KARL: An Ergonomic Assessment of the Workplace

You’ve no doubt heard the term ‘ergonomics’ before – perhaps in connection with chairs, shoes or office supplies. But ergonomics covers many other areas as well.

If ergonomics are neglected, this can have health implications in an emergency. In electronics manufacturing in particular, an ergonomic workplace promotes productivity and the health of employees.

Read this article to find out what matters when it comes to workplace ergonomics.

The term ‘ergonomics’ is derived from the ancient Greek words ‘ergon’ (work) and ‘nomos’ (rule). This science deals with human work processes and the design of specific work equipment. The aim is to organise work in such a way as to safeguard employees’ health whilst achieving the best possible results – both in economic and qualitative terms.

If ergonomics is neglected, it can have a negative impact on people’s health. Particularly in jobs involving repetitive movements, a lack of ergonomics often leads to musculoskeletal disorders accompanied by chronic pain. In the long term, this can result in permanent health problems, psychological strain and more frequent and prolonged periods of absence from work.

Ergonomics is a challenge in the manufacturing sector. This is because both physically demanding tasks – such as lifting heavy objects – and work requiring fine motor skills at a desk take their toll on one’s health.

This makes it all the more important that ergonomic principles are followed in production. These principles are typically supported by workbenches that allow for an optimal sitting position. Our various models also fall into this category.

The correct sitting position relieves pressure on the spine and helps prevent muscle tension. An ergonomic chair alone is not enough. The seat height is also crucial. You should adjust it so that your upper and lower arms form an angle of approximately 90° and your forearms rest horizontally on the work surface.

There should also be a 90° angle between the upper and lower legs. The feet should be flat on the floor. You should stand upright.

However, even when sitting in the correct posture, you should not remain in that position for too long. It is therefore recommended that you alternate between sitting and standing.

A suitable workstation allows you to sit in this position – and also to change positions. As the optimum seat height varies from person to person, a height-adjustable desk is advantageous. Some desks can save settings for different people, and at the start of the working day, each employee simply selects their preferred setting. This also includes our TriMax.

The correct seat height not only affects the alignment of the spine, but also the reach and the associated movements. The layout of work equipment is determined by the user’s body measurements and movement patterns.

You should always position frequently used work equipment within easy sight and reach. As this area varies from user to user, a modular workstation is ideal in this respect. This allows each employee to set up their workspace optimally at the start of their shift. A workbench such as the TriMax allows these adjustments to be made quickly and without tools.

You’ve no doubt experienced for yourself just how much lighting conditions can affect your work. If it’s too dark, your eyes have to work harder. What’s more, your concentration wanes and your body starts to feel tired. Light that’s too bright, on the other hand, is dazzling and restricts your vision.

Ergonomic lighting is therefore tailored to the task at hand, the time of day and the individual needs of the employee. It is achieved through the optimal balance of daylight, ambient lighting and targeted task lighting. Ergonomic workstation systems – such as QUADRO and TriMax – are often fitted with system lights that provide optimum illumination of the work surface. This aids concentration and reduces errors.

As you can see, an ergonomic workplace involves more than just comfortable chairs. It is based on a holistic approach and takes the entire working environment into account. This includes:

• Height-adjustable workbenches
• Optimal reach and manoeuvring space
• Optimised lighting conditions

In manufacturing in particular, the principles of ergonomics should be strictly adhered to. Repetitive movements and one-sided strain pose a risk to employees’ health. By prioritising ergonomic workplace design, organisations can promote employees’ health and prevent absenteeism.

You too can create an ergonomic workspace with desks from KARL.