Muscle strains, sprains, and tears, as well as repetitive stress injuries, are one of the most common workplace injuries. These injuries are preventable. This is why health and safety managers should emphasize the importance of ergonomics in the workplace in their program planning: this is low-hanging safety fruit. Educate your workforce about ergonomics and frequently reinforce ergonomic practices: this is an excellent topic for a safety moment.
Address each of the four scenarios where workers should apply ergonomic practices. Here we are concerned with how a person sits, stands, or moves at work. Some examples to consider in an office environment include: Are the desks arranged to encourage good posture? Are there standing desk options and, if so, are the desks at the right height? This addresses any work situation where an employee must perform a series of tasks, often repeatedly. Assembly line work is a classic example.
Is everything the worker needs close and easy to reach? Are the movements required to complete the task natural and efficient?
Does the necessary equipment move freely without causing undue strain? Make sure the tools or equipment your workers use are easy to handle and allow natural movement. Tools and equipment should feel like an extension of the body. Are they easy to grip? Are they a manageable size and weight? Are all tools or equipment in good working order?
Teach workers the proper way to lift, pull, and push objects. Read also about the advantages of user-centred design and the advantages of inclusive design. My New Business Northern Ireland business support finder Sample templates, forms, letters, policies and checklists Licence finder Find a case study Do it online. User-centred design The importance of ergonomics.
Importance of ergonomics Ergonomics is an important part of research in the product development process. This is important when you consider how much individuals vary in terms of: body size body shape strength mobility sensory sensitivity mental ability experience training culture emotions When you apply ergonomic methods early in the design process, they can often identify opportunities for innovation.
Categories of ergonomics There are three broad areas of ergonomics: Physical ergonomics looks at how human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics relate to physical activity. This includes: working postures manual handling repetitive movements musculoskeletal disorders workplace layout and environment Psychological ergonomics studies mental processes eg perception, cognition, memory, reasoning and emotion and how people interact with products, systems and environments.
This includes: mental workload decision-making human-computer interaction human reliability attitudes stress motivation pleasure cultural differences Organisational ergonomics is about optimising the organisational structures, policies and processes of socio-technical systems. This includes: communication work design staff resource management working time patterns co-operative work quality management organisational culture To ensure that you keep your end users' needs in focus at all times, you should make ergonomists an integral part of your design development team.
Printer-friendly version. Computer ergonomics addresses ways to optimise your computer workstation to reduce the specific risks of computer vision syndrome, neck and back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
It also reduces the risk of other disorders affecting the muscles, spine, and joints. Placing your computer monitor so it is not level with your eyeline is a common cause of computer vision syndrome and back and neck injury.
To avoid health issues and screen glare, position computer monitors and display screens so they are:. If you struggle to place your computer in the right position for your eyeline, you may benefit from an adjustable monitor arm. Using an adjustable monitor arm can help promote and enhance comfort and performance, minimising health risks. To prevent headaches and computer vision syndrome, you should ensure you adjust your monitor so that its brightness is approximately equal to the area behind it.
If you find yourself experiencing computer vision frequently, it may be time to adjust your computer screen brightness. If you still experience screen glare, you can cover your computer with an anti-glare filter and wear anti-glare glasses. The mouse should be positioned so it keeps your arms at or below a degree angle.
Your wrists should not be straining, nor should they feel uncomfortable during use. The image below demonstrates how a hand should be placed comfortably on the mouse:. You can read our full guide to typing ergonomics here. Ergonomic experts recommend placing a keyboard just below elbow level. Your keyboard should be flat on the desk, or gently sloping away from you. You should position your keyboard so your elbows and arms remain as close to your sides as possible.
Your arms should sit at or below a degree angle. If you struggle to maintain the correct keyboard placement and work comfortably, an ergonomic keyboard should be used to achieve a negative tilt. This means the keyboard will be sloping down and away from you, so your arms and hand follow the downward slope of your thighs.
You should organise your ergonomic computer workstation so that key objects are close to you. This could include your phone, notebook, water bottle and any other essential items. This will prevent unnecessary reaching and straining. Using a hands-free headset can prevent strains from placing our hands in the same position frequently when we answer the phone. It can also prevent shoulder pain if we avoid tucking the phone between our shoulders and ears, which is a common mistake.
You can check your desk is at the right height by resting your arms at your sides in your seating position at your desk. Keep your elbow at a degree angle and your upper arms in line with your torso. Your hands should be rested comfortably on your desk if your desk is at the right height.
You can read more about the correct ergonomic sitting position in our guide What is the correct ergonomic sitting posture in the office? Ergonomic lighting is often ignored in an office, leaving employees to work under harsh, bright lighting. Poor lighting can contribute to headaches, eye pain, tiredness, and un-productivity. Computer desk lighting ergonomics ensures a person is working under lighting that is adequate and not too bright or faulty.
When possible, a sit-stand workstation is always recommend. The product was introduced to keep employees as active as possible and prevent common injuries that occur from sitting for too long.
They can provide the following benefits:. Shop our Active Electric Stand Workstation.
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