Back pain, headaches, and neck strain are common in the workplace, but in fact, they shouldn’t be. Work-related injuries and musculoskeletal disorders can be prevented and reduced by ensuring good ergonomics in the workplace.
Some industries and professions are more physically demanding than others, for example, working on a construction site vs working in an office. However, the office environment can provide potential risks to its employees, and can have a significant impact on the body. Ergonomics within the workplace refers to creating an environment where employees can work comfortably and efficiently in. Their surroundings allow them to complete their job, and their workspace supports their body.
There are 5 main reasons to invest in ergonomics for your workplace
Increased productivity
Creating an ergonomic workplace means employees can complete daily tasks with ease. As they have all the equipment they need, it is in close proximity to them, and they access it easily. Ergonomic furniture supports the body and will make an employee more comfortable. Therefore, this will increase productivity for employees, as they can work effectively, without pain, and have all they need.
Fewer absences
Providing a workplace that reduces and prevents musculoskeletal disorders means employees will in turn have less time off sick for these issues. The HSE reports that in 19/20, there was 38.8 million working day lost, due to non-fatal workplace injuries and work-related ill-health. With musculoskeletal disorders accounting for 8.9 million of these days. Fewer absences in the workplace also reduce the stress for the wider team as a result. When staff are off sick, the workload often gets shared between other employees, and this can cause unnecessary stress. Plus, when work is shared equally between a team, feelings of cohesiveness will be present, making for a harmonious work environment.
Happy employees!
When employers invest in their workplace, and in turn their employee’s health and happiness, often employees will feel valued and cared for. Showing you care can go a long way in terms of retaining quality staff, and attracting new skilled employees. On the whole, employees will be happy at work, enjoy coming to work & want to do a good job.
Healthy employees
As stated above, musculoskeletal disorders can lead to sick days, and these disorders can be caused by poor ergonomics. With 8.9 million working days lost due to musculoskeletal disorders alone. This highlight the relationship between good ergonomic practices and healthy staff.
Reduced costs
Along with employee absences comes costs, but without having the resources available to complete tasks. When musculoskeletal disorders are significant, employees may wish to claim compensation for injuries, which again is another cost that could have been prevented by investing in good ergonomics.
Contact Us
If you’d like more information about ergonomics, or about the ergonomic assessment we provide for workplaces, please get in touch. Visit our FAQs page, call us at 01260 277797, or email us at website@acornoh.co.uk