Proper workplace ergonomics improves the well-being and motivation of employees and at the same time saves money and improves productivity.

Have you paid attention to the methods of transferring objects, the placement and accessibility of tools, the opportunities to perform one’s work either sitting down or standing up, and lighting at your workplace? All the above are part of ergonomic workstation design, and companies that have paid attention to these have been able to significantly improve their productivity.

In this article, we will show a few examples of why it makes sense to invest in ergonomics. We’ll talk about how proper workplace ergonomics improves the well-being and motivation of employees and how it can at the same time save money and improve productivity. You’ll get valuable insights into the benefits of ergonomics for employers and employees.

INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS PROMOTES WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE

An ergonomic workstation enables employees to perform at their best, every day. Ergonomic working environments make performing one’s work effortless and safe. All the components and tools are within easy reach, which eliminates the need to bend the body or stretch the arms, which in turn reduces tension, strain, and discomfort. This helps prevent musculoskeletal disorders, which affect up to three out of five working-aged people.

EASONS TO INVEST IN ERGONOMICS

In the long term, there are several issues related to efficiency, safety and productivity that are positively affected by proper ergonomics.

“Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect most employees”

According to European Agency for Safety and Health at Work musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the single largest occupational health hazard in Europe: up to three out of five employees report musculoskeletal symptoms. In addition, Confederation of Finnish Industries has reported that employees in the industrial sector have the most absences due to sickness, on average 16 working days per person/year.

“Proper ergonomics can reduce MSD-related absences as much as 72%”

A study made on estimating the effectiveness of ergonomics interventions revealed that musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders were reduced 57% and absences due to MSDs reduced 72% as a result of measures that improve ergonomics. (Source: Goggins, R. W., et al. 2008. Estimating the effectiveness of ergonomics interventions through case studies: Implications for predictive cost-benefit analysis. Journal of Safety Research)

“Productivity improved 46% resulting in significant annual savings”

The above mentioned study on the effectiveness of ergonomics interventions concluded that productivity improved 46% through measures that improved ergonomics. All these are rather impressive figures.

HOW DOES PROPER INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS SAVE MONEY? 

Let’s calculate this out through one example (source for calculations: Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company: Absence calculator):

• A company of 200 industrial employees
• 16 sickness absence days per employee
• That means in total 3200 absence days (absence percentage 7.08%)
• That turns into $1,658,000 in total cost of absence (when cost of absence includes indirect costs, non-wages labor costs and salary cost).
• If sickness absences decrease even by 10% (7.08% > 6.37%), annual cost savings are more than $165,800 (when cost of absence includes indirect costs, non-wages labor costs and salary cost).
• If sickness absences decrease with 72%, as did in the study mentioned above, annual cost savings are more than $1.1M (when cost of absence includes indirect costs, non-wages labor costs and salary cost).