every workplace has its own challenges when it comes to ergonomics, but if you're interested in improving ergonomics at your company, start with the following factors:
Elements of a scientific workspace
Modern offices use many of the same types of equipment to complete essential workplace and administrative tasks. Every workplace has its own challenges when it comes to ergonomics, but if you're interested in improving ergonomics at your company, start with the following factors:
Chair
If your employees spend a lot of time sitting down, their chairs can have a big impact on the overall ergonomics of their workspace. Factors such as cushioning, height and lumbar support affect employee posture, making office chairs directly impact the spine, hips, shoulders and neck.
When looking for office chairs to help you set up your ergonomic desk, consider the following:
- Base: Look for chairs with at least five casters to ensure that the chair is stable and won't tip over.
- Chair height: The chair height can be adjusted to accommodate employees of different heights. Employees may sit so that their thighs are parallel to the ground. Additionally, the seat pan (i.e. the flat surface area of the seat) should ideally have a feature that allows for tilting backward and forward and should have a rounded front edge to reduce pressure on the back of the thighs.
- Backrest: The backrest should be adjusted so that the lumbar part can support the lower back. It can also recline slightly to reduce stress on the lower back.
- Armrests: Armrests are not a mandatory requirement for ergonomic chairs. However, if you choose handrails, make sure they are adjustable and have rounded edges. Inward-swinging armrests can also help support the full length of an employee's forearm.
Encourage employees to adjust their chair height so their feet are flat on the floor. A footrest may be a good option if the employee cannot place their feet flat on the floor. Employees should also adjust the armrest so that their arm rests gently on the armrest with their shoulders relaxed.
Replacing chairs with exercise balls is a popular choice for many modern offices, but it could do more harm than good. In fact, one study found that exercise balls can actually increase discomfort levels. For an ergonomic workspace, it's best to use traditional office chairs that meet all of the above requirements.
Screen setup
Screen position, keyboard design and mouse placement are key to creating comfort for employees working on computers. Screens and accessories (e.g., phones, staplers) should be comfortably close so employees can easily reach the tools they use most while seated. Additionally, employees can avoid eye strain from being too close to the screen or looking from an uncomfortable angle.
To help create an ergonomic workstation, instruct employees to tilt the screen back slightly so the bottom of the screen is closer to them than the top, and adjust the height of the screen so that the top of the screen is level. or below eye level. The screen should also be approximately one arm's length (about 20 inches) away from the employee. Anti-glare screens reduce light reflected into your eyes, and anti-blue light glasses can also help reduce eye strain.
For laptops, a laptop stand or tray can help employees achieve the appropriate screen height.
Set up a scientific desk
Desk height and design also have an impact on how employees position themselves over long periods of time. Cramped desks with limited legroom or poor footrest can cause employees to sit in awkward positions and become disorganized and stressed. A well-designed, ergonomic desk design allows employees to move naturally and sit in an upright position that reduces stress on their bodies.
Make sure there is enough room for employees' knees, thighs, and feet. Consider investing in an adjustable or standing desk so employees can choose the desk height that's right for them. If the desk doesn't have rounded edges, try giving employees a soft foam or gel pillow to reduce pressure on their wrists.
Keyboard and mouse
Ergonomic workspaces include the mouse on the same surface as the keyboard and are easily accessible when sitting down. Encourage employees to sit at their workstations with the “gh” keys on the keyboard aligned with their belly button. The right keyboard and mouse can help prevent injuries like tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Surroundings
Assess the sights, lights, sounds, and smells your employees encounter in the workplace. Work environments are more flexible than other ergonomic factors, so talk to your employees about what they need to work effectively. Some employees may excel with soft music playing in the background and soothing air fresheners, while others may need silence and scent-free areas due to fragrance sensitivities. Noise-canceling headphones, essential oil diffusers, and indoor plants are all good ways to improve your office atmosphere and help employees relax.
How to improve office ergonomics
Follow these steps to start improving ergonomics in your office:
1. Identify the problems
Before you start making changes to office ergonomics, take time to observe your employees and note the areas of the workplace that cause the most discomfort. Interview your employees and ask for feedback, then spend time in different workspaces yourself to get an inside look at productivity barriers. Conduct a risk assessment and research previous workplace injuries to see which risk factors are most important to your business.
2. Encourage movement
Static positions where the body does not move lead to fatigue. Everyone needs to be able to change positions occasionally to stay comfortable and focused. Encouraging regular exercise breaks allows your employees to reduce persistent fatigue. Some ways you can promote the movement are:
- Create spacious workstations.
- Provide adjustable chairs and tables.
- Centralize shared devices.
- Encourage employees to perform desk exercises (e.g., stretching, leg raises, chair dips).
3. Invest in ergonomic equipment
Buy ergonomic keyboards, wrist rests, footrests, lumbar pillows, and other tools that make it easier for employees to complete the work they do best. Consider soundproofing to reduce distractions and natural lighting to liven up indoor spaces.
Frequently asked questions about office roofs
How does ergonomics affect workers?
Workplace ergonomics influence workers' physical comfort, which can then impact their attitude, motivation, and focus.
What is an ergonomically correct workplace?
An ergonomically correct workplace places employee health and comfort as a top priority but it can vary from workplace to workplace. For example, in a traditional office, the focus will be on comfortable chairs and desks while in a warehouse, the focus will be on well-lit, slip-free walkways or minimizing noise from machinery.
What are some examples of proper ergonomics?
Examples of proper office ergonomics include:
- The screen is angled at least 20 inches away from the employee
- The chair has lumbar support
- Insulated walls to reduce noise
