The Importance of Ergonomics

Proper ergonomics is crucial for maintaining a healthy body and productive environment. Today, I am discussing... no, I'm stressing, the absolute importance of proper health practices while sitting in front of your computer, at home or, in the workplace. I have seen first hand of what poor work habits can do to one's health and I am very passionate about bringing awareness of the benefits of healthy work habits. And, it can never be more relevant than today with the surge of people working in their home office.

With that said, the use of the term "home office" has become widely varied, and quite frankly, horribly misleading. Peoples home offices have now become the family room couch, the kitchen or dining table, the balcony or backyard lounge chair, or the kitchen counter. None of which provide a proper working environment and they quickly become detrimental to the health of those that utilize such areas.

Why Proper Ergonomics Matters

In a nutshell, ensuring that employees or self employed individuals have the right tools and equipment to perform their tasks comfortably and safely, allow them and the businesses to reduce the risk of injury and increase productivity. Not only does investing in proper ergonomics save money in the long run by reducing absenteeism, workers' compensation claims and medical expenses, it also greatly improves employee morale and job satisfaction. When workers feel comfortable and supported, they are more likely to be motivated on the job and engaged in the tasks at hand.

What is Ergonomics?

I thought you would never ask. Ergonomics is the study of how people interact with their environment, specifically in relation to their work. It involves designing and arranging workspaces, tools, and equipment in a way that maximizes efficiency and minimizes the risk of injury or strain to ourselves. In the workplace or at home, ergonomics plays a critical role in maintaining employee health and productivity. When workers are comfortable and properly supported, they are less likely to experience fatigue, discomfort, or pain, which can lead to decreased job satisfaction and increased absenteeism. It is horrible how often we are now seeing the steady rise of hunched backs, sore necks, carpal tunnel syndrome, eye strain, eyesight issues, mental fatigue and poor mental health, leg, spine and hip issues and yes, even deaths at an younger ages due to sitting for prolonged periods - day in and day out. By contrast, when we are properly positioned and equipped in our work and home environment, we are able to perform our work tasks far more efficiently and with greater accuracy, leading to increased productivity and improved outcomes. Even more importantly, our body and mind doesn't suffer.

The Costs of Poor Workplace Ergonomics

The repercussions of having poor ergonomic practices can lead to far greater implications for both employees and employers alike. For employees, there can be a significant impact on their overall health and wellbeing, resulting in adverse effects such as persistent pain, discomfort, and in severe cases, physical injury or even death when exposed for many years, as I mentioned earlier. Some of these conditions can have long-lasting effects on an individual's productivity levels, resulting in missed work days and increased expenditure on healthcare costs. This also goes without saying for individuals with a homebased business or anyone that spends long hours and daily repetition of sitting in front of their computers for long periods of time.

For employers, the implications of poor ergonomics cannot be overstated, as this can significantly decrease employee productivity and increase absenteeism rates. Additionally, this increases the likelihood of worker compensation claims and potential legal liabilities. Investing in proper ergonomic practices can prove to be extremely beneficial in improving the costs associated with workplace injuries. Providing ergonomic assessments and providing state-of-the-art ergonomic equipment to employees, and imparting them with the knowledge to operate them effectively, can drastically reduce the odds of employees experiencing injuries while performing their duties. It not only ensures the safety of the employees, but it also leads to a marked improvement in their comfort and levels of productivity, which, in turn, improves the company's bottom line. In fact, studies have shown that implementing ergonomic solutions in the workplace can increase productivity by up to 24%. This is because employees are able to focus on their tasks without being distracted by discomfort or pain. They also feel valued and cared for by their employer which improves loyalty, trust and eagerness to work for their employer.

Furthermore, such a proactive approach to ergonomics can result in a significant decline in healthcare expenses for the employer, making it a far more viable option for them in the long run. With fewer missed workdays, the employer can maintain higher levels of productivity and also boost employee satisfaction and retention. Acknowledging the far-reaching benefits of investing in proper ergonomics can work wonders in terms of enhancing the overall work environment and ensuring a positive impact on the bottom line of the business.

And, it shouldn't just happen in the workplace. Whether working from home regularly or just spending time in front of your computer, embracing proper ergonomics in our environment, regardless of its locale, provides a healthier, more productive and pleasurable experience while improving our overall wellbeing.

Ergonomics and Health

One of the most common ergonomic issues is poor posture. Sitting for long periods of time can cause back pain, neck pain, and headaches. In addressing this issue, it's important to ensure that individuals have chairs and desks with adjustable heights, chairs with neck and lumbar support and foot pedestals to adjust the height and angle of their legs and feet. Maintaining good posture also requires that your computer monitor is placed at eye level with your keyboard and mouse positioned so that your arms are perpendicular to the floor. Additionally, encouraging frequent breaks by walking and getting a good stretch can help alleviate muscle stiffness, fatigue and overall discomfort.

Another common ergonomic issue is eye strain from staring at a computer screen for extended periods of time. To prevent this, proper adjustment of the lighting in the environment is necessary as is installing anti-glare screens on monitors or laptops. It's also important to encourage employees to take regular breaks to rest their eyes. The simplest, yet highly effective eye break exercise, is following the 20 20 20 Rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You will be surprised at the marked difference in your concentration, productivity, quality of output and overall comfort.

Implementing Proper Ergonomics

For an effective implementation of proper ergonomics in the workplace or at home, it's crucial to initiate with training. This training ought to incorporate educating individuals on the advantages of maintaining good posture and utilizing ergonomic equipment, as well as providing detailed guidance on how to appropriately use the equipment.

Apart from providing training, it is absolutely essential to invest in ergonomic equipment for your workspace. This equipment can range from adjustable chairs and desks, keyboard trays, foot pedestals and monitor stands. Ensuring that you get the right kind of equipment that is tailored to your specific needs is imperative for your wellbeing and productivity. Therefore, it's crucial to make sure that the equipment is properly adjusted to cater to the individual requirements for each of us.

Ultimately, implementing policy changes in the office can prove to be a critical component in fostering proper ergonomics within any given workplace. As a first step, employers should consider encouraging more frequent breaks throughout the day, thereby allowing employees to stretch and otherwise move around and reduce their risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries. Additionally, workplaces may benefit from offering alternative work arrangements, such as standing desks or flexible scheduling, that can help mitigate the effects of prolonged sitting and improve overall productivity and morale. By prioritizing ergonomic considerations within their organizational strategies, businesses can promote a culture of health and well-being while simultaneously enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness.

While implementing these changes to our work environment and incorporating proper training on equipment use, it is still up to the individual to use them properly or even at all. A great example of poor ergonomics that I see on a daily basis is, from non other than, my wife. She has terrible habits even with ergonomic equipment in place and proper training to boot. And, while I have stressed the importance and trained her, old habits die hard.

While she utilizes an ergonomically correct chair, she sits with her legs crossed up on the chair. Even with a proper angled laptop riser, pad and ergonomic mouse, she uses the laptop trackpad, sitting too low at the desk, causing a severe angle for her arms and wrists. And now, with time, it causes uncomfortable groin pain on a daily basis and terrible wrist and hand pain 24 hours a day - especially while sleeping. She obviously has now developed carpal tunnel and problems in her leg muscles along with the normal neck and back strain that goes hand-in-hand with poor posture.

While it's not too late to correct and provide relief (though the window is quickly closing), she refuses to sit the proper way, as it is, as she says, "completely uncomfortable". I further explain that it takes time to correct the damage she has caused but it will become more comfortable as her muscles learn to relax. More frequent breaks will be required at first, soaks in a warm tub and daily massages to increase blood flow will significantly help the muscles to relax until she can sit properly with comfort. And yet, as I turn around and see her at her desk now... old habits persist. Such a stubborn gal! LOL

Conclusion

Ultimately, it is imperative to prioritize proper ergonomics in the workplace in order to not only preserve our well-being and the output of employees, but also to minimize the potential expenses and detrimental effects that can result from neglecting this aspect of organizational health. My late father suffered with horrible leg and back problems from countless hours of sitting incorrectly at his desk. My wife continues to suffer from her horrible work habits and unfortunately will require surgery if she keeps it up for too much longer. Through measures such as investing in ergonomic equipment, offering relevant training and making necessary policy adjustments, individuals and employers can effectively circumvent the financial and human tolls that can ensue from subpar ergonomic conditions.

The impact of poor ergonomics at home and in the workplace can never be overstated as it can result in permanent injuries, lower productivity, and higher absenteeism rates. Furthermore, it can also serve the onset of chronic health issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain, which can be highly debilitating and negatively impact one's quality of life in the long run, as my wife can certainly attest to.

Conversely, practicing good ergonomics has a wealth of benefits such as enhancing job satisfaction, a healthy body and mind, and reducing stress levels. I strongly encourage to have adjustable stand/sit desks, regular breaks with walking and stretching, screens at the correct height and at the proper brightness to reduce eyestrain. These are just some of the ways we can ensure our overall wellbeing in our work environment. Additionally, look to improve your entire working environment. Enhance natural lighting, create open, airy spaces, preferably with windows, add plants/flowers, cheery colours and last, but not least, give yourself a clutter-free workspace. Following these practices and more, right from the get-go, ensures we do not develop those bad habits to fall back on. Most importantly, allow a professional to assist in teaching you proper ergonomics. However, it comes down to the individual to diligently practice these properly taught habits in order to reap the benefits from doing so. Following best practices only partially, haphazardly or incorrectly, can be just as detrimental to your health as not following any.

All of us have bad habits, myself included. I only just now remembered to put on my reading glasses; I like to overindulge in sweets and drink at times; I smoke; When on my phone, I tend to slouch and almost always forget my reading glasses. But, with a little conscious effort and a nudge from a sudden ache or pain, we must remind ourselves to do better. Not only for ourselves, but for our family and for the people that care about us. This digital age shouldn't be bringing us down, it should be lifting us up.

I know many of you follow bad ergonomic practices. Please, for those of you within my local area along the Gold Rush Trail, give me a call to book a home office ergonomic assessment so together, we can improve your working environment and make it a healthy and happy one. Your body deserves it!