“Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance (International Ergonomics Association, ratified by the IEA Council, 2000)
Ergonomics brings together knowledge from other subjects such as anatomy and physiology, psychology, engineering and statistics. The term itself is often used in relation to the physical aspects of the environment, such as workstations and control panels. All man-made items have been designed specifically to fit the end user, from door handles, to shoelaces, everything has been developed to fit the structure and capabilities of our bodies.
When describing something as ergonomic, we are detailing the special attention that has been given to the design to make sure it complements the strengths and abilities of people and minimises the effects of their limitations.
Instead of expecting people to adapt to a design that forces them to work in an uncomfortable, stressful or dangerous way, ergonomists and human factors specialists try to understand how a product, workplace or system can be designed to suit the people who need to use it.
Ergonomics is becoming a huge consideration for employers. Employees have a right to work in conditions that do not pose a serious harm to their health, safety and welfare. It is the employer’s responsibility and duty to ensure the employee’s safety, health and welfare at work, as far as is reasonably practicable, under Section 8 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
HSE offers a brief guide to ergonomics and human factors at work – available here
Cority identifies the 4 common ergonomic injuries in the workplace
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinitis
- Lower Back Injuries
- Epicondylitis aka Tennis Elbow
Partnering with an ergonomics specialist
In order to work effectively, ergonomics professionals must address issues and challenges with sufficient consideration of all the relevant elements of ergonomics. Problem solving requires a participatory approach through consultation.
This is where we come in. We offer professional consultations with your employees in their working environment. We carry out a thorough review and send a detailed report to employers with guided recommendations.
To see for yourself how Remtek Workplace’s ergonomics solution can help improve the health and well-being of your employees, request a demo with one of our Ergonomics Experts today.