Frequently Asked Questions - Workstation Assessments
- Why should I care about ergonomics?
- Isn’t the sign of a job well done pain at the end of a hard working day?
- Is surgery the answer?
- How does an assessment from an ergonomist or ergonomic specialist differ from a Primary Healthcare Professional?
- Who should be assessed by a specialist?
- How regularly should I have an assessment?
- Why fix bad, awkward, unhealthy work habits or behaviors?
- I am not experiencing pain from bad, awkward, unhealthy work habits & behaviors, why should I have an assessment?
- Why do I need good, healthy, behavior when I use the best tools & equipment?
- My office or workstation is causing me pain & injury, what should I do?
1. Why should I care about ergonomics?
A doctor may perscribe medication to improve your health but it is up to YOU to follow those instructions.
Good health allows us to do what we love. Ergonomics helps to reduce or eliminate work pain and injuries, reduce health and insurance expenses and increase profits and productivity. Over 50 percent of corporate profits now go towards healthcare costs versus only 7 percent three decades ago. According to the American Institute of Preventive Medicine. 2 out of 10 people report that they are working at full potential, and half of the workforce expends only the minimum effort to not get fired. According to the National Commission on Productivity |
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2. Isn’t the sign of a job well done pain at the end of a day?
Absolutely not! Times have changed and in today’s world, getting the job done right shouldn’t be a pain. You shouldn’t settle for pain either.
Behavioral Ergonomics targets the root cause of current and potential muscle strain and pain. A good assessment of your office/workstation, behaviors, and/or equipment can teach you how to identify and mitigate risks to prevent pain and injury. 60 to 90 percent of all visits to health care professionals are estimated to be for preventable disorders. Source: 20 year research project at Kaiser Permanente Experts agree that the leading causes of illness are preventable and account for nearly 70 percent of healthcare costs annually. These illnesses include tobacco use, high-stress levels, poor sleeping habits, sedentary lifestyles (ergonomic implications) and poor nutritional habits. |
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3. Is surgery the answer?
Surgery should always be the last resort as in many cases if MSDs are detected early on can be resolved through non-surgical means. Whether you are an individual who works for an organization, a solopreneur or own an organization. Below is a breakdown of common injury costs regardless of who pays the claims.
Back Strain costs an average of $8,650 per claim. The National Council on Compensation Insurance
MSDs costs an average of $10,270 per claim. The National Council on Compensation Insurance
Back Strain costs an average of $8,650 per claim. The National Council on Compensation Insurance
MSDs costs an average of $10,270 per claim. The National Council on Compensation Insurance
4. How does an assessment from an ergonomist or ergonomic specialist differ from a Primary Healthcare Professional?
Primary Healthcare professionals are focused on reactive mitigations versus proactive or preventative mitigations. They typically will not visit your place of work. And an Ergonomist or Ergonomic Specialist unlike your Primary Healthcare professional has knowledge about equipment to assist with proactive, preventative mitigations.
5. Who should be assessed by a specialist?
Everyone should be assessed! In particular those with higher risk or individuals currently experiencing discomfort should consult a specialist. Specialists are in a low supply and need to be used wisely. Former NASA scientist Brian Peacock’s 70, 20, 10 ergonomics rule* show that 70% can resolve issues with proper training. 20% may needs help with mitigating issues (in house train the trainers: ergo contacts & leads are helpful). 10% are high risk, discomfort cases that need personalized and specific recommendations to mitigate and prevent further pain and/or injury.
* 70, 20, 10 rule discussed at a professional development conference. These percentiles presented here for illustrative purposes only.
* 70, 20, 10 rule discussed at a professional development conference. These percentiles presented here for illustrative purposes only.
6. How regularly should I have an assessment?
OSHA advises ergonomic assessments at least every 2 years or anytime you move to a new working location or job. Rarely does our jobs stay the same. As the type of work or working location changes, you may need to re-evaluate whether you have the necessary tools or setup to do the job safely and productively.
7. Why fix bad, awkward, unhealthy work habits or behaviors?
Do you dictate your working posture OR does your surroundings dictate your working posture?
It’s not 100% your fault and you are not alone; many habits/ behaviors we exhibit unconsciously and have not always been given the right training that helps us to be conscious of our unhealthy Behaviors. But we need to FIX such behaviors.
Unhealthy Behavior leads to Pain which will lead to Injury/Injuries which will then lead to Increased Medical Bills and Decreased Moral & Productivity. In correcting Unhealthy Behavior/s, you will eliminate or reduce pain and injuries.You will Protect Your Health!
It’s not 100% your fault and you are not alone; many habits/ behaviors we exhibit unconsciously and have not always been given the right training that helps us to be conscious of our unhealthy Behaviors. But we need to FIX such behaviors.
Unhealthy Behavior leads to Pain which will lead to Injury/Injuries which will then lead to Increased Medical Bills and Decreased Moral & Productivity. In correcting Unhealthy Behavior/s, you will eliminate or reduce pain and injuries.You will Protect Your Health!
8. I am not experiencing pain from bad, awkward, unhealthy work habits & behaviors, why should I have an assessment?
Great! We still recommend for you to get the training necessary to prevent future pain & injury.
MSDs occur in the same way any other disease occurs. The moment we feel Flu symptoms is not when we first received the virus. MSDs are a result of acute and/or cumulative trauma (result from a combination of risk factors where Unhealthy Behavior may be a factor to one or more of the risks).
MSDs occur in the same way any other disease occurs. The moment we feel Flu symptoms is not when we first received the virus. MSDs are a result of acute and/or cumulative trauma (result from a combination of risk factors where Unhealthy Behavior may be a factor to one or more of the risks).
9. Why do I need good, healthy, behavior when I use the best tools & equipment?
Having the best tools & equipment WITHOUT setting them up correctly and using them correctly, WILL still result in the NEGATIVE results mentioned… With having the BEST tools & equipment, You need to put forth less effort for GOOD, Healthy Behavior. While having bad, inadequate or the wrong tools & equipment, means that You need to put forth greater efforts for GOOD, Healthy Behavior.
10. My office or workstation is causing me pain & injury, what should I do?
Tools & Equipment must be the correct choice for the work/job, set up correctly and be used correctly. Given Your office location and the control You have to make modifications may limit the tools & equipment You can use. Nonetheless, ergoBe’s training packages have taken those limitations into consideration, giving you the necessary knowledge to self mitigate implementing GOOD, Healthy Behavior. If You are able to make tools & equipment modifications, ergoBe will also help you to select the BEST solutions for your given situation.
Ergonomic tools & equipment are not toys, but specific mitigation strategies; specific to the individual and work.
Ergonomic tools & equipment are not toys, but specific mitigation strategies; specific to the individual and work.