The Importance of Ergonomics in Workspace Design

The Importance of Ergonomics in Workspace Design

What is ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the way that people interact with their environment, particularly in the workplace. Office ergonomics have a significant impact on how well people can perform at their job, as if people’s bodies are not positioned in the correct way, their mental and physical health can suffer. This in turn affects productivity and employee satisfaction -  for example, WorldMetrics reports that proper ergonomics can increase productivity by 25%, while also reducing error rates by 25%.

Modern workplaces prioritise employee wellbeing, and therefore ergonomics plays a large part in workspace design to maximise comfort and support.

How can you introduce ergonomics into your office?

There are many ways to easily promote ergonomic design in your office, by introducing adjustable furniture which can adapt to the unique needs of each individual.

This includes:

●      Desks with an adjustable height, and standing desks, to encourage movement throughout the day by changing position. Desk height should also allow for individuals to place their feet flat on the floor, otherwise footrests can be provided to support the feet to promote blood circulation and correct posture.

●      Computer monitors with an adjustable height and swivel, allowing them to be set centrally and at eye level, meeting the needs of each individual at the screen. Screen resolution, brightness, contrast and text size should also be adjustable to ensure that content is easy to read. Office workers will spend an average of 1,700 hours each month looking at their desktop screen, according to a study by Acuvue. This can cause headaches, neck strain, and eye strain without the proper ergonomic support.

●      Ergonomic chairs with proper lumbar support to promote the correct posture and prevent neck and back injuries. Employees spend an average of 6-8 hours a day sitting at their desks, therefore seats should have adjustable heights with lower and upper back support, to support the natural curvature of the spine.

●      Comfortable lighting to help prevent eye strain, headaches and migraines. The best lighting designs will provide adequate task lighting while also creating an overall relaxing atmosphere and comfortable level of lighting. Sources of glare should be prevented, such as sunlight from windows or artificial light reflecting off of desktop screens.

What are the benefits of ergonomic design?

Ergonomic office design improves the health and wellbeing of your team by enhancing comfort and productivity, leading to higher levels of satisfaction. Poor ergonomics in the workplace was found to increase sick leave by 34%,according to WorldMetrics. The correct ergonomics is achieved by prioritising employee health and safety in the workplace and designing the office to meet the needs of your team with design, furniture, tools and equipment.

Productivity is increased by ensuring employees are as comfortable as possible, minimising fatigue and allowing them to concentrate and do their role to the best of their ability. This focus on employee wellbeing creates a more positive and welcoming atmosphere and increases feelings of satisfaction and fulfilment.

The right ergonomic design can promote the ongoing health of employees by reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders such as back problems, neck pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Gitnux reports that proper ergonomic interventions can decrease the risk of musculoskeletal disorders by 58%, by reducing the strain on muscles and joints

How does Offiss use ergonomics?

The importance of ergonomic design in your workspace cannot be understated, and here at Offiss we are proud to have created a work environment that prioritises the wellbeing of our tenants and co workers.

We offer a range of completely flexible working spaces which can be adjusted to meet the needs of every individual team member and the unique ways in which they work. This includes a range of serviced private offices, dedicated co-working spaces, and meeting pods, alongside a games machine and Peloton bike to encourage tenants to have fun and relax, and lounge areas with comfortable furniture to unwind.

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