How can I design ergonomic workspaces for my employees?
June 4, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Erika Keck
Dear Occupational Medicine Doctor,
My name is Luisa Czakaj and I am the managing director of a medium-sized company with 50 employees. Lately, we have been receiving complaints about back and neck pain from employees who mainly work at desks. As a responsible manager, I am concerned about the health of my employees and I wonder how I can create ergonomic workspaces for them to prevent such complaints in the future.
The current situation in our company is such that most employees sit at conventional desks that cannot be individually adjusted. Most chairs are not ergonomic and do not provide adequate back support. Furthermore, screens are often incorrectly positioned, leading to an unnatural posture for employees.
I have been considering purchasing height-adjustable desks and ergonomic office chairs for my employees. However, I am not sure if this is enough to improve ergonomic conditions in the workplace. Are there any other measures I can take to promote the health and well-being of my employees?
I would greatly appreciate your expertise and advice on how to make our workspaces more ergonomic, thereby enhancing the well-being and productivity of our employees. Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Luisa Czakaj
Dear Mrs. Czakaj,
Thank you for your question and your interest in the health of your employees. It is commendable that as a managing director, you are paying attention to the ergonomic conditions in the workplace of your employees and want to take measures to promote their health and well-being. Back and neck pain are common complaints among office workers who work in poor ergonomic workspaces.
The measures you have already mentioned, such as the acquisition of height-adjustable desks and ergonomic office chairs, are definitely a good start. These can help improve the posture of employees and reduce the strain on their backs and necks. It is important that work tools are adapted to the individual needs of employees to create optimal ergonomic conditions.
In addition to height-adjustable desks and ergonomic chairs, there are other measures you can consider to make the workspaces more ergonomic. These include positioning the screens at eye level, using ergonomic mouse and keyboard models, setting up standing aids for alternating sitting and standing, and designing break rooms where employees can regularly take breaks from their desks and screens.
Furthermore, you can offer ergonomic training for your employees to teach them how to optimally set up their workspaces and pay attention to their posture. Regular breaks and movement sessions during working hours can also help prevent back and neck pain.
It is important that as a managing director, you promote awareness of ergonomic workplace design in your company and conduct regular assessments of working conditions to ensure that measures to improve ergonomic conditions are actually implemented.
I hope these suggestions help you and support your efforts to promote the health and well-being of your employees. If you have any further questions or need individual advice, I am happy to assist.
Best regards,
Erika Keck
