Saving the company money, managing employees correctly and increasing their productivity is always a concern of any good business team. With higher productivity, employee’s are obviously happier which leads to happier employers who have formed a hard working and highly productive workforce. And saving money in business is not one point needing to be explained, what business wouldn’t want more working capital in the bank?
Workplace injuries are causing a huge strain from the major corporations all the way to the smallest family business as ergonomics can be applied in most job situations but are not. Currently most businesses do not have the ergonomics training for employees that is needed. One of the objectives for most business situations should be to lower the incidences of Repetitive Stress Syndrome (RSI) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
These two injuries are becoming commonplace with employees sitting in front of a computer for such long hours of the day. Even people who do not spend long hours are at risk for these injuries if not properly positioned ergonomically while they work.
As our reliance on computers increases, these injuries seem to be hitting epidemic proportions. It is estimated that more than 28 million Americans use computers each day. According to the people at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), many of these people are at risk of coming down with carpal tunnel syndrome or RSI injuries.
Today, the number one debilitating condition that is a disability reported by insurance Companies is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Yet many still plug away at their computer, fully unaware of the risk they are taking with their health. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome comes in many stages and forms but none are pretty.
Most sufferers, once Carpal Tunnel has set in find that they are unable to even use their hands without braces or surgery. Employers need to recognize the risk they are taking with their money when it comes to insurance claims.
The average Carpal Tunnel surgery can cost thousands of dollars and it is not the employee who will be paying if proper ergonomics were not applied. Instead of businesses shelling out their hard earned money to Insurance companies because of high premiums due to the number of workplace injuries, why not try prevention and make sure your employees are healthy and of course more productive.
Not only do the employers have to worry about injuries caused by workplace conditions, they also need to constantly worry about productivity. When employees are comfortable in their workstation and do not feel any extra tension or stress on their muscles, they are more likely to keep working and work better. Someone who is not feeling their best, is definitely not working at their best.
Businesses need people to perform at their top level when they are the ones doling out the paychecks. Having a team that is comfortable and has the proper body health can absolutely do wonders for the productivity of the team. OSHA reports that claims stemming from Repetitive Musculoskeletal injuries result in $15-20 billion in lost work time and Worker’s Compensation claims each year. Does your company want to be one of the ones shelling out the cash to these insurance behemoths? I would rather have my employees plugging away happily in front of their ergonomic desk, in their ergonomic office chair than worrying about filling in the endless insurance claim forms.
Ergonomics can save your business both time and money and should not be put aside to worry about later. Positioning your workstation correctly and educated yourself on how to sit and work ergonomically can help any person or business to better body health, more money and of course higher productivity.
For more information:
How to Choose Your Office Chair
Ergonomic Office Chairs
