Worksite International Blog

Are You Living an Ergonomic Lifestyle?

An ergonomic lifestyle is one where you are happy, safe, and comfortable wherever and whenever you work because you have the right equipment that fits and supports you. Your workstation should be designed to fit you... in other words, human-centered or U-centric!

This year, we celebrate Worksite International’s 32nd anniversary! This blog reflects our achievements over three decades of work in the ergonomics marketplace.

I love combining international travel with international conference participation. This article is a synopsis of lessons learned from several keynotes and presentations at the HFESA Ergonomics conference I attended and delivered (with great excitement) in Brisbane, AU on November 25-27, 2024.

As the holiday season draws near, it's essential to recognize the potential stress and physical strain it may bring. This can lead to discomfort in the back and body. Therefore, it's crucial to prioritize your well-being. Share these holiday safety tips with loved ones and colleagues. By taking care of yourself, you can start the new year with a healthy and happy back.

Employees who feel well physically and emotionally perform at higher levels, so it's important to support their wellness throughout the year. 

Ergonomics is the scientific discipline rooted in ensuring humans work efficiently with technology.  
 In the modern world, we are routinely faced with the option to integrate new technology into our day-to-day routines. Think of the last time your computer updated with a new version of Outlook or the latest version of your favorite software. Were you nervous or eager to try it?

Business owners and their board of directors are embracing technology and AI designed to boost productivity. These technological advances are changing how warehouse workers work side by side with robots and computers to ensure businesses maximize production.

However, employers may be missing the ensuing trade-offs on their employee's physical health and mental well-being. 

Nowadays its critical employers focus on employee health, safety, and well-being more than ever. The cultural shift to ensure employees are working well has never been a higher priority. To that end, the science of ergonomics is proven to help promote better performance, health, and well-being for employees, making a positive impact on organizations. But who is your organization's designated ergonomics specialist? And are they certified to perform at the level you need them to? 

To Headrest or Not to Headrest

If you are shopping for a chair with a headrest, it’s probably because you feel like you need more support for your head, neck, and back at the computer. If this is the case, before you shop, learn about headrest ergonomics, design, and its relation to computer use.

As a Chair Assessment Specialist, I’m often asked whether I recommend headrests on office ergonomic chairs. Most of the time, I don’t feel they are necessary. However, there are times when they are useful and important for seated comfort.

Is your Ergonomic Evaluation Process a Mystery to Employees?

It shouldn't be, but in many organizations it is. Knowing how to request an evaluation is often a mystery.

Relying on an ergo-hotline phone call, an email to the supervisor, or word of mouth are insufficient and ineffective to encourage engagement in your ergonomics process. These methods fall short in driving engagement with your ergonomics process, often slipping under the radar or being disregarded.  Nor does it allow you to capture vital information about why employees need an ergonomic assessment.

Solve the mystery by using a simple gateway form

Small to mid-size enterprises (SME) typically take a transactional approach to using the science of ergonomics.

Transactional ergonomics is used as a one-time solution to impact one or more employees for a particular reason, such as using an assessment for onboarding, workstation setup, and injury prevention. Or utilizing it reactively as part of a workers’ compensation management strategy.

The challenge with a transactional approach is it is not always a transparent process shared throughout the organization as a strategy available to all employees. How do your employees access your ergonomics evaluation process?