What is Ergonomics?

Short Answer

Ergonomics studies efficiency in the workplace, in order to enhance workers. It develops tools to help workers stay healthy, engaged, and perform better. Ergonomics has shown us that, by improving a worker’s well-being, businesses lower their operational costs and improve productivity.

Ergonomics improves the worker’s quality of life to improve the business’ bottom line.

Long Answer:

Ergonomics is a science that brings together the knowledge of a number of diverse fields to examine how people work and how individuals interact with their work environment.

Ergonomics, also known as Human Factors Engineering, examines the psychological, physiological, cognitive, and social factors that determine how people work.

For years, traditional businesses operated with the expectation that their workers fully adapt and conform to the job and workplace. We know now that there are many inescapable factors that limit how much individual workers can conform to said work. There are certain realities in terms of human capabilities, limitations, behaviour, and characteristics, that determine how individuals work, irrespective of work expectations. By ignoring these factors, traditional businesses miss opportunities to get the most out of their workforce, and are forced to operate with built-in inefficiencies that hurt productivity and growth.

Ergonomics works to modify and optimize the work and working environment around the the individual worker, in a way that both minimizes stress, discomfort, and risk-of-injury for the worker.
The data backs up the common sense, that is, a worker that is healthy, not in pain, and moving/working efficiently, will be more engaged, motivated, productive, and will make fewer costly errors.

What Does Ergonomics Do?

Ergonomics applies its knowledge through person-centered design of equipment, environments, and strategies, whose goal is to improve human well-being, and overall system performance.

Businesses use ergonomics design to develop enhanced:

• tools
• equipment
• work environments
• workflows
• organizational strategies
• technologies
• jobs/activities/tasks
• training

Ergonomic programs come in many shapes and sizes. Organizations don’t have to invest a lot to get results, and even a basic office plan can get you working better. Organizations will hire an Ergonomist to help them create and implement their program, and consult with suppliers like Merit, to get the equipment and furnishings that they need.

Whether you choose to implement and exhaustive multi-tiered program, or would rather begin with the basics, a great first step involves improving your office setup.

One of the simplest solutions that benefits many companies, involves improving your offices to help staff work better with computers. At Merit Office Solutions, we can help you design better offices with improved workstations, optimised office furniture, and computer-work accessories, to fit your business needs.