Have you ever felt uncomfortable within the workplace and no matter how many times you move and shuffle in your chair you still feel the same? Why not have look at your office equipment and see whether any adjustments might help.
Creating a productive but happy workplace is easier than you might think. Making sure that the needs of your staff andtheir health and safety are being met should be a priority. Ergonomics means “laws of work” and looks at ways to adapt the work and equipment for each employee. By assessing each employee and the work they undertake it will tell you whether the current working conditions are correct and whether you need to implement some new practices and equipment.
The theory behind ergonomics is that it will help boost productivity and reduce work related accidents and illnesses. Some typical adjustments could include:
- Computer Screen – screen guard required to reduce glare
- Chair – appropriate seat with adjustable back rest, height adjustment etc
- Keyboard – longer lead for keyboard, wrist support for typing
- Telephone – hands free headset needed for high level of typing and customer service.
These are simple things to introduce that will not cost your business a fortune but will help productivity.
There are many resources that can be used to gain more knowledge and understanding about ergonomics including books, consultants and websites such as the Health and Safety Executive website www.hse.gov.uk . There are also many courses on health and safety in the workplace that includes ergonomics that your staff can attend – just Google Ergonomic courses Cornwall.
If you don’t already have these simple, yet effective assessments in place at work, why not put together a simple checklist for your employees to complete and see if they need any extra support.