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Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of how you interact with your work and work environment. Office ergonomics focuses on arranging your work environment to fit your needs while you do your job. When your workstation is set up properly, you may be less likely to have problems such as headaches or eye strain, possibly reduce neck and back pain, and perhaps prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Whether or not your workstation is causing physical problems, a workstation that is properly set up can increase your productivity and quality of work life.
What is the purpose of ergonomics?
Injury and illness are common in the workplace and costly to both you and your company. In addition to reducing your quality of life, they also reduce your ability to be efficient and productive.
Most job-related injuries are caused by repetitive movements, awkward postures, reaching, bending over, lifting heavy objects, applying pressure or force, and working with vibrating tools. Office ergonomics can help you be more comfortable at work while reducing stress and injury caused by awkward positions and repetitive tasks.
Office ergonomics focuses on your workstation arrangement—the placement of your desk, computer monitor, chair, computer keyboard, and mouse. An ergonomic evaluation examines:
- Your workstation setup, relative to your posture, length of time in a position or doing a particular task, types of movements, or repetition of movements.
- Your job surroundings, including the work surface, lighting, noise level, temperature, and humidity.
- Your job tools. This includes any device used to perform your job duties, such as a computer mouse or scanning machines.
What kinds of injuries occur in the office?
Most problems that occur in the office are caused by physical stress, such as prolonged awkward positions, repetitive motions, and overuse. These injuries can cause stress and strain on muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, blood vessels, or spinal discs. Symptoms include fatigue and hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, neck, or back pain. You may also be at risk for conditions caused by overuse and repetitive motions such as tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bursitis. Ultimately, physical stress decreases your overall well-being, may cause chronic health problems, and uses up your sick time.
You may be at greater risk for workplace injuries if you have other health conditions, such as arthritis or mental or emotional stress.
How can injuries be prevented?
To prevent work-related injuries, it is important to position the work so that you can sit comfortably and minimize stress on any specific area of your body, vary your positions and tasks, and match tools to your size and preferences.
