| What is Ergonomics? | | | | seventies. Office chairs nowadays employ many |
| Ergonomics is the method of constructing design | | | | ergonomic features such as adjustable height, |
| around human needs in order to optimize system | | | | armrests and seats in order to prevent RSI |
| performance. This science can also be called | | | | (repetitive strain injuries) associated with sitting |
| human or human factors engineering. | | | | uncomfortably over long periods. Modern chairs |
| Research is conducted by professional | | | | are constructed to be able to fit the individual and |
| ergonomists who study the relationship of the | | | | should be tested prior to purchase to guarantee |
| physical human and it’s working environment. | | | | that the chair is suitable. |
| The research then drives the evaluation and | | | | Incorrect posture when seated may lead to back |
| design of tasks to make the job and the person | | | | pain over time and possibly the need to take time |
| compatible. | | | | away from work. It is important to stretch or |
| In the workplace, ergonomics generally refers to | | | | walk around after every half hour or so. The best |
| the appliance of this science to tasks, functions | | | | way to ease any pressure on the back is to |
| and equipment such as ergonomic chairs and | | | | stand. Because there is a need to sit for long |
| ergonomic keyboards etc. Employers have a | | | | periods at a desk and this is where a good chair |
| responsibility for the welfare and safety of the | | | | will pay dividends. An ergonomic chair will correctly |
| workforce and have a duty to provide the best | | | | transfer the weight throughout the chair via |
| equipment available and to train in its purpose. | | | | armrests the seat and its back. This correct |
| Good use of ergonomics in the workplace can | | | | transfer of weight through the chair is the key to |
| reduce costs to the employer by saving on | | | | good design and a major factor in reducing back |
| compensation pay outs to an employee who has | | | | pain. |
| been injured at work. The manufacturing industry | | | | The Lumbar |
| alone could save millions of pounds by adopting | | | | The lumbar region is the bottom 5 vertebrate in |
| safer working methods and better use of | | | | the spine. Between each vertebrate are discs |
| ergonomics. | | | | which can become pressured and can cause pain |
| There are two approaches to the way that | | | | and discomfort if not seated correctly over time. |
| workplaces manage ergonomics, reactive or | | | | Reducing lower back pressures is key to the |
| proactive. Reactive ergonomics is responding to | | | | good ergonomic design of seating. Lumbar support |
| an issue that needs fixing and has already caused | | | | is a feature incorporated into all ergonomic chairs |
| problems whereas proactive ergonomics is to | | | | and consists of a support system built at the |
| actively seek out potential problems before they | | | | base of the chair and moulds into the lower back |
| happen. | | | | at about 5 centimetres. This protrusion helps |
| Ergonomic issues can be addressed through | | | | maintain a correct curve in the spine and leads to |
| equipment design changes or task changes. Task | | | | good posture. |
| design improves the way in which we work with | | | | The good use of armrests will also reduce lumbar |
| equipment and equipment design means a physical | | | | pressure by improving weight distribution |
| improvement to the device / machinery itself. | | | | throughout the chair but needs to be adjusted |
| Ergonomics and Design | | | | properly to compensate for any further issues in |
| Ergonomics became important in design in the | | | | the shoulder region. |