Prevent Body Pains with Ergonomic

Work Should Not Hurt

There is a recent trend of developing concept concerning work comfort, safety, productivity and efficiency. This concept is called ergonomic, defined as an applied science concern with understanding human abilities and limitations, and utilizes that knowledge in designing and arranging things people use to have the most efficient and safe interaction.  It is also known as biotechnology, human engineering, comfort design, functional design, universal design and system, and human factors [1]. It may pertain to designed product, but also creating system and processes. It accounts human physicality, cognitive ability and social behaviors that may influence work.

Short-Term Cost Saving Benefit

Ergonomic chairs were the first office furniture that gain attention, and provide a spotlight to ergonomics itself. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) based on evidence that ergonomics programs can cut labor costs, increase productivity and decrease employee turnover [2]. In the workplace, goals are to reduce the total economic cost of work-related injuries and illnesses, from workers’ compensation, medical cost, re-training cost of new employees and the likes, and have a result that increases productivity and profitability. Hence, it has been utilized in almost all industries from deploying personal protective equipment, safer equipment, stream lining processes and even safer consumer products.

In the greater population, ergonomic or human factor designs are steadily seeping in as part of marketing strategy to attract safety conscious consumers and environmental advocates. A healthier and safer product is the aim, and the concept has been applied in aviation, automotive manufacturers and similar industries.

The user-friendly and organize system used mainly by industries has seeped through sport, recreations and into homes. Greater number of people is becoming aware of its core advantages on efficiency and preventative measures in safety and overall health.

Long-Term Health Benefit

Significant benefit is as one exerts less physical effort; prevent repetitive strain injuries, results to lower risk of work-related injuries and illnesses, like musculoskeletal disorders. Some of these long-term illnesses and disabilities developed overtime, it may start as acute benign pain, but unknowingly such discomfort becomes a persistent and chronic result to loss of functional capacity. Mental acuity is dull by increasing persistent pain and discomfort. In the end, both physical and mental abilities are affected and disable a person to work productively, efficiently, comfortably and passionately. On the whole, ergonomic goal is to create a short-term benefits of optimize production and safer environment, and long-term health benefit and self-actualization of passion.

Application in the Kitchen

The concepts of ergonomics have been applied in homes especially in the kitchen; a functional kitchen floor plan is a great example. It consider the kitchen work flow with goal to organize the process that would result to less time spent, less effort but the same amount of productivity. An efficient kitchen flow in a small kitchen flow the sink, stove and refrigerator are traditionally placed at the points of a triangle, while in bigger& busier kitchen, work station approach is utilized, in which an ample space or landing area of at least 15 inches is provided around frequently use major appliance of a certain cooking station.

Another ergonomic discovery that answered what is the difference between comfortable-ideal kitchen worktops heights, including sink depth, and a body ache. This also helps erase some prejudices on clumsiness in the kitchen as it could be due to factors [3].  The ideal, comfortable, and efficient height of different countertops or worktops and depth of sink are proportional to the user’s height, as shown in the illustrations below.

Ergonomics optimizes the human anatomy and cognitive reflex and ability in order to create a comfortable, easy to use, efficient and aesthetic product, safe work environment and/or work process, thus it is applicable to any daily activity. This science is still at its infancy in the regulation standard hence take great care in jumping into any products or services that aggressively advertise and claims to apply this concept to their products and/or services. This science has great and noble intentions for human well-being; so always consider its concept, in making things better and safer.

Is this subject matter interesting? Would like to know more, please share your thoughts and leave a comment or questions below. And please don’t forget to follow. If you find this article lacking please feel free to post your reactions, suggestions, and corrections. And maybe follow to help this blog create better content. Thank you!

As always keep it safe, comfortable, efficient and simple. Enjoy!

References

1. Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (10^th ed.). (1993). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.  

2. Jeffress, C.N. (27 October 2000). BEACON Biodynamics and Ergonomics Symposium. University of Connecticut, USA.

3. Valcucine. (n.d.). Height and Depth of Worktops. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://www.valcucine.com/en/planning/ergonomics/height-depth/