Poor ergonomics in the workplace can lead to health issues for employees, such as cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive motion injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. Often, ergonomic hazards arise due to workplace design.
Possible ergonomic hazards include the following:
Whether employees sit at desks that are too short for them, overuse their thumbs on laptops with centrally positioned track pads or strain their eyes looking at screens all day long, poor ergonomics can lead to debilitating symptoms. Sore joints and muscles; tingling in the hands, fingers and limbs; and pain and stiffness in the neck and back can all result from ergonomic hazards.
Organizations can turn to several solutions that help address common high-risk behaviors and elements related to ergonomics.
An important first step to addressing this problem involves locating where it exists. Ask questions such as:
After identifying ergonomic hazards, employers can properly counteract them. This might involve redesigning aspects of workstations or modifying employee routines. When employers can’t remove ergonomic hazards, they can implement controls that reduce their negative impacts. For example, they may break up tasks to reduce exertion, increase break periods, or rotate employees engaged in repetitive tasks.