{"id":1403,"date":"2021-05-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cos.p10.sol1.net\/uncategorized\/the-science-of-office-ergonomics\/"},"modified":"2022-06-21T02:06:41","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T02:06:41","slug":"science-office-ergonomics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/cospedia\/science-office-ergonomics","title":{"rendered":"The Science of Office Ergonomics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

First up, what is ergonomics?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ergonomics and human factors is the science of designing the office or working space to suit the needs of employees. Office ergonomics is vital for maintaining the physical health and wellbeing of workers, ultimately benefitting the business in the process. Office ergonomics include chair and desk positioning, monitor positioning, and lifting methods. Poor ergonomics can lead to a multitude of long-term health risks, which can ultimately lead to permanent injury and an earlier death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word ergonomics comes from the Greek word ergon<\/em> meaning \u2018work\u2019 and nomoi<\/em> meaning \u2018natural laws\u2019, and can actually be traced all the way back to ancient Greece 2500 years ago, where there is written evidence that ergonomics was used in the design of their workplaces. Ergonomics is essential from the office to the factory, and is even applied as an important feature in space craft design! In the modern office, the main focus is on human-computer interaction and workstation product design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you sitting down at your desk all day?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

People are sitting down all day more than ever before in history. In the year 1900, almost half of the US workforce worked in the agricultural industry. But fast forward to one hundred years later, and this number dropped to 1.9%. By the year 2013, most people are working in office jobs, so 86 percentage of all full time workers in the US sit down all day long<\/em> \u2013 despite the fact that nearly 70% really hate<\/em> doing it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitting is the new smoking \u2013 sitting all day is linked to a long list of very scary and very real dangers to your health. These include repetitive; strain injury, sprains, strains, tears, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, hernias, chronic pain, and metabolic syndrome (heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure). In fact, research from the American Cancer Society associated sitting down more than 6 hours a day with a 19% higher rate of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a 2002 study<\/a> of 60 people working at a Sydney call centre, it was found that 70 per cent claimed to have aches and pains from poor ergonomics, and didn\u2019t report it. This means that most people are suffering from injuries related to poor ergonomics \u2013 and they think that it\u2019s normal! Ignoring aches and pains can have big consequences. In fact, ergonomic-related injuries are the most prevalent form of injury in the workplace, accounting for a third of all workplace injury cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still think it\u2019s fine to slouch in your chair for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? Think again! But it\u2019s not too late to sit up straight. These injuries don\u2019t happen overnight – they take a long time to manifest. Gradual exposure to ergonomic risks over a long period is what does damage to your health. That\u2019s why the science of ergonomics exists \u2013 to protect you from these kinds of desk-and-chair-related dangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does ergonomics affect businesses?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not just health that benefits from good office ergonomics, it\u2019s also the bottom dollar. Ergonomic-related injuries cost US businesses a staggering $15-20 billion annually in workers compensation. Employers need to protect their staff health and safety in order to maintain a productive work environment. Focusing on proper office ergonomics means employees will want to come to work every day and perform well. By being safe and comfortable, workplaces will have higher productivity and efficiency, and businesses won\u2019t lose money on extra sick days or workers compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s our guide to the science of office ergonomics for the modern workplace!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to protect your employees<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Identify ergonomic risks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your workstation, equipment, posture, and break habits are the main risk factors here. The theory is called \u201cFour Points of Contact\u201d. <\/em>Ergonomists developed this system to protect your health: eyes to the source, hands to input devices, feet to the floor, and the body to the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Set up the workstation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need the right equipment to protect yourself from ergonomic hazards:<\/p>\n\n\n\n