Workplace Eronomics: What You Should Know

Ergonomics plays a key role in the prevention of work-related injury and illness. By creating an ergonomic workplace, you'll naturally promote a safer working environment, which should be a top priority for all employers. Unfortunately, though, many employers (and workers for that matter) turn a blind eye to ergonomics, assuming it has little-to-no benefit.

So, what exactly is ergonomics? The term is used to describe the act of fitting a workplace to meet the unique needs of the worker. Granted, that's somewhat of a broad definition, but we're going to dive a little deeper into this topic.

Heavy Lifting

One of the most common ergonomic hazards involves lifting heavy objects. When it's done right, lifting is perfectly fine and should cause minimal stress on the worker's body. But when a worker lifts a heavy box or object by bending his or her back, it strains the back and increases the risk of injury. A good rule of thumb is to follow when lifting heavy objects is to bend your knees, not your back. Doing so places the strain on the knees and leg muscles as opposed to the back.

Sitting at Desks

When sitting in front of a desk, use caution to ensure you are following proper ergonomics. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workers should sit with both feet planted on the floor, keep their shoulders relaxed, eyes fixated at the top of the computer monitor (if applicable), and sit in an upright position with some type of lumbar support.

Overloading

Workers should also be conscious of the amount of work they are physically capable of performing. It's not uncommon for workers to push themselves to their limits, going nonstop until they are unable to continue. In doing so, however, they place themselves at risk for injuries like muscle strains, slipped vertebrae disc, and more. Listen to your body and know when to stop; otherwise, you could suffer from similar injuries as a result of overloading.

These are just a few examples of poor workplace ergonomics and how to fix them. Regardless of your line of work, you should identify hazards that affect your workers and implement the necessary changes to fix them.