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The Most Common Office Ergonomics Issues

man-experiencing-back-painFixing Office Ergonomics Starts With Recognizing Issues

Working in an office is supposed to be safe—and a more cushy job than being outside doing construction or something else of that nature. While there are many perks, like temperature control, there are also hazards to office work. The hazards, while plentiful, are things that businesses can easily fix. The key is recognizing the issues and taking action. One of the biggest pitfalls is ergonomics. The hazards are unique to the office and they aren’t always recognizable right away. Ergonomic issues build over time and cause pain later. Employees can be struck with chronic back or neck pain, frequent headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other such ailments from working at a desk all day. But once the issues are recognized, they can be sorted out with ease.

Defining Ergonomic Hazards

Before you look into fixing ergonomic issues, you need to be able to spot one when you see it. Ergonomic hazards are situations or even behaviors that lead to musculoskeletal disorders. They are usually repetitive actions that can lead to painful conditions over time. The following hazards are the most common in office spaces.

Worn Or Inadequate Chairs

It’s easy enough to choose a chair based on appearance or even by price, but ergonomics is a different matter. People working in offices can spend 7 hours a day (or more!) sitting at a desk. The chair they utilize should help them avoid ergonomics injuries, but instead, they often increase the risk factors. Ergonomic office chairs have to provide support to three crucial areas: the back, the seat, and the arms. Ergonomics can vary by person as well so chairs that can be adjusted based on height and other variables are best.

Device Placement That Induces Poor Posture

Good office chairs are a great start to improving ergonomics, but they can’t do the job alone. Some people will still continue to have poor posture because of how their computers are set up on their desks. If the computers are too low, for example, they will hunch over to see them better. If the keyboards are too low, the same things can happen. The monitor should be in line with the eyes and the keyboard and mouse should allow hands to be placed at a 90-degree angle from the body to keep the pressure off of the wrists and shoulders.

Too Much Sitting

Even under perfect ergonomic conditions, too much sitting is too much sitting. If employees sit at their desks first thing in the morning and never get up until it’s time to go, that’s a huge ergonomic problem. Encourage employees to take stretch or walk breaks every hour or two to get away from this pitfall.

Learning More About Office Ergonomics

While these are some of the most common ergonomic hazards, there are plenty of other ones out there. To find out more about what might be going on in your office, contact E3 Consulting for a consultation. Keeping an eye on ergonomics has the capability of improving a lot in your office and business.

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