What is ergonomics?

Ergonomics is a concept established through the regulatory standard NR-17 , which aims to guarantee parameters for a good working condition .

Therefore, it is the employer’s obligation to carry out the ergonomic analysis in the work environment and in the company.

NR-17 is mandatory for all companies and, if not complied with, can cause problems for the employer and employees.

The main objective of ergonomics is to adapt the work environment to generate employee well-being and contribute to their productivity , since the most common diseases at work occur because people are subject to ergonomic risks, such as:

• repetitive effort;
• bad posture;
• working standing up for a long time;
• carry weight, among others.

Factors such as these affect the physical and mental health of the worker, often resulting in dissatisfaction, unhappiness and low productivity.

Therefore, for the company to keep its employees healthy, motivated and performing their duties well, a good leader must be concerned and take care of the ergonomics of their employees.

Thus, it is possible to avoid future health problems and damage to your business.

Not all companies adopt ergonomic practices, often due to lack of knowledge and not knowing where to start.

So, here are some measures that can help you implement ergonomic measures:

• form a committee with company leaders, managers and employee representatives to discuss decisions regarding ergonomics at work;
• develop actions that contribute to employee awareness, such as: emails, infographics and notices on the intranet ;
• offer training and courses on safety to your employees;
• develop activities such as gymnastics at work to prevent posture problems and repetitive strain injuries.

Applying ergonomics in the home office 

At a time when many companies have joined remote work due to the new coronavirus, employers need to be concerned about raising awareness and encouraging their employees to adopt ergonomic practices at home.

In order to provide good posture during the journey at home, and given that we still don’t know how long social isolation will last, some companies are making office chairs available to ensure the comfort of the employee in remote work.

That’s because ergonomics is very important for the development of any activity, including at home office.

We know that to maintain productivity and effectiveness working from home it is important to adopt some practices.

Because you are working at home, convenience affects many people who end up working anywhere in the house, such as on the bed, sofa, adapting to the living room or kitchen table that can be low or too high.

In this way, incorrect posture can cause back pain or worse, spine problems.

So what to do?

To maintain a healthy relationship with your own body and avoid health problems, it is very important to define breaks, adjust furniture, change posture and create a harmonious, organized, pleasant and ergonomic environment.

It is worth noting that there is no need to spend a lot of money on furniture, for example, a special chair.

Even at home it is possible to adapt to the work environment to maintain the correct posture and avoid injuries. Check out the tips!

Ergonomics tips in the home office to ensure comfort and quality at work

1. Keep the computer screen at eye level

If possible, position your computer screen at a height that doesn’t force your neck down or put you in a hunchbacked position.

If you don’t have an ergonomic laptop stand or if your computer screen is not at the right height, use books to make the screen at the proper height.

2. Pay attention to your posture

Use a chair that allows you to rest your feet on the floor, in a comfortable position for your legs and spine.

Keep your shoulders and hips in line and avoid working on the bed or couch.

3. Avoid placing the computer near the window

The reflection of light is bad for the eyes, in addition to straining vision. Also use a keyboard and mouse support, so that they are positioned correctly.

4. Do stretching exercises

It is very important to schedule some breaks to stretch. Stretch your arms and legs with simple exercises to get your circulation going.

According to experts, the ideal is to stretch for five minutes at work.

Want a tip? Repetitive movements can cause muscle pain or even trigger tendinitis.

Rotate your wrists outward, open and close your fingers to help relax your hands.

5. Stay hydrated

It is very important that you remember to drink water during working hours. If necessary, activate the cell phone alarm to remind.

If your body is not hydrated, your cognitive ability is affected. So keep a glass or bottle of water close to you to encourage water consumption throughout the day.