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3 Industries Where Ergonomics Play a Crucial Role in Employee Health
Pain and discomfort are inevitable in most occupations, especially those involving physically demanding activities. Poor ergonomics worsens dangerous working conditions because the environment, systems and equipment don’t fit the employees. Unnecessary strain can do a number on the body, increasing vulnerability to fatigue, burnout and injury.
Business leaders should protect employees from long-term sleep difficulties, musculoskeletal disorders and various mental health problems. Aside from being ethical, promoting worker well-being also positively impacts the bottom line through increased productivity and reduced absenteeism. Discover these three industries that show the way by embracing ergonomics to minimize occupational hazards.
1. Agriculture
Agricultural work is universally backbreaking. It doesn’t matter if you live in a developed or developing country. Working on a farm or ranch regularly pushes your body to the limit.
Female South Korean farmers over 60 experience lingering musculoskeletal pains in the lower and upper extremities due to awkward and unsafe standing postures, repetitive movements and the lifting of heavy material by hand. Thai vegetable, sugarcane and cassava plantation workers live with bad knees and calf muscles. And many American and British food producers would confess similar ailments.
Even worse, young people are less keen on replacing older agricultural workers and are more interested in less laborious jobs that pay well. As a result, an aging labor force continues to toil away past the retirement age.
Aside from mechanizing the industry, agriculture stakeholders have developed ergonomic tools to lessen the burden of manual tasks. Engineers have redesigned equipment to ensure the overlap between the forefinger and thumb is no greater than ⅜ inches to lower risks. Modern agricultural tools have modified handles with foam pool noodles to alleviate fatigue arising from prolonged use.
Reimagining processes have made tasks involving lifting and bending less taxing. Lifting items close to the body between hand and shoulder level, reducing load weight, using a stool and wielding tools with adjustable handles have made a world of difference.
2. Health Care
Working in the medical field is physically and mentally demanding. Lengthy workweeks are a fact of life for physicians. Nurses — even virtual ones — are no strangers to 12-hour work shifts. Caregivers are prone to compassion fatigue due to constant exposure to other people’s suffering.
Many of the occupational dangers in healthcare facilities come with the territory. However, a newfound appreciation for ergonomics has made the industry more friendly to health workers.
Healthcare organizations prioritize adequate training to teach staff about proper body mechanics to discourage slouching and hunching. Ergonomic hospitals have layouts optimized for accessibility and movement.
Stakeholders also put a premium on equipment and furniture positioning to design workstations conducive to fatigue alleviation. Chairs with adjustable heights, comfortable armrests and good lumbar support are the standard. Many healthcare facilities use keyboard stands and wrist rests to reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Moreover, ergonomists recommend observing a space of 20 to 40 inches between monitor screens and users. Such a distance should help health workers maintain postural alignment throughout the body when sitting or standing. Wall arms are becoming the norm because they lend adjustability to otherwise immovable monitors.
More importantly, healthcare organizations are incorporating ergonomics into their workplace cultures. They encourage staff to take regular breaks and stretch, report discomfort and pain they experience, and learn about the merits of ergonomics through training programs, books and other resources.
3. Construction
Construction work is brutal. Laborers and helpers share many of the same challenges as farmers and ranchers, except they also contend with the perils of heights, excessive noise, harmful chemicals and poor visibility at nighttime. The industry also struggles to attract young workers due to lack of experience or concerns regarding gender, socioeconomic and other stereotypes.
Machines such as robotic bricklayers and 3D printers have lightened the load for construction workers. However, most tasks are only feasible with manual labor.
Exoskeletons — or exosuits — have been game changers. These wearable robots enhance workers’ physical abilities to accomplish tasks with less effort. They support the back, shoulders and knees, improve balance and stability, promote better body alignment and good posture, and distribute load weight evenly.
Furthermore, these advanced pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) collect wearer data. Smart exosuits use sensors, actuators and algorithms to monitor worker performance, catch unsafe movements, detect fatigue and provide real-life feedback.
Engineers realize that these suits can be bulky. The next generation of exoskeletons is softer due to innovative textiles that fit human anatomy and biomechanics. These high-tech garments can deliver assistive torques to construction workers’ joints without using rigid external structures. Some designs are compact and have breathable fabrics to suit high-intensity workers operating in confined environments.
Embrace Ergonomics Where Possible to Promote Employee Health
Healthy employees are invaluable assets, regardless of industry. Although pain and discomfort are impossible to eliminate, make it a mission to minimize physical and mental strain to keep the organization’s lifeblood hale and hearty, happy and satisfied.