California is the only state in our nation that has a legally enforceable ergonomic standard. Passed in 1997, section 5110 of the California Code of Regulations, the ergonomic standard aims to eliminate risk factors that can cause repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), wherever possible. But I’m willing to bet a good portion of the audience doesn’t know it exists, or what ergonomics really is. So, let’s take a step back and talk about what ergonomics is and how proper ergonomics benefits workers and the companies that employ them.
What is Ergonomics?
The definition of ergonomics is quite simply “the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment.” Sounds simple enough, right? As an abstract concept, you’d be completely correct. But when put into practice, ergonomics is a complex science of posture variation, measurements, and specialty equipment that all combine to create a healthy work environment for employees. At this point you may be thinking Jeez, that sounds like an expensive project for a company to undertake. And you are not totally incorrect. But if we zoom out and look at the alternative, suddenly the upfront cost of ergonomics in the workplace looks a lot more appealing.
How can RSIs affect my company?
For the sake of this article, let’s use carpal tunnel syndrome, the proverbial boogeyman of the average desk worker, as our subject. While it’s not as immediate as a slip and fall or as sensational as accidents involving heavy machinery, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a silent stalker that builds over time, and when it strikes, it can leave employees completely incapable of performing their job.
Although CTS is caused by repetitive motions over long periods of time, that doesn’t mean it is an infrequent injury. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CTS makes up for 32.5 percent of all occupational RSIs. That is nearly a third of all RSIs in the workplace. Couple that with OSHA’s direct cost estimate of $28,647 per CTS case, and you can see that RSIs can be a costly blow for companies to take on the chin. Now, just like the Dodgers halfway through free agency every year, we’re not done yet! The direct costs to a company are workers’ compensation and insurance costs, but we have yet to talk about the indirect costs associated with a workplace RSI.
On average you can expect an employee with CTS to miss 25 days of work, with some cases taking up to four months to completely heal. This means the employer will deal with a massive loss in productive hours, incur worker replacement costs, strain other company resources, and potentially see an increase in workers comp premiums. And if that doesn’t paint the rosiest picture for you, just wait, it gets worse.
Remember how I mentioned that RSIs build up over time? Like anything that has a gradual progression, there will be warning signs along the way. Water will always give off steam before it boils. Computer-bound employees who are in the early stages of developing CTS due to excessive mouse and keyboard use will start to notice discomfort. There will be tingling, occasional numbness, and maybe a brief twinge of pain.
None of these will bring productivity to a screeching halt, but that doesn’t mean their performance at work won’t suffer. When an athlete is dealing with an injury, but is still playing in games, you often hear talking heads comment that they are “feeling 80 percent.” When we hear that what does that do to our expectations of their performance? We assume, while they are still out there contributing, that they will not perform to their full potential.
That is not exclusive to athletes. If an employee is developing an RSI, the early symptoms can require them to take more frequent breaks, work slower, or alter their workflow to accommodate their newfound discomfort. All these activities are detrimental to productivity, and this can happen for months or even years before a full-blown case of CTS is diagnosed. All of this sounds terrible to both employees and employers alike, and it is. But it really doesn’t have to be.
So, what can I do about it?
Be proactive. If that sounds like a simple solution, well, it is. Putting in the work to have a proactive approach to ergonomics at your company makes sense on a multitude of fronts. The executive suite can better plan for the costs associated with proactive ergonomics instead of being surprised by large workers comp payouts and periods where productivity is in the toilet. On the employee level, not only will proactive ergonomics create a more productive workforce, but also a happier one where employees will feel like the company is taking their health as a serious priority. This is especially important as Gen-Z enters the workforce demanding quality of life in the workplace be a consideration for their employment.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to be proactive in ergonomics. Having an ergonomic specialist on staff or hired to come in once a quarter to assess employees’ workstations, and how they interact with the computer and recommend ergonomically minded products for employees with high-risk factors or early RSI warning signs is a great start.
Do you have employees that are tethered to a desk all day? Consider getting them a sit/stand desk so they can vary their posture throughout the day. Have a data entry team that practically has a keyboard and mouse glued to their hands during the day? Equip them with a centered ergonomic mouse to reduce the risk factors that cause CTS and increase productivity. Is Kathy in finance having an issue with stiffness in her neck? Get her a monitor riser so she is not craning her neck to read those riveting expense reports.
In short, taking a proactive approach to ergonomics saves companies money and creates a happier, healthier workforce. You just have to be willing to put in the work.
Mike Pace is an Ergonomics Expert. https://contourdesign.com/
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