Workplace Ergonomics: Working For A Better You

To meet the continuous demands of work, many office workers, whether working at home or in a regular office set-up, necessitate longer hours in the work station.

Extended hours of work also means physical strain on your back, neck[neck pain], shoulders, arms and feet due to prolonged seating and working.

Applying the workplace ergonomics concept in your office is synonymous to better health and productivity.

Main objective of workplace ergonomics

Employees’ capabilities to perform their work vary in a number of factors like: age, gender and stature among others.

Good workplace ergonomics makes the workplace suitable to the employees, meeting their specific needs depending on their job description and their respective tasks as well as to their physical health to minimize awkward postures which lead to physical strain or injuries and to correspondingly ensure the workers’ well being and increase productivity.

Complimenting the workplace ergonomics

Aside from the ergonomically correct furniture for your office or work station, workplace ergonomics promotes a good attitude to keep workers healthy to avoid or lessen Repetitive Strain Injuries, which if not attended to can lead to further health complications. Here are few good workplace ergonomics attitudes:

• Keep your feet comfortably on the ground. Utilize your adjustable ergonomic chair and footrest for this purpose.
• Have a sufficient space under your desk for your knees and legs, in order for you to change your leg posture and stretch them once in a while, while working.
• Prevent placing boxes or other items under your desk which will limit your legroom.
• Avoid sitting cross legged, this can affect your pelvis.
• Do change postures all throughout the day to prevent muscle fatigue and discomfort.
• Utilize your chair to support your body, especially your back. Adjust your chair to find your comfortable position to particularly help your lower back.
• You should be conscious to keep your head above your shoulders not forward of your shoulder, to avoid tightening of your back and neck.
• Stay away from holding the phone between your ear and shoulder, this can lead to further neck and shoulder problems.
• Fine-tune your chair with the keyboards to keep your shoulder relaxed and your elbows in a comfortable angle.
• Your keyboard slope should allow your wrists to be in a straight position.
• Take time to give your eyes a break from your computer screens to avoid irritation and eye stress. It is helpful to look away from your computer once in a while and focus on other visuals in the office. Remember to blink to have your eyes lubricated naturally and prevent dryness which can lead to irritation.
• Make sure that your computer monitor is at an easy viewing distance. Also, have it tilted so that the monitor and your face are parallel with each other.
• Workplace ergonomics encourage workers to take the opportunity to stretch and stand up by walking and taking a short break to relieve your muscles and joints from prolonged sitting or being in one position for a longer period.
• You can also break up your routine and vary your task to avoid being rooted in one position all throughout the day.

Workplace ergonomics works well with the proper utilization of the ergonomically correct pieces of furniture and the correct attitude to go with it.

Workplace ergonomics improve physical wellness and acts as preclusion to other health hazards like musculoskeletal disorders.