Does your Workspace support Employee Productivity? (As Published in The Guardian of 25/10/2016)

Neck pain, shoulder pain, lower back pain – how can working at a desk job be so painful? The answer is ergonomics, the science of coordinating physical working conditions to workers. The word comes from the Greek word ergon, meaning “Work” and Nomos meaning “laws”

These “laws of work” aim to help people better fit into workplaces and improve their health and productivity by making the workplaces more comfortable. Many companies have ergonomic programmes, covering noise, lighting and even how employees sit in front of their computers.

Proper ergonomics can ease job stress and prevent chronic injuries and disabilities such as: excessive fatigue, eyestrain and irritation, blurred vision, headaches, stress, neck pain or back pain.

Pay attention to posture. Proper setup will help maintain proper posture while working. A bad set-up will have your employees twisting and turning all over the place with complains of stress and strains.

A common posture problem for people who work with computers is holding their heads in front of their shoulders and arching their necks, like turtles peering out of their shells. Slouched backs and rounded shoulders often accompany this poor posture. Working in this position can lead to frequent headaches, backaches and sore necks. Fatigue that can’t be relieved by rest breaks is another symptom.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a term for injuries associated with repetitive activities, including using the computer. Although pointing and clicking may seem harmless, carpal tunnel syndrome, in which the nerve that runs into the hand is pinched by surrounding swollen tendons, can have debilitating consequences.

Specific Recommendations:

• Encourage your employees to take a short breaks frequently to walk around or do some stretching exercises.

• Conduct a “Lunch and Learn” seminar on proper posture and how to avoid Repetitive Strain Injury

• Ensure that office chairs, desks and placement of computer screens support proper sitting posture

Reply back to bhakti@impactafya.com with your feedback and we welcome your suggestions for corporate wellness issues you’d like to see covered in our future columns.

 Bhakti Shah, MPH is the Founder and Managing Director of ImpactAfya Ltd, collaborating with Workplace Options and Mayo Clinic, USA to provide Corporate Wellness Solutions in East Africa. Bhakti is also the Immediate Past President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tanzania.