Office Ergonomics - the Growing Trend in Workplace Injuries

Ergonomics has drawn increasing interest from large companies in recent years. Employees ranging from machinists to marketing executives are becoming victims of repetitive stress injuries, pain and tension from poor office furniture and awkward postures. Occupations that cause the worker to sit or stand in the same position for long hours can be devastating to the body. This type of activity can cause overuse of muscles, joints and tendons which usually results in pain or discomfort. If this type of activity is continued over a consistent period of time, more serious injuries can develop.

One common example of what prolonged periods of poor positioning can cause is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). CTS is a condition in which the median nerve in the wrist becomes pinched causing pain and loss of feeling. CTS can cause burning, tingling, itching or numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers. It will also decrease grip strength and can even cause wrist muscles to start wasting away. Some techniques to help prevent this condition are: perform stretching exercises, take frequent breaks and use correct arm posture. If strong symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are present then see your physician.

The lack of an ergonomic working environment can drastically increase workers compensation claims and will also lower productivity and employee comfort. Businesses are starting to realize the value of providing their employees with ergonomic office furniture and the demand for ergonomic furniture is on the rise. Office furniture manufacturers are spending more to design ergonomic chairs, monitor arms, and keyboard trays to meet the growing need for safer offices. Ergonomic furniture prices are usually higher than typical office furniture items due to the increased research and development costs that go along with designing ergonomic furniture. CFOs are finding bigger cost savings in buying the more expensive ergonomic furniture items and having healthy, comfortable, productive employees.

There are some critical pieces of furniture that need to be considered for a work station to be ergonomic. The first and most important is the ergonomic office chair. A chair is ergonomic if it can keep the user in a proper position to minimize stress and tension. Proper positioning is usually with your knees and elbows at 90 degree angles with your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest. An ergonomic chair will usually have seat height and depth adjustment, multi-dimensional armrests and a fully adjustable backrest. Another important item is the keyboard tray. A keyboard tray allows the user to adjust the keyboard to a position where the elbows and shoulders are relaxed at a 90 degree angle. It is also recommended to tilt the keyboard tray forward in a negative tilt position to reduce the bending of the wrists which will help to alleviate stress and tension. The final piece to the ergonomic workstation puzzle is the monitor arm. Having an adjustable monitor arm allows the user to adjust the screen to a natural viewing position. A screen that is too high or too low causes the user to bend their neck. If this continues for a prolonged period of time, then tension and pain can occur in the neck and shoulders. The monitor should be positioned so that the user can easily see the entire screen without having to tilt their head in any direction.

Simple steps can be taken in most office settings to start improving worker comfort and production. An ergonomic workstation not only reduces worker compensation claims but can help to improve attitudes of the employees and their viewpoint of coming to work. Happy workers are more productive workers. If an employee has a stress free, ergonomic office to come to everyday, then productivity will surely be high.