Ergonomics at work is an integral part of the well-being of employees, and is even a key factor for their health. By placing it at the heart of your priorities, you can transform your business into a serene and rewarding place for your employees. In this article, we explore the various aspects of ergonomics with you and share some tips for creating a workplace where everyone feels good and productive.
What is ergonomics at work?
Ergonomics at work is the study that aims to adapt working conditions to the physical and mental needs of employees, in order to improve their well-being, safety and efficiency.
Ergonomics encompasses various aspects:
- The layout of workstations to improve comfort and minimize body tension. This includes for example the position of the seats, the height of the desks, the layout of the room, the lighting, etc.
- The provision of tools and equipment to prevent bad postures and allow employees to perform their work in good conditions.
- The organization of tasks. This includes adapting work schedules, distributing missions within the team to avoid repetitions, etc.
Ergonomics at work therefore aims to design work environments compatible with the needs of the company, while taking into account the physiological and psychological limitations of employees.
How does ergonomics at work impact employee health?
A lack of ergonomics at work can have various consequences on the health of employees, both physical and mental.
Impacts on physical health
A poorly designed workplace can first lead to musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs. These disorders affect muscles, nerves, and tendons at the same time. They are generally caused by repeated actions or prolonged bad postures.
Poorly lit workstations or poorly positioned screens can also cause intense eye fatigue. This can cause headaches, blurred vision, or other eye pain. Over the long term, this can cause vision impairment or increased sensitivity.
Creating ergonomic workstations therefore makes it possible to protect the physical health of your employees, which is essential to be able to work in good conditions.
Impacts on mental health
Mental health can also be affected by poor ergonomics at work.
Uncomfortable working conditions can lead to constant stress, which can become chronic and have harmful consequences in the long term. It can also increase fatigue: having to constantly change position, make efforts to compensate for poor conditions, or even manage pain can cause cognitive overload and exhaustion.
Finally, ergonomics also includes the organization of tasks within the company. If this is not optimal, this can again lead to stress and even anxiety. Isolation, lack of motivation, and frustration are also common consequences of inadequate working conditions.
Ergonomics at work therefore also makes it possible for employees to feel mentally well.
Ergonomics at work: what are the benefits for the company?
Ergonomics at work makes your employees feel better and therefore has many very positive consequences for companies.
A decrease in absenteeism
The lack of ergonomics in companies has consequences on the health of employees, which logically leads to an increase in the absenteeism rate, due to frequent sick leave.
MSDs alone represent more than 85% of recognized occupational diseases, 20% of which are solely related to back pain. 30% of work stoppages are caused by an MSD, so it is essential for companies to take up the subject.
With good ergonomics, you prevent risks to the health of your employees, ensure their well-being at work and thus reduce the absenteeism rate.
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Better commitment on the part of employees
Making the health of your employees a priority also increases their commitment. By reducing their discomfort and putting them in the best possible condition, they can be more relaxed, more focused, and more motivated.
They can also feel appreciated and develop a sense of belonging. This leads them to invest more in their organization and to be proactive. All of this increases their engagement.
More productivity and performance
With better physical and mental health as well as stronger commitment, employees are naturally more productive. Taking care of ergonomics at work is therefore simply beneficial for companies, which thus have better performance.
How to improve ergonomics in your company?
Various means can be used to improve ergonomics at work. Here are the main ones.
Adapting workstations and office equipment
Each employee has different needs to have a comfortable posture while working. So install height-adjustable desks, invest in ergonomic chairs and in digital equipment adapted to everyone's needs (keyboard, mouse, etc.).
Lighting is also very important, so promote natural light by installing workstations near windows. Desk lamps can also improve the visual comfort of employees.
More and more companies are opting for shared offices as part of the flex office. It is therefore imperative that workstations can be modified easily.
Offer spaces dedicated to breaks
Your employees also need spaces dedicated to moments of relaxation. These rooms must also be well arranged, so that everyone can access and move around easily.
Encouraging employees to take breaks away from their screens is important to avoid the accumulation of muscle tension. Moving and stretching can limit the onset of MSDs.
Raise awareness and train employees
To make them adopt best practices with a clear conscience, organize awareness-raising workshops or even training on ergonomics so that everyone can appreciate the importance of the subject.
This will allow everyone to adjust their workstation according to their personal needs, to adopt the right postures and to perform the appropriate actions during breaks.
Supporting remote work
It is also essential to take remote work into account when you want to improve ergonomics at work. Indeed, more and more employees are working from home one or more days a week. If they do not have a suitable position, the consequences on their health can be significant.
To support remote work, you can offer a subsidy to your employees for the purchase of ergonomic equipment (chair, desk or other). Also provide them with advice so that they have the information they need to make their choices.
Don't forget to take care of mental health
Mental health is often overlooked when it comes to ergonomics. However, stress and fatigue are factors that promote health problems.
To take care of mental health, the work environment must be serene and caring. The workload must be adapted and allow for regular breaks. Finally, the company must ensure that employees can have a suitable work-life balance.
Ergonomics at work is a real health factor for your employees, so it is essential to take this subject very seriously. To start, you can take stock of everything that is already in place in your company to promote ergonomics, then take stock of the missing elements. Remember that each employee has their own needs and that it is therefore essential to have adaptable workstations. Investing in ergonomics at work is both beneficial for employees, who are in better health, but also for the company itself, which benefits from a lower absenteeism rate, better engagement and better overall productivity.
