Disclaimer: This blog post is an admission of guilt as much as an observation of other folks in my office space.
As an entrepreneur, I spend an exorbitant amount of time in front of my desktop, laptop and on my blackberry. Throughout a typical work day, I am constantly massaging a dull pain in my forearm, neck, back and hand on my right side.
Now, before anyone tells me that I probably need to adjust the angle of my monitor, the height of my office chair or the incline of my keyboard, here is my admission:
I KNOW BETTER! I have been a personal trainer for over 17 years and have worked in the corporate fitness departments of several Fortune 100 companies.
Regardless, until today I have ignored my own advice and mistakingly have focused on treating the symptom of dull aches and pains as opposed to the root of the problem. Just in case you missed it, I said until today.
Below you will find a brief article from Gaebler.com regarding proper office ergonomics as well as some resources to help ensure you create an ergonomically correct office space.
Lets make a deal. I will stick to the program if you will.
Content Source: Gaebler.com
Office Ergonomics
If office ergonomics isn't a focus of somebody in your small business, odds are you may find that your health care costs are higher than you'd like and that sick days are on the rise. Over time, the aches and pains of sitting behind a desk can add up.
Sometimes the pain can become so bad that it impedes your employees' ability to do their work - or even show up for work at all. That's bad news for your business, but it can be avoided with a little preventative remedy known as ergonomics.
Ergonomics is the application of tools and resources to prevent job-related injuries due to repetitive motion, uncomfortable positions, and other factors.
If this sounds like much ado about nothing, think again. The cost of work-related injuries like carpal tunnel and other avoidable problems is staggering when you take into account not only the price of health care, but also lost profits due to decreased productivity and sick days.
Since small businesses are hit hardest by the loss of even a single employee, ergonomics is a topic that you can't afford to ignore.
Getting on board with ergonomics takes time and effort, but not nearly as much time and effort as an unhealthy workforce. If you aren't sure where to begin just remember that any step you take is a step in the right direction. Here are a few other tips to help you guide you along the way.
Get Educated
If you are like most business owners, you probably don't know a lot about things like repetitive motion injuries and ergonomic design. However, don't let your ignorance stand in the way of a healthier workplace. As an employer, it's your responsibility to get educated in the area of occupational health. Since occupational health is a hot topic there is no shortage of books and websites at your disposal.
Seek Input from Your Employees
After you've acquired some general information, you'll need to start thinking about the problems that exist in your workplace and begin to explore possible ergonomic solutions. Your employees are your best source of information about what hurts at work so it makes sense to involve them in the process. Solicit their input before you make any decisions!
Training, Training, Training
The most ingenious ergonomic solutions won't do a bit of good if your employees don't know how to use them. Like you, many employees aren't up to speed on occupational health issues. They need to receive training about how to use the preventative remedies you implement as well as other things they can do to stay healthy. Ergonomic product vendors may even be willing to do some of the training themselves.
Stay Committed
It's important to remember that ergonomics is a long-term, preventative solution. After a brief foray into ergonomic design, some employers lose interest and their commitment to a healthy workplace suffers. Don't fall into this trap! Instead, make a long-term commitment to finding comfortable and healthy ergonomic solutions for the people who work hard to make your business a success.
A few additional resources for information on creating a ergonomically correct office space:
Cornell University Ergonomics Web
If you or your company has a knowledge that would help entrepreneurs or small businesses to improve the quality of their workplace, openofficespace.com would love to interview you on Officebytes TV.
That was a very nice write up and I agree that the most ingenious ergonomic solutions won't do a bit of good if your employees don't know how to use them. Thanks for the share and more power.
Raven
Posted by: office space ny | 05/18/2010 at 09:20 PM
One of the best ways to prevent injury, discomfort and fatigue is to take an Ergo Break - a pause or change in activity that allows muscles, joints and tissues that have been working to recover and rest. Muscles that remain in a static posture will fatigue, circulation will decrease, and you will notice discomfort. This may mean taking a short pause in activity to focus on a different task, rest your eyes, and most of all, change position. Prolonged sitting is one of the major risk factors for low back pain, so give your back a break and stand, walk and stretch. It may also mean switching to another task that requires the use of different muscle groups and postures.
Posted by: New York Office Space | 11/04/2011 at 07:13 AM