Nowadays, it is important to make sure we provide our employees with a comfortable workplace, as this can have a serious impact on both their health and their productivity. Therefore, finding ways to improve office ergonomics in our company is an essential part of our job. We need to become familiar with office ergonomics and be aware of the injuries that can result from this. Also, we need to learn how to identify and overcome our challenges, taking action and setting up a comfortable and healthy workplace. Lastly, getting the right equipment will help us improve office ergonomics in a simple and effective way.
Become Familiar with Office Ergonomics
As managers, the very first step we need to take is to become familiar with office ergonomics, what it means, and what it represents to our employees’ health. This refers to the continuous design and improvement of the workspace in order to fit the skills and abilities of our staff, enhancing their performance. Therefore, the goal of office ergonomics is to provide our team with a positive and comfortable working environment, including the layout, the design, and the equipment. This way, our employees will be able to lead a healthy and productive life.
Be Aware of Ergonomic Injuries
We need to be aware that ergonomic injuries do not happen overnight, and it can take years before the first signs and symptoms appear. These injuries consist in Musculoskeletal disorders, also known as MSDs, which are soft-tissue injuries of muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, and spinal discs. Also, these injuries are the result of long exposure to different risk factors, including awkward postures, high force, and long frequency.
Identify and Overcome Your Challenges
Once we have become aware of the goals and consequences of office ergonomics, it is time to identify our challenges and overcome them. First of all, we need to take the time to observe our office environment and identify any potential issues. Then, we should conduct a formal ergonomic risk assessment so that we can document any sources of risk. After the assessment, we should work on finding potential solutions to each problem and develop an action plan.
Take Action and Set up Your Workplace
The best way to improve office ergonomics in our company is by taking action and setting up a workspace that is comfortable, healthy, and that enhances performance. There are many certified professional ergonomists we can contact if we need to make substantial changes to our workplace. Also, we can base any minimal changes needed to the four key elements of ergonomics, which are: eyes to the source, hands to input devices, feet on the floor, and body on the chair.
Find the Right Equipment
As part of our strategies to improve office ergonomics, we should consider getting the right equipment for our employees. Nowadays, furniture and devices are designed with ergonomics in mind, making it much easier for us to find the proper workstation items. These items include adjustable chairs and workstations, keyboards, monitors, writ rests, headsets, footrests, lighting, and input devices.
