What is Ergonomics, and why should you care

A little ergonomic know-how can go a long way

Ergonomics. What is it? If you have ever worked in an office or bought office furniture you have probably heard to term. Companies often use the term to sell products, saying that a particular type of mouse, keyboard, or chair is ergonomic. Office managers and bosses may use the term to stop you from getting hurt at work by saying that you should make your workstation more ergonomic. However, what does ergonomic actually mean?

Ergonomics Defined

Merriam-Webster defines ergonomics as, “an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely.” In terms of jobs and workplaces, ergonomics involves getting the workspace to fit the user (or worker). There is a science to ergonomics. Knowing how to set one up so one can do their job efficiently and safely requires an understanding of human anatomy, human movement, and the employee’s work tasks.

How Ergonomics works

In the case of an office worker, ergonomics may involve setting up the worker’s desk, keyboard, mouse, and computer monitor in a way that minimizes the strain on their neck, shoulders, and back. For a truck driver, ergonomics may involve setting up the driver’s seat, steering wheel, and mirrors in a way that minimizes the strain on the body as they drive. People come in different shapes and sizes. Therefore one person’s workstation setup may differ from another person’s workstation setup.

Let’s take the example of a car or truck. When driving a shared car, or a rental car, one may have to adjust the car seat and mirrors. One may have to make adjustments to these things especially if the other driver is a different size. The same can be true with office equipment. The height of the chair, the location of the keyboard, and the monitor may be slightly different for each user. Just as adjusting the standard equipment in a car (seat, mirrors) can make driving more comfortable, adjusting standard office equipment can make a workstation a better fit for an employee. Many office chairs can be adjusted. Keyboards, monitors, and mice can be moved into an ideal location for a particular worker.

A case for specialized equipment

Office workers in an open-concept office.

There are times, however, when adjusting the standard equipment does not completely alleviate the physical stress that the work demands put on the worker. This is when workers may benefit from using more specialized equipment. A smaller worker who has to repeatedly reach an overhead shelf may need a step. A taller worker who works from a countertop may benefit from working off of a slightly elevated surface.

When office equipment is marketed as being ergonomic, this often means that the equipment has some specific feature that can make it a better fit for a certain type of person. Keyboards can be one example. Some larger, more curved keyboards are marketed as being ergonomic. These keyboards may be ideal for a user with broad shoulders. However, other users who have a more narrow frame may not feel very comfortable using this type of keyboard.

Sometimes in setting up a workstation to be ergonomic, a worker may require specialized equipment. This is where all of the abovementioned fancy ergonomic equipment comes into play. Equipment that is ergonomic should better allow a worker to do their job in a way that minimizes strain on their body. However, keep in mind that no twp people are exactly alike. Therefore, what may be ergonomic for one person is not necessarily ergonomic for another person.

How ergonomics can help your business

Ergonomics is a human factor in business. If humans are to do the work, and the business is to run efficiently, ergonomics is crucial. Sustaining awkward postures, and performing awkward movements can put workers at risk for injury. When workers are required to sustain awkward postures throughout the day or perform awkward movements, then they are at risk of injury. When a worker is injured, they are unable to perform their job efficiently which puts a strain on the business in terms of lost profits, and workers’ compensation costs.

During 2019-2020 the average worker’s comprehension cost for a strain was $35,291 per injured worker. In 2020, the private sector experienced 247,620 musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) requiring the workers involved to spend days away from work. During that year, the median number of days away resulting from an MSD was 14 days per case. With this price tag, the cost of a claim far overshadows the cost of some specialized equipment such as an office chair, or keyboard which can run in the range of hundreds of dollars in cost.

How to get started in ergonomics

Whether you are a large employer, a small business owner, self-employed, or employed by another entity; having an understanding of ergonomics can help both you and your employees work safely. Some businesses choose to consult with professional ergonomists to ensure that employees are safely able to perform work tasks. While being able to hire an ergonomist may not fit every business’ budget, there are steps that one can take to ensure that work environments are set up to fit the employees who work in those environments. These steps include:

Identifying work tasks: What are workers doing? Tasks may include inputting data, moving products, running machinery, or writing reports.
Identifying current injuries: Do any employees currently have injuries? What types of injuries do they have and which body parts are involved?
Identifying characteristics of work tasks that may lead to injury: These may include heavy lifting, repetitive lifting, awkward postures, repetitive tasks, exposure to vibration, and exposure to noise.
Identifying and implementing measures to take to reduce any of the characteristics of the work tasks noted above.

Resources

Having a good understanding of ergonomics can protect both your employees and yourself. There are many resources available online to help one gain a better understanding of ergonomics.

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