Most work places would provide basic workstation arrangements as long as the required resources are available, like a chair and a desk. However, very few take it upon themselves to assess the ergonomics of the workstation arrangements to establish if they are a friend and not a foe for both employees' health and company's productivity.
Injuries due to repetitive stress have increased significantly over the last decade. These injuries include back injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome, and they are the most costly claims to most company’s workers’ compensation insurance.
Companies in Europe and North-America have taken it upon themselves to assess and provide the best seating arrangement for their employees to reduce long term injuries and illnesses of employees due to occupational exposure to repetitive body stress. These injuries cost companies a lot of money in the long run but, more importantly, they cannot be afforded as quality and trained employees are difficult to get.
The situation in South Africa is much different. Here, back injuries are amongst one of the most reported incidents as few companies tend to be willing to invest in improved working conditions.
The personal services industries topped the list with the highest number of back injuries across all industries according to recent Makrosafe statistics. Back injuries recorded the third highest incidence among the list of other injuries in that industry.
It is not out of the ordinary that the iron and steel industry also has an alarming number of back injuries. This type of industry involves hard labour and handling of heavy equipment and loads. Pro-longed exposure to lifting heavy loads could have attributed to the high number of back injuries recorded.
It is alarming that an industry like trade and commerce also has a relatively high number of back injuries. Work in trade and commerce is less intensive compared to other industries like building construction yet case of incidents are among the highest. This highlights that ergonomics in workplaces should be vitalised as back pains could affect any employee, in and outside the office.
It is positive to note that the construction industry, where back injuries are mostly likely registered no incidence at all. It is clear evidence that there is the proper use or handling of loads and an effort is being made to reduce, as much as possible, incidence of back injuries.
Back injuries could be instant or a long term health problem. Employees should ensure that they educate and maintain the safety standards in the workplace.
Employers should ensure that their employees are professionally trained on the lifting and handling of heavy loads and the proper positions to be taken. Moreover, employers should ensure that anyone directly responsible for employees monitors that the right positions are used every time loads are lifted. This would safe guard the health of the employee while at the same time saving the company money in medical bills and paper-work should it happen that an incident occurs.
Employers could also resort to using machinery and equipment to ease the burden of labour on employees. This would prove as a good investment in the future as productivity would increase with less absenteeism cases due to back pains.
If the nature of the business is office related, employers should purchase equipment that ensures that employees seat up straight on their chairs. Researchers have indicated that this could be achieved by ensuring the desk level is above elbow level when an employee is seated on a chair. Remember, repetitive stress exposure causes back pains, it might seem okay to seat on a lower table but in the long run the company will pay dearly when back pains strike.
Ergonomics is a word that many people write incorrectly. They have hardly heard about it, or don't even know what it stands for. Make an effort of improving the workplace. It will reduce the need for being able to write 'ergonomics', let alone being confronted by it as a cause of many problems.
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