Ergonomics means setting up an environment according to human needs so that their productivity and performance can be enhanced. The use of ergonomic principles provides many benefits to its users and the employers of various organizations.
Ergonomics has become an important factor for organizations and their employees to reduce the rate of injury and work towards injury prevention initiatives. The benefits of ergonomics include an increase in workers productivity, a decrease in work related injuries and an improvement in the workplace morale. Most of the employers are taking more care of their employees health by recognizing that the work pressures are causing them physical & mental strain these days.
There are number of companies that have already included the use of ergonomics in their workplace. There are lots of reasons behind why these companies choose the use of ergonomics. Most of the companies support the use of ergonomic assessments as a way to increase the performance and efficiency of their employees.
Occupational therapists are playing a significant role nowadays in the human resource development. An occupational therapist uses various methods to reduce the pain, to improve mobility & activity and to improve independence of client by addressing the barriers that exist in creating a proper fit between the worker and their environment.
These days, many companies consult with occupational therapists for conducting ergonomic assessments. A well experienced and a trained therapist can easily assess the workplace and modify it in order to improve the comfort level of the employees. After observing and listing ergonomic risk factors at the workplace, an occupational therapist can apply the ergonomic strategies which are beneficial for both the employers and the workers. These ergonomic assessments can help to reduce the physical & mental stress of the workers which improves their attendance and their overall productivity.
A professional therapist may suggest some ergonomic products to use such as office chairs, workstations, computer tables, keyboard/mouse platforms etc, in the work environment. The main goal of an occupational therapist is to produce a comfortable environment for the employee and the staff members.
Occupational therapists who can complete ergonomic assessments can be found on-line these days. In addition to completing ergonomic assessments, occupational therapists can also complete wheelchair assessments, home safety assessments and assessments for equipment upgrades.
Some examples of ergonomically assessed environments include proper seating posture such as at the computer workstation and maintaining proper body posture during lifting or moving heavy objects.
Hiring good employees for various positions and retaining these employees on a long term basis is a critical factor in the success of any organization. As a result, appropriate time, effort and resources should be invested by the employers to support their employees and reduce their pain symptoms.
Therefore, importance of ergonomics can not be ignored. The purpose of ergonomics is to evaluate the interface or connection between each factor in the work environment with the worker for shaping their best performance.
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