Ergonomics is a topic that often seems trivial when addressing the potential hazards in the workplace. The reason is that injuries caused by poor ergonomics are not as immediately evident as injuries caused by falls from heights or dangerous chemicals. However, ergonomics injuries can be damaging to the workplace if hazards that cause them are left uncontrolled.
What Is a Mobile Work Station?
A mobile workstation is a piece of furniture that accomplishes three main goals:
- It acts as a storage solution for a person's computer.
- It provides a workspace for using the computer.
- It allows a computer and its components to be easily moved from place to place without disassembling or disconnecting any parts.
A mobile workstation provides a space to organize items efficiently. While they are primarily for PCs, these workstations also work great with laptop computers or other electronics.
Related: Fixed Location Workstation Vs. Mobile Cart Workstation: Knowing The Difference
Importance of Ergonomics in Mobile Workstation
Ergonomic workstations are vital in ensuring employees are safe and productive at work. The primary goal of practicing good ergonomics in the workplace is to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Some common MSDs related to poor ergonomic workstation designs are:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Strained muscles
- Ruptured discs
Also, poorly designed workstations can:
- Reduce productivity
- Waste time on minor tasks
- Reduce ROI
- Increase insurance claims
- Add pain and suffering that impacts workers and their friends and families.
We at Carstens provide caregivers the freedom to work more comfortably and efficiently with high-quality mobile workstations. We believe that investing in good ergonomics is a valuable business decision.
Minimize Mistakes
Working with bad posture can be distracting and uncomfortable for workers. Poorly designed workstations can lead to frustration and employees who don't do their best work. Having good ergonomic practices means workers are comfortable and focused on delivering their best quality work.
A healthy worker is a productive worker. So, redesigning the workstation can keep employees at peak productivity throughout the day by:
- Improving cognitive function
- Sharpening alertness
- Combating fatigue
- Enhancing focus
Doctor approved
Ergonomics has become a hot trend in the health and safety industry. Employers realize that a standard workstation approach is not necessarily one size fits all with a highly diversified workforce.
Doctors agree that some health benefits that come with good economics are:
- Less Fatigue
- Minor neck and back pain
- Enhanced mood
- Better heart health
- Lower blood sugar levels
Related: What To Know About Choosing The Right Workstation For Your Hospital
Enhance Workflow
A comfortable workstation allows good posture and fewer distractions, leading to an increase in work productivity. However, when employees are in pain, they focus on those pains, not their work. Studies have shown that the greater the pain, the more productivity plummets.
Properly setting up workstations can create happier employees.
In an office environment, investing in an ergonomically designed mobile workstation will help employees feel more relaxed because they have less strain on their muscles.
Employees need to be as ergonomic as possible because their bodies need to hold those positions for long periods. As a result, this leads to stiffness of joints and muscle tension. However, if the workspace design fits the employee's needs, their bodies can endure the eight hours behind the computer without additional breaks and rest periods.
Looking for high-quality equipment to improve the workflow for your hospital? Go to Carstens to browse their complete product selection!
Triangle of Care
The 'Triangle of Care' is meant to promote safety, recovery, and well-being. Organizations, especially those in the health industry, need to have a proper ergonomic design that shows their commitment to safety and health as their core value.
Having healthy employees is one of the most valuable assets of a company. Creating and fostering your company's safety & health culture will lead to better human performance for your organization.
The more you take care of your employees, the more productive and loyal they will be towards your organization.
Ways to Improve Ergonomics
Implementing proper ergonomics at work is the responsibility of every employer to give to their employees. Employees need essential tools to be as productive and healthy as possible.
The tips mentioned below will concentrate on office settings, but many general principles also apply to other areas.
Comfortable Chair
Slouching in a chair puts pressure on the discs and vertebrae in your back. If you sit in a chair most of the day, you need an ergonomic seat that provides you with lumbar support and various settings for various seated postures.
Adjust the backrest until the lower back has support. The best chairs have adjustable height, armrest, lumbar support, and seat pan depth settings. There shouldn't be any pressure on your legs, and the backs of your knees shouldn't touch the chair.
Also, it doesn't matter how well the chair is adjusted if you do not sit properly in it!
Related: Choosing The Best Standing Desk For Your Medical Workstation
Proper Computer Placement
Your mobile workstation needs to help you achieve your maximum potential. Consider putting the keyboard and mouse at the same level so that your wrists remain straight. The armrests of the chair should support the weight of your arms.
Gather all required tools, such as staplers, clipboards, pens or pencils, and your phone close to you. If you use the phone too much, consider getting a headset; that way, you are not cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder.
If you are required to look at documents as you type, ensure that the document holder is close to the monitor so you don't move your head too much. The monitor's height should be so the top of the screen is below eye level, and the center of the screen is nearly shoulder height.
High Air Quality Index (AQI)
Your office air quality is an essential ergonomic addition to consider in the workspace.
If you are working in a space with poor air quality due to dust particles, pollen or mold, look at improving it with an air cleaner.
Employees suffering from allergies will be thankful for this accommodation. In the end, the health of employees will most likely improve.
Proper Posture
Good posture is more than just finding a comfortable position in your chair. It's about doing what's best for your body. Even if you feel like some positions are comfortable, they may not be ergonomically correct.
Other health benefits of proper posture are:
- Better focus and concentration
- Increased energy
- Reduces the risk of injury
- Fewer headaches
Reduce Stress
When you invest in ensuring your employees are healthy, they will notice it. When employees are comfortable doing their job, this will increase morale and reduce staff turnover and absenteeism.
However, bad ergonomics can cause a surprising amount of stress to your employees because they are in pain, and their muscles remain stiff for extended periods. It's essential to be sure that workers are not stressing themselves in this way.
Training, information, and control over the ergonomic setup of an individual's workstation can drastically decrease the stress that causes ergonomic injuries.
Small working environments can also cause stress for workers. If that's the case, consider getting a foldable desk to maximize the space in the work area.
Conclusion
There are numerous benefits to providing ergonomic workstations for your employees. Good ergonomics can help your employees stay motivated and focused during long work sessions and provide several health benefits, such as a reduced risk of injury and better cognitive function.
As you can see, putting in the effort to improve the ergonomics of the workspace is worth it. Your company will have employees that are more loyal, happy, healthy, and productive.
Do you need help finding the right ergonomics products for your hospital? Don't hesitate to reach out to one of Carstens’ experts at 1 (800)-782-1524, or request a product catalog here.