8 TRESTON - ERGONOMICS | ESD | LEAN How to improve the ergonomics of your workspace? Below you will find a list of the five key factors that you can use to improve the ergonomics of your industrial workstations. 1. Have everything you need close by When sizing your workstations, make sure that the necessary equipment and furniture are right where they need to be. This includes ensuring that there is sufficient space for various work tasks and that you can easily switch between each task. Remember to pay attention to the purpose of each workspace, as a functional and efficient space is also a safe one. When planning the layout of your furniture and equipment, ensure that all the devices and materials you need are readily available and easy to reach. Any infrequently used materials can be stored on a shelf or auxiliary top or in a drawer, for example. A carefully planned workspace is also a productive one. 2. Have enough adjustable lighting at your disposal Your eyes are just as sensitive to your working conditions as the rest of your body. That’s why you need to be able to adjust your lighting to each task at hand. Make sure that sufficient lighting is available for each work phase and task. Any tasks that demand a great deal of accuracy for longer periods of time, such as quality control or assembly work, usually require lots of light as well. When your light source is both sufficiently powerful and correctly directed, it can provide the lighting and contrast you need – regardless of personal preference or the accuracy demanded by each task. 3. Handle your loads carefully You may think that lifting a 40–50 lb package does not sound like much of a challenge, but manually handling even these types of smaller loads can result in back problems and many other adverse effects to your health. In general, the manual handling of loads represents a major occupational risk that can lead to injuries to the lower back and shoulders. To ensure the health, safety and efficiency of you and your employees, pay particular attention to how loads are handled at your place of work. To guarantee the efficiency and ergonomics of your workplace, choose the right cart or mobile auxiliary top for transporting any larger loads, and instruct your employees on the correct techniques for handling loads. 4. Adjust your working posture regularly Make sure that you vary your working posture throughout the day. It’s never a good idea to remain in the same position all the time, no matter if you’re seated or standing - so remember to change your working posture frequently. The latest cognitive research has demonstrated the benefits of regularly varying your working posture. According to the research results, even small movements, such as standing up occasionally, can help improve your memory, attentiveness, learning and overall cognitive performance. 5. Remember to adjust your chair A chair that is designed for ergonomic working postures forms a vital part of any well-functioning, ergonomic and user-friendly workstation. Proper sitting techniques will allow you to work efficiently, reduce the risk that you will neglect to vary your posture, and permit you to operate in a way that is best for you and your work. However, an ergonomic chair is not truly ergonomic until it has been adjusted to the needs of the person using it – so remember to adjust the chair and not the employee! Watch this animation: 6 ways to improve your workspace ergonomics https://youtu.be/lyZslJr21Ek
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