More often than not, I am lectured by my parents to use my reading table for work and studies instead of just stacking some pillows on the bed and placing my laptop or books on them. I am also regularly instructed to fix my sitting posture and not sit like a prawn, provided I am actually not one. Jokes apart, why are these things important? The reason is our physical and cognitive health and efficiency significantly depend on how we use our tools and props at our workplace and at home.
To decipher the deeper aspects of this relationship between human factors and Optimal Productivity, let us dive into the fascinating world of ergonomics and its profound impacts on our workplace environment.
Unravelling the Science of Ergonomics
Ergonomics, in essence, is the art and science of designing workspaces and equipment in a way that aligns with the natural capabilities and physical-cognitive needs of the people who use it. It aims to create a harmonious environment that minimises physical strain, maximises efficiency, and prevents any kind of injury. By integrating ergonomic principles, we can optimise comfort, productivity, and long-term health in the workplace.
There are three types of Ergonomics-: Physical, cognitive and organisational. Physical ergonomics focuses on optimising the physical interactions between individuals and their work environment. It involves designing comfortable and supportive workstations, adjustable furniture, and tools that reduce strain and promote proper body posture.
Cognitive ergonomics, on the other hand, addresses mental processes such as attention, memory, and decision-making, aiming to optimise task performance and reduce mental fatigue. For example, using graphics, illustrations, and pictures in-office presentations weighs down the cognitive load of employees as it is easier for the human brain to remember images.
Lastly, Organisational ergonomics focuses on aligning work systems, policies, and procedures to enhance overall efficiency, increase job satisfaction and employee well-being through factors like workload distribution, communication, and teamwork. Apps like Slack and Trello can be great additions to the work tools of the teams in different workspaces to ease and accelerate their efficiency.
Office Ergonomics
Office ergonomics encompasses a range of factors that contribute to a comfortable and efficient work environment. Here the most pivotal aspect is proper workstation setup because, in this era of intense workloads and competitive environment, the alarming incidence of musculoskeletal disorders has reached staggering proportions. An optimal workspace includes adjustable desks and chairs to accommodate individual preferences and promote optimal posture. Adequate lumbar support, armrests, and ergonomic keyboards and mice further enhance comfort and reduce the risk of MSDs, for poor sitting posture happens to be a great formula for spinal dysfunction, premature joint degeneration, nerve pinching, and even chronic back pain. My father sometimes suffers from acute pain in his arms due to hours of desk work, while a relative of mine who is just in their late 20s has been suffering from back pain due to the incompatible arrangement of the workstation and prolonged stationary position. MSDs can start developing from an early age, so it is important to maintain ergonomic measures at the workplace.
Another crucial constituent is Lighting and temperature control. These significantly impact the productivity and well-being of the employees. Appropriate natural and artificial lighting levels help reduce eye strain and fatigue. Likewise, ensuring a comfortable temperature and optimal air quality establishes an environment conducive to concentration and focused work.
Besides, the trouble-free arrangement of equipment and tools is imperative, ensuring easy access to frequently used items like printers, scanners, and files to promote efficiency while reducing strain. Proper organisation of cables and cords eliminates trip hazards, creating a safer and tidier workspace. Additionally, incorporating regular breaks and movement throughout the workday refreshes minds and reduces the risk of sedentary-related health issues. Education and training on ergonomic best practices empower employees to make informed choices about work habits and posture, including proper lifting techniques, stretching exercises, and maintaining a balanced work-life routine.
Hospital and Laboratory Ergonomics
Doctors and Hospital employees have a very demanding work schedule. Due to the type of work they do, herniated disks, muscle strains, ligament tears, joint and tendon inflammation etc., are somewhat common among them. It is important to use meticulously engineered equipment, sliding doors and boards, mechanical lift equipment etc., to weigh down the strain inflicted on muscles while lifting. It is crucial to be scrupulous about the minute but important things like the height difference between the eye level of the surgeon and the patient bed in operation theatres, shelves and stations that ensure easy access to surgery equipment, temperature control in the OTs and ICUs etc.
Laboratories offer numerous possibilities for the manifestation of ergonomic stressors, leading to injuries or repetitive stress disorders. Static and awkward postures and repetitive motions are some of the ergonomic issues commonly faced by lab workers. Wearing comfortable shoes, using anti-fatigue mats, using adjustable chairs, meticulous arrangement of equipment, keeping adequate room for legs while sitting, keeping shoulders, arms and hands relaxed while working, and ensuring comfortable lighting can be some of the preventive measures taken to placate the impacts of ergonomic issues.
Ergonomics for people who work from home
Be it a meritorious writer, a refined artist, a meticulous homemaker or a skilful freelancer, ergonomic stressors follow everyone. My mother sometimes suffers from adequate back pain when she works for too long in a static position. Doing some work from home myself, I often find myself in an uncomfortable situation with my eyes burning and my neck aching from hours of sitting in front of the screen. Maintaining ergonomic aspects at home is thus as important as it is in professional workspaces. Ensuring decent lighting and ventilation while studying and working, Customizing or choosing furniture that maintains proper ratios between the human body and equipment, stretching and warming up between work, taking breaks between screen time etc., are some of the ergonomic measures that can ensure a healthy work time and optimal efficiency for everyone who works from home.
Mental health as a consonant to Ergonomics
Optimal productivity and output depend on the health of the employees, reduced absenteeism, a relaxed body and mind, and a congenial work environment. All of these are correlated with the proper application of ergonomics. Physical well-being is always conducive to good mental health. As the bustling global economy demands, submitting to the 40 hour-5 day-per-week work schedule often costs us our mental and physical health. Lack of sleep, lack of leisure, insufficient time for self-care, lack of exercise and stretching, prolonged stationary positions etc., resulting from trying to cope with the working hours usually lead to stress and fatigue. Stress and depression, being like peas in a pot, decrease an individual’s productivity and willpower to put out their best in the workplace. Every time I try to work on my laptop or study sitting on my bed or on the floor, I find my legs to be numb or my back hurting just after a while. A healthy and pleasant work environment, a cozy workstation with enough light and no noise, short breaks after certain intervals and arrangements of healthy food within the work premises can be great determinants of the positive mental health of the employees. Just as the well-being of the workers is undoubtedly one of the most important preconditions of industrial optimisation, apt use of ergonomics is the Tweedledum to the Tweedledee of a sound mind.
Scopes of Ergonomics as a Catalyst in the Present Industrial World
The total dependence on technology and work-from-home culture that was cultivated during the COVID-19 outbreak has only increased the necessity of applying ergonomics to ensure the maximum productivity of industrial employees. The global economy has been thriving to stand strong ever since the effects of COVID-19 started to weigh down. According to the IMF, global growth will slow down from 3.4 percent in 2022 to 2.9 percent in 2023 and rebound to 3.1 percent in 2024, whereas the slowdown for advanced economies will be more pronounced. While battling with the current inflation and exchange rates, Russia’s war in Ukraine weighing on the global economy, and the decreased rate of employment due to layoffs post-COVID, ensuring optimal productivity has stood to be a challenge. While on the positive side, China re-opening their economy gives some hope for a rebound. The working population happens to be one of the most important factors to fight any industrial challenge. Thus ensuring the physical and mental well-being of this population is directly proportional to the Industrial well-being of an economy. Although developing countries tend to have fewer resources for occupational health and safety in general compared to developed economies, ergonomic measures are not always expensive. With proper planning and budget allocation, a comfortable and healthy work environment can be promoted in different industries.
