Ergonomics is the science of the human’s ability to most comfortably, efficiently, productively and safely perform actions. Most people think of it as simply how you sit in your chair or what height you place your monitor. It does incorporate the layout and design of tools and the environment for a particular job requiring certain actions.
Any task that involves a person doing something should also involve ergonomics. It covers your work, your hobbies and interests, sports, home safety and health, both mental and physical.
Design plays a big part in ergonomics. When something is being designed by a technician, they must consider human capabilities on average and always avoid as much repetitive action as possible. It is about making the job as easy on the physical body as possible while still enabling efficiency and speed.
Products designed for the workplace must be considered to be safe, comfortable and efficient. To be able to design something that fits properly into all these areas, an ergonomics professional has to be adept in psychology, anatomy and physiology. There is a real art to the process, and it requires intelligent and intuitive designers.
To prevent forming unbreakable routines, it is best that we teach children the correct posture and way to use their body. This means showing them the right way before they develop bad habits they find difficult to break. One of the biggest contributors to injury in the workplace is poor posture, and many report that they just couldn’t seem to help themselves as it was the way they have always been.
Designers put an extreme amount of time and effort into creating specific tools to ensure you don’t injure yourself at work. Weather it be a safety mask for welding, a wet floor sign, a mouth mask to stop fumes, a specially designed keyboard or an adjustable desk, use it to your advantage. Do not ignore it and do things the way you have always done them as you will end up paying for it in the long run.
Those who study ergonomics are devoted to improving life and health for the billions of people who go to work every day. Make the effort to have correct posture and it will be easier for you once you are used to it. Look after yourself and trust those who really do know best to guide you as to what you should do.
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