Fellowes® - Solutions Centre - What Is Ergonomics?

What Is Ergonomics?

Ergonomic design is all about creating a working environment that fits the individual's need for comfort, health and safety, supporting their posture and body mechanics. A simple definition of ergonomics would be "making the work fit the person" rather than "making the person fit the work."

By not working ergonomically you can develop skeletal and muscular issues that in turn lead to neck and back pain causing disruptions to your work and life. Protecting yourself from these ergonomic issues doesn't have to be difficult, simply follow our handy ergonomic tips to create the ideal working environment to keep you healthy and productive both at work and home.

Keeping Yourself
Ergonomically Correct

Make your workplace work for you by ensuring your chair, desk, computer, phone and lighting all fit the needs of your body's most important areas. Your comfort is determined by how you protect each one of these areas by assuming correct ergonomic postures.

Use the following list to remind yourself to pay attention to how you're sitting. Post it near your desk where you interact with your computer and other equipment:

Line of Sight
Neck Posture
Arm Posture
Back Support
Leg Support
Foot Position
Viewing Distance
Work Surface
Mouse Position
Keyboard Position

Good Ergonomics Make Good Economics

A Healthy Workplace Keeps Working

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are some of the most prevalent, most expensive and most preventable workplace injuries in the workplace. They can affect muscles, tendons, nerves, joints and the spine. They can also hamper productivity and profit levels of a business through increased absenteeism levels and damaging the morale of a workforce.

66% of European office workers have suffered from ailments in the last 3 years as a direct result of working at a computer, laptop or tablet, Ergonomic products are a simple solution to an expensive problem for many companies!

Comfort Pays

Since on average European office workers spend over 6.5 hours a day using a laptop, computer or tablet, there are lots people throughout Europe that can benefit from having the correct ergonomic solutions in their working environment.

Good ergonomics can help with the following benefits:

Increase productivity
Improve worker morale
Reduce health issues such as repetitive stress injuries, back and neck strain, eye strain, muscular pains and headaches

The Risk Factors

Everyone in the workplace owes it to him or herself to be aware of and monitor the conditions that can cause problems.

Human Risk Factors