According to The International Ergonomics Association, ergonomics is “the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”
Simply put, ergonomics is a science, discipline, profession, and solution for the single purpose of improving the ‘fit’ between people and their work. Ergonomics, and ergonomic consultants more specifically, aim to make sure that tasks, equipment, information, and the environment suit each worker.
Ergonomics is an incredibly important addition to workplace health. Applying ergonomics:
Ergonomics can reduce the potential for health issues developed at work, such as aches and pains in the wrists, shoulders, and back. For many people, the workplace is where they spend the majority of time throughout the week which means it should be suited to their body’s needs to prevent the development of issues over prolonged periods of time.
Some examples of ergonomics include:
Most people think of ergonomics as the way in which their physical body can best be accommodated and supported, but it actually extends into social, organizational, and psychological aspects of the individual and the workplace as well. For example, the amount of work that needs to be done (too much or too little), inadequate social support, deadlines, lack of access to the natural environment, poor air quality, and decreased aesthetic visual quality, can all have negative effects on the worker and how well they are able to complete their work safely and effectively.
Companies and organizations often seek the advice of an ergonomics consultant to improve the important aspects of their respective workplace or office.
Whether you choose to rely on the help of an ergonomics consultant or an in-house specialist, the first step is to develop a thorough and actionable plan to holistically improve a company’s workplace. A common ergonomics program will include the following steps of development:
By gathering information on the workspace, environment, common tasks, and most-used equipment, a company can better understand the needs of individual employees and how best to improve ergonomics.
Only after analyzing the work environments of each employee role can the company begin to identify the role-specific risks that are faced by a given worker. This includes recognizing what the biggest and most frequent risks are, whether physical, social, or psychological, and then mitigating, eliminating, or addressing those risks with actionable solutions. There are two ways to identify these risks: externally through an ergonomics consultant who can observe a worker carrying out their tasks through an experienced lens, and internally through interviews of the employees themselves so they can share their thoughts on aspects that may not be apparent or easily observable.
By identifying all ergonomic risks, control measures can be implemented. Again, this is usually done both externally and internally. Ergonomic experts have experience developing solutions to common workplace risks and can help innovate new ways of addressing industry, company, or even location-specific problems that employees may face. Similarly, incorporating ideas and suggestions of employees is often fruitful in identifying solutions that only someone running into the problem themselves could recognize.
Implementing an ergonomics program is usually not as simple as adjusting desk height or encouraging short rest breaks. Usually, as solutions are integrated into the workplace, there will be a degree of training required to get employees up to speed with new changes and the resources that are available to them. For example, informing employees of social and emotional welfare programs, how they work, and how to get involved with them will be a critical first step. A demonstration of new ergonomic work equipment (such as adjustable height desks and chairs) will also be important for implementation.
A successful ergonomics program is not complete on day one of its implementation. It’s also necessary to monitor and measure its effectiveness. Your safety specialist or ergonomic consultant will pay close attention to the results of the implemented program and the measured benefits. Having discussions with employees regarding how they feel about the new ergonomics program will also be key in understanding its real-world effect.
There are three main types of ergonomic solutions: physical, cognitive, and organizational.
Physical ergonomics are the most common and well-known form of ergonomics. It mainly deals with how the human body performs activities associated with work and the potential for physical injuries while maximizing on-site safety.
If physical ergonomics is not a priority for a company, there is a risk for workers to develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). OSHA highlights that MSDs “affect the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, and tendons… which can increase a worker’s risk of injury.”
Examples of physical risks include poor body positioning, prolonged body positioning, repetitive physical tasks, lifting heavy objects, and reaching overhead.
An example of a physical ergonomic solution is an adjustable height workstation. Depending on the type of labor involved, a workstation that is able to adjust the height of its surface eases unnecessary body pressure. Precision work can benefit from a raised surface height so a worker is not constantly bending over, while heavy-lift work benefits from a lower surface height so there is less lifting required and more space for the worker to leverage downward pressure.
Similarly, an adjustable height desk allows a worker who would otherwise be sitting in their desk chair throughout the entirety of their shift to be able to work from a standing position. By having the option to stretch their legs and work from a different body position, there is a decreased risk of MSDs from developing.
An adjustable height desk is one of many different ergonomic solutions that could be implemented into a workplace environment, and would likely be just one aspect of a detailed plan developed by an ergonomics consultant.
Cognitive ergonomics considers the limitations and work risks associated with mental processes like memory, perception, attention, motor response, and reasoning. Cognitive ergonomics solutions create methods of designing and arranging information and workflow to create a “light cognitive load’.
For example, an overload of critical steps to perform a job correctly that requires consistent memorization, reading, and re-reading by employees can create a heavy cognitive load. Also, if a work environment has low access to outdoor, recreational, or break space can lead to emotional difficulty.
Cognitive ergonomics solutions address these problems at the source. Creating simplified instructions, improving the flow of information sharing, and providing access to quiet spaces in the workspace can benefit an employee’s cognitive ability and load. Newer innovations, such as augmented reality devices, have been implemented into cognitive ergonomics solutions as well.
Organizational ergonomics deals holistically with the information learned about physical and cognitive ergonomic risks and applies solutions across the entire organization.
By optimizing communication, encouraging company-wide safety, and implementing easily accessible resources, a company can improve ergonomics in a scalable way.
This is one of the biggest benefits of hiring the help of an ergonomics consultant. It’s not just about the specific solutions that will make every employee’s job safer and more enjoyable, it’s about the ability to implement an ergonomics strategy in an efficient and effective manner that reaches all across an organization, enduring year after year.
An effective ergonomics program is critical for enhancing employee health, morale, and overall performance. At the SP Group, we understand that all organizations are different and the demands on their employees are equally diverse. If you’re looking for an experienced ergonomics consultant who can provide valuable guidance in creating a healthy and productive work environment, we invite you to give us a call. Contact the SP Group today for a free consultation.