How to improve the ergonomics in your business
Ergonomics is the process of making sure that the work stations in your business fit your employees and your employees do not have to fit your work stations. In the pursuit for better employee health this type of practice has helped to reduce employee injuries on the job and overall make employees feel better when they are at work. If you find that your employees are slouching, squinting, having to repeat motions over and over again, and generally engaging in potentially injurious behavior you may want to consider implementing ergonomics in your business. It has been shown that businesses that make ergonomics a priority have workforce's that have higher employee morale and job satisfaction. Here is what you need to know about how to improve the ergonomics in your business-
- Consider the wrists of your employees-For many employees the work week is spent typing on a computer or performing some other type of repetitive motion throughout the day. This can lead to a several different problems that can affect the wrist and hands of your employees. Health care professionals report a steep increase in carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome can affect not only the level of production of your employee but have them in constant pain which requires medical treatment, time off, and more use of health insurance. This problem can be avoided by providing employees with wrist splints, wrist pads to rest their hands on while typing, and special curved keyboards that are designed to help prevent carpal tunnel. It can also be helpful to provide electric staplers and other office gadgets that do not require the full force of the employee's hands to operate.
- Consider the back and necks of your employees-One of the most common workplace injuries is back and neck strain. If your employees are having to slouch and strain in order to get their work done their backs will soon pay the price. Providing your employees with the tools they need for proper back alignment is crucial to preventing these types of painful and costly injuries. Employers should consider providing the proper type of chairs for employees who work at desks. In addition, if your employees work standing up for most of the day they should have the right mats underneath them that will prevent back and neck strain. Employees also need to receive proper training on how to lift or move objects in order to avoid injuring their back or neck. You should make it a priority that this type of training is ongoing so that employees understand that you feel their health is a priority by instituting these guidelines.
- Consider the eyes of your employees-You may not have thought about this but your employees could be injuring their eyes if you don't have the proper ergonomics in place. Computer screens can do a lot of damage when it comes to eye strain. If you find that your employees are hunched over their computer screens trying to read them then its time to make some ergonomic changes. An ergonomic specialist can help to reposition screens so that employees will have them at the right eye level. In addition, the brightness of the screen should be adjusted in order to prevent eye strain. Keep in mind that there are also computer vision glasses that can help to prevent eyestrain. If your employees work on a production line then lighting should considered so that their eyes are not exposed to potentially damaging light throughout their workday.All of these ergonomic steps can help to preserve the vision of your employees and improve their overall health.