What is Ergonomics?

You have heard it, but do you really know what it is? Ergonomics (pronounced er-go-nom-ics) is concerned with fitting the workstation to the computer-user, not bending and twisting your body (e.g. wrist, elbow, shoulder) to fit the workstation!

Bending and twisting often causes unnecessary physical body pain. Ergonomics needs to be considered when designing and arranging workstations to comfortably fit the human body.

Also called human factors engineering, our ergonomic "fitting process" allows workers to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort.

Nowadays workstations need to do more than simply operate, they must join together the subtleties of the human body into the design. A computer workstation is not beneficial to your health, if it causes you pain.

The application of ergonomic evaluation and design often translates into significant bottom-line competitive strategies, resulting in: getting more work done on the computer, fewer errors, reduction in discomfort, pain, and injuries.

Ergonomics allows you to do more computing - with less work. Less effort on the fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulders, neck, and back - by leveraging your body. For example, while standing do you reach down to your ankle and tie your shoe? No! You bring your shoe closer to you.

By Dave Pfeil
Ergonomic Strategist

Meet our Ergonomics Expert