Ergonomics is the study of how people in the office environment can work more efficiently and comfortably – this includes the arrangement of furniture and equipment.
The relationship between employee and the work environment is extremely valuable to both worker and employer. For a member of staff to work to their best, the top kit and gear has to be provided, so an employee has everything they need to work productively.
Nothing but Screens
There are tips you can carry out to help your employees be the most comfortable in their work place.
To increase work ethic, and decrease fatigue, you should make sure your employees are facing their monitor directly and that the top of the computer doesn’t exceed their eye height. The monitor should also be at a reasonable distance – if the computer screen is too close then an employee may be at risk of eye strain. Also, the keyboard should be in front of them too, to avoid any additional neck pain caused by moving their head to type.
You should also advise your employees to take regularly breaks away from their screen and look at something other than their monitor for a few minutes. Make sure your office has an area that your staff can go to relax and unwind, without any screens around. Staring at a computer screen for long periods of time can cause eye strain and headaches, which will affect an employee’s productivity.
Are You Sitting Comfortably?
As an employer, you must take care of your employees’ physical and mental needs. Office chairs must be comfortable and suitable for an individual’s comfort. Research has shown that sitting down for a long time is bad for your health. It negatively impacts your spine and posture, your heart and other vital organs and even your digestive system. You should always make sure your employees are moving around and getting out of their chair. However, the time they do spend sitting down should be made as restful as possible.
Posture is incredibly important, especially when you’re spending eight hours or more in a chair. Ensure you have signs up around the desk that remind your employees to sit up as straight as they can to avoid back pain and push their chair in as close to the table as they can to avoid leaning and overarching their back.
Chairs should also provide good arm support too, as poor support could impact a staff member’s neck and shoulders negatively.
If you can avoid chairs in some situations and encourage standing up desks or break out areas without seats, this could be useful too.
An Ergonomic Design
Employees need regularly breaks and an area that is more private than their desk space. If your office has a cubicle-style design, then your staff members need a place where they can socialise and restore in a more open area. However, if your office has a more open layout, then you equally need to provide a space where employees can sit comfortably out of their work area and rest quietly for a while.