WHAT IS ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENT AND HOW WOULD IT BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS?

Jeff Mignault • January 31, 2017

Sitting all day in front of a computer is something that millions of people do at work each day. Many of these same people suffer from a variety of muscle strain and stress-related injuries because their workstations are not properly set up. How often have you caught yourself slouching or with poor posture? It is this that leads to regular neck and back pain, and other issues that get in the way of you being able to concentrate and be more productive.

“Are you looking to reduce worker’s compensation and health care costs for your company? Is improving productivity one of your company’s core business objectives this year? How about improving product quality? If this is the case, then establishing or improving upon your company’s workplace ergonomics process should be on the top of your to-do list,” says Mark Middlesworth from Ergonomics Plus.

To remedy this issue, many companies are investing in ergonomic assessments and are realizing the benefits it offers their employees and their business.

1. WHAT IS AN ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENT?

An ergonomic assessment, also referred to as a workstation assessment, analyzes a person’s workstation to ensure it is designed to minimize injury and maximize productivity. The assessments are conducted by occupational therapists and assess a number of key factors that can impact your ability to work comfortably. They look at:

Physical work demand
Posture
Workstation design and the equipment being used
Keyboard use
Environmental factors such as lighting and noise

Recommendations are made to improve workstations to reduce stress and strain on workers, and make them more productive.

2. HOW DO ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENTS BENEFIT MY BUSINESS?

Investing in ergonomic assessments benefit your employees by improving their workplace environment and ensuring they have workstations that minimize stress on their body. It benefits your business by:

Improving productivity: Good posture and less exertion and stress will make it easier for your employees to perform tasks, helping them to become more efficient. It will also improve the quality of work being produced by your team.

Improving employee engagement: People notice when you invest in them. Taking steps to improve health and safety, and caring about your employees’ working conditions will improve the culture. “If an employee does not experience fatigue and discomfort during their workday, it can reduce turnover, decrease absenteeism, improve morale and increase employee involvement,” says Middlesworth.

Reducing operations costs: By improving ergonomics, you will reduce sick days, workplace injuries, and have a healthier workforce.

Overall, investing in ergonomics will promote a safer workplace and establish a culture of safety. “Ergonomics shows your company’s commitment to safety and health as a core value,” says Middlesworth. “The cumulative effect of the previous four benefits of ergonomics is a stronger safety culture for your company. Healthy employees are your most valuable asset; creating and fostering the safety & health culture at your company will lead to better human performance for your organization.”