Employers aren’t only responsible for compensating their staff for services rendered. They are also responsible for providing safe and decent working conditions for their employees. When employers don’t take necessary precautions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their staff, it can lead to serious workplace injuries and related illnesses.
To minimize the potential of accidents and health complications, ergonomics is a method that should be practiced throughout the office. It is essentially the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment.
When an employer focuses on creating a safe and comfortable environment for their employees, they can work to the best of their abilities. Below are some bits of advice on how to ensure your staff stays healthy and safe while in the office:
1. Conducting Ergonomic Evaluations
Ergonomic evaluations would simply require managerial staff to evaluate the way employees work. By viewing the way a worker sits, types, and moves around throughout the day, employers get an idea of what needs to be done to make the environment more comfortable. These evaluations can be conducted on an annual basis to ensure that everyone’s needs are met.
2. Communicate With Your Staff
Your employees should have no issues with reaching out to you in regards to their health and safety in the workplace. When an employee needs to voice a concern, it is important that you make it easy for them to do so. Encourage your staff to be proactive in reporting health and safety concerns. There should be more than one way for them to do this so that they feel comfortable. This can include talking to someone in human resources, filling out a form, sending an email, or simply scheduling a time to talk with you.
3. Invest in Ergonomically Conscious Furniture
While you don’t have to toss all the office furniture you have currently, investing in ergonomically conscious furniture as the need arises can create a safer environment for your employees. There are plenty of furniture choices you can purchase including keyboard guards, ergonomic chairs and stand up desks. When determining which pieces of furniture will make the best investment, get a general consensus of common complaints in the office as it relates to health and safety. For example, if your staff is complaining of back issues, getting a stand up desk or ergonomic chair would help offer them the support they need. You can check out more about ergonomically conscious furniture by checking out some relevant videos on Youtube.
4. Encourage Movement
Sitting is one of the worst things for your health. If your staff is required to sit for long periods of time it may be best to encourage them to get up and move around. Movement will not only prevent common workplace issues like eyestrain, carpal tunnel, and back pain, but it can prevent weight gain and other health risks for your employees. Walk around and advise staff that seems to be stagnant to get up and get the blood flowing. This might also require you to allow more breaks throughout the day such as two 15-minute breaks where staff can freely walk around without consequence.
Creating a healthy and stable work environment for your staff does not have to be costly. When your staff is comfortable and healthy, they can execute their responsibilities more efficiently than ever before. By properly educating your staff, assessing their needs periodically, and making wise investment choices you can make a significant difference in the safety in the office.
