Essay On Office Ergonomics

1499 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Introduction to healthy workplace essay

Background:
Office ergonomics as is the case with other disciplines in ergonomics all emerged in the 1940s during the world war (McCormick and Saunders 1993). Difficulties arouse from soldiers inability to handle technical equipment produced for the war due to physical incompatibility or lack of understanding of the equipment and when the advancements in technology was transferred to the civilian populous after the war, the same problems in human-machine system incompatibility were observed. This led to a study by military personnel, academics psychologists and physiologist all researching on solutions to the complications arising from the operation of the machines (Kumar and Cohn, 2013).
In the year 1949 the term ergonomics was coined from the Greek words “ergo” meaning work and “nomos” meaning law in a meeting attended by distinguished psychologist and physiologist. The same group later formed the ergonomic research society (ERS) which was the first body in the world to study on ergonomics. ERS then evolved to the ergonomics society (ES) and then to the current Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (IEHF) (Omerley, 2103). Office ergonomics is part of this generalized evolution of ergonomics with it being a recognized discipline among the domains of ergonomics. Office ergonomics deals mainly in the office setting or environment and helps in averting injuries and adapting the work to the person rather than the person to the work.
Development of office ergonomics
Office ergonomics was developed in a bid to better the already good working environment (Lauren, 2006). This helps individuals operating machines give their best job results as well as maximizing production. As production is increased, risks of injury are greatly red...

... middle of paper ...

...lementation of the solution by the committee. Worker compensation cost also reduced by 10%. This saved Quad graphics money that would be used in compensation and valuable days that would have been lost due to worker absence (Lauren, 2006).
Conclusion/opinion
Ergonomics is a great tool in increasing worker productivity and improving working conditions in work stations. Any organization that encompasses ergonomics in its operations is saving lots of money from time wastage and worker compensation. Organizations should not wait until their workers become injured or ill so that they introduce ergonomics. They should instead adopt it from the word go. By doing so, workers have confidence in the organization as they feel cared for thus will give their best while at work. The moment ergonomics becomes a way of life in all organizations, everything changes for the better.

Show More
Related

  • Describe Factors To Be Considered When Using Office Equipment

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    The purpose of confirming instructions and requirements for business travel and accommodation is to ensure that those travelling know exactly where they need to be, what they need to bring and when they need to be there. This helps to ensure they won’t miss any trains/planes/boats etc. by allowing time for travel. It also ensures that they don’t forget something important like a passport or a document needed for the meeting which could also cause delays and embarrassment. Telling them where they are accommodated lets them know what to expect when they are staying overnight, so they can manage there expectations around room quality and service appropriately.

    Read More

  • Musculoskeletal System Case Study

    1189 Words  | 3 Pages

    As technology improves and time on the computer increases, symptoms for these diseases begin to appear more frequently. Sitting on the computer for hours on end makes you prone to developing a musculoskeletal disease since you are not being active or exercising your muscles. Ardahan and Simsek (2015) analyze the interaction and affect on excessive computer work and disease in the musculoskeleton. Their study includes 490 participants who work in a government office in Turkey, and observe how their bodies were reacting to their work environment, excluding workers who are already struggling with pain coming from a previous disease. Results were taken from the experiment by filling out questionnaires that attempted to document the level of discomfort that they experienced. More than 25% were discovered to not take a break during their session on the computer, but found that the average amount of time spent on the computer was 7 hours. The workers recorded musculoskeletal pain symptoms mainly in the neck area and back. Age was not a determinant factor when it came to being more prone to experiencing these symptoms. In some of the results, it was found that women are more likely to have pain in certain areas in comparison to men, and overall dealt with more pain. The data from the study proved that the more use you get on the computer, the more likely you are to develop symptoms of a disorder in your musculoskeletal system. To ensure that you don’t suffer through the pain, the results show that taking breaks from long computer usage is beneficial. It’s important to relax your muscles and keep them active instead of staring at a computer for more than 7 hours with no breaks in

    Read More

  • Neck and Shoulder Pain Caused by Posture

    814 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...signed job, supported by a well-designed workplace and proper tools, allows the worker to avoid unnecessary motion of the neck, shoulders and upper limbs. Meaning the actual performance of the tasks depends on individuals. Make sure to always observe the workplace. If it looks like it’s an unfit workplace and you can easily get injured. Walk away. There is nothing better than to make sure that your job and health are okay when it comes to the workplace. Great ergonomics means great Workplace.

    Read More

  • The History Of Occupational Therapy

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    The history of occupational therapy goes way back in the 18th and the 19th with the approach of the moral treatment to treat patient. The main goal of the moral treatment was to change the individual faulty habit by focusing on the environmental aspect of the hospital (Kielhofner 2009). By the end of the 1800’s

    Read More

  • Certified Nurse Assistants: A Case Study

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) are caregivers that work close to the elderly patients, also called residents. The CNAs are responsible for taking viral signs and helping the residents with activities of the daily living, such as: bathing, walking, eating, toileting, dressing and transferring. Taking care of patients that are not able to perform common tasks, like using the bathroom, can be difficult. For that reason, a great number of CNAs get injured in their work setting every year. In order to minimize the risk of work-related injured inside long-term care facilities, the facility should impose a non-lift policy and increase the use of lift machines, such as hoyers.

    Read More

  • A Nurse Manager's Role in Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorders

    3035 Words  | 7 Pages

    US Department of Labor, (2009). Guidelines for nursing homes: Ergonomics for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (OSHA 3182-3R 2009). Retrieved from website: https://www.osha.gov/ergonomics/guidelines/nursinghome/final_nh_guidelines.pdf

    Read More

  • Essay On Occupational Science

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...e-based knowledge to inform the therapy practice. It also assists with furthering the therapist’s knowledge of humans as occupational beings as well as the relationship between occupation and health.(Yexer ,1993) introduced occupational science as a fundamental science supporting occupational therapy, with an aim to refocus the provision of therapy back to occupation. Hence, occupational science provides the therapists with support, justifies the meaning and uniqueness of the profession and distinguishes occupational therapy from other professions. In addition (Wilcock, 2001), also emphasises that occupational science might be another way to avoid the possible failure of the occupational therapy as a practice. With a strong research background, occupational therapists could make a contribution to medical science, which may challenge it from a different standpoint.

    Read More

  • Physical Therapist Assistant

    1010 Words  | 3 Pages

    Have you ever bent down to pick something up or sprinted after your dog because he got loose? Not many people in today’s society pay attention to their body movement. They often take their body’s ability to move normally for granted. A person’s biomechanics are essential to everyday life, without being able to move properly one cannot perform everyday tasks. Unfortunately, there are people who are not able to do so and face many hardships in their life and may be in a lot of pain. Therefore, these people seek professional assistance to help them regain their ability to function normally. Usually, they end up in the care of a physical therapist and his assistant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapist assistants “help patients who are recovering from injuries, illnesses, and surgeries regain movement and manage pain.” There is a lot to being a physical therapist, the duties the job requires, the schooling needed to become one, and how much the job pays.

    Read More

  • Physical Therapy

    3023 Words  | 7 Pages

    ...tivities with proper mechanics, safely so that further injury does not occur. Mainly educating people how to change their movements and posture. This proves my thesis by stating a specific technique used to help improve the way in which one performs his/hers daily routines.

    Read More

  • The Legalizing Marijuana Debate

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    Horrey, William J., Wickens, Christopher D., Spring 2006. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. vol. 48 no. 1. pg. 196-205

    Read More

  • Unveiling the Significance of Occupational Therapy

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    Occupational therapy (OT) is an interesting discipline which has its roots in just about every other form of therapy and medicine. Many aspects of OT are seen in everyday life, yet are unnoticed because of how common place they are in our society. When I thought of OT I thought of specialized equipment such as a modified spoon to help someone who has suffered a stroke to eat by themselves again. This is one aspect, however there are many more instances that OT assist other medical professionals. Throughout this paper I will discuss more in depth on what it is an occupational therapist does and why this type of therapy is essential to our activities of daily living.

    Read More

  • McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    It essential that managers are aware of their employees physical needs while in the work place to include ensuring t...

    Read More

  • Health Promotion Essay

    1797 Words  | 4 Pages

    The three-month intervention targeted the following areas: improvement of worker health through the involvement of unit managers, implementation of unit-wide safety changes, and worker education. The intervention agenda included three themes: 1) improvement of unit ergonomics and safety, 2) practicing safe patient handling, and 3) enhancing staff physical fitness. Floor safety champions were appointed to guide staff during the implementation of the safe patient handling activities. The program included mentoring sessions with an ergonomic specialist, which focused on increasing awareness of strategies to reduce the risk of injury to the worker and patient. Expanded knowledge, readily available supervisor support, and the improved work environment were associated with reduced worker stress and increased consistency in the implementation of safety techniques among workers (Caspi et al.,

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Safety In The Health Care Environment

    1774 Words  | 4 Pages

    Safety is a primary concern in the health care environment, but there are still many preventable errors that occur. In fact, a study from ProPublica in 2013 found that between 210,000 and 440,000 patients each year suffer preventable harm in the hospital (Allen, 2013). Safety in the healthcare environment is not only keeping the patient safe, but also the employee. If a nurse does not follow procedure, they could bring harm to themselves, the patient, or both. Although it seems like such a simple topic with a simple solution, there are several components to what safety really entails. Health care professionals must always be cautious to prevent any mishaps to their patients, especially when using machines or lifting objects, as it has a higher

    Read More

  • The Future Of Work And The Future Of Work

    932 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Today’s world, the composition and how work is done has massively changed and is still continuing to change. Work is now more complex, more team base, depends greatly on technological and social skills and lastly more mobile and does not depend on geography. Companies are also opting for ways to help their employees perform their duties effectively so that huge profits are realized in the long term .The changes in the workplaces include Reduction in the structure of the hierarchy ,breakdown in the organization boundaries , improved and better management tactics and perspectives and lastly better workplace condition and health to the employees. (Frank Ackerman, Neva R. Goodwin, Laurie Dougherty, Kevin Gallagher, 2001)

    Read More

More about Essay On Office Ergonomics

Open Document