In the present times, we all are aware of workplace ergonomics.Ergonomics aims at improving the quality of the work environment, boosting employee productivity, and preventing any serious injuries or fatigue among the workforce. Employers areconducting DSE Assessments and everyone is trying to follow norms for better ergonomics. Let us take a statistical approach to this problem and try to understand its implications better.
Workplace Desk Assessment – A mandatory step for better working.

Research data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that musculoskeletal disorders account for almost 33% of all injury cases in the workforce. The target group includes mostly white-collar employees, ranging across various job levels, from office clerks and receptionists to administrative workers. Thus, anyone who is engaged in a desk job and uses screen equipment such as a computer for long hours is prone to having musculoskeletal disorders.

The most common disorders faced are carpal tunnel syndrome (4500 cases) or injuries to the neck and back. None of these injuries is short-term and can become acute if not handled properly. For instance, an employee with a simple back sprain took around 10-12 days to recover completely. During the recovery period, employees must refrain from working. Thus, a bad posture or an inappropriate workstation not only causes serious injury but also hampers the employee’s productivity and performance.

Thus, to evade such disorders, employees need to bring about some changes in the worker job interface. They can either change the work process, work environment, work management, or the tools. In some cases, all four might not be possible but employees can take active steps to modify their workstation.

Crucial factors for an ergonomically fit workstation

As per a research experiment by the National Library of Medicine, the factors that significantly impact the productivity of employees and lead to an ergonomically fitter workplace are:
• Backrest support and arm position are instrumental in deciding how apt the workstation is for long hours of work. Employees in a Workstation with proper back support faced lesser fatigue and injuries
• A Workstation should have a work surface to seat height ratio of 1.82 for it to qualify as ergonomically fit
• Illumination level and noise level are all contributing factors towards creating a more productive workplace