Ergonomics Consultants | Ergonomic Home Office Design

Virtual Ergonomics Assessments for Remote Workers in the U.S.

by Solutions Northwest | Sep 12, 2022 | Ergonomic Home Office Design, Home Office Design, Remote Workers, Virtual Ergonomics Assessment, Working From Home

Virtual Ergonomics Assessments for Remote Workers in the U.S.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessments for Remote Workers in the U.S.

Remote working is here to stay in the United States. Now, more people than ever before are setting up a home office to work out of and nearly 60% of Americans say they can do their job from home. As the desire for more flexibility grows, it is only natural that a growing share of workers will operate remotely.

One issue is that employers have spent years emphasizing and investing in their office safety, but how will this translate to a home office? It is crucial for businesses, office managers, and human resource managers to provide their remote workers with the tools to design their home office with proper ergonomics in mind.

In this blog we have gathered tips from the ergonomics experts at Solutions Northwest Inc., an ergonomics consulting company. With these tips, you can improve the situation for your remote employees.

What Is Ergonomics?

Before diving into tips for redesigning the home office, it is essential to briefly define ergonomics. Simply put, ergonomics is the study of how a person operates in their work environment.

It involves designing the workplace to make a worker most efficient and comfortable as possible. Many different human factors are considered in ergonomics, such as personal health, safety, and job performance. Not every workplace is the same, which is why many companies will hire an ergonomics consultant to perform an ergonomics assessment on the workspace.

Why Is Ergonomics Important for the Remote Worker?

Due to recent events and technological advancements, millions of people are now doing remote work in the US. However, with this being a relatively new style of working for many Americans, there was little time to ensure that their home office was ergonomically designed.

This leaves many workers operating under inefficient conditions. These workers may have gone from standing desks to dining room tables, fold-out chairs, or even couches and beds!

Without the careful planning and execution that companies have done for years, remote workers are vulnerable. They are exposed to adverse outcomes such as long-term back and neck injuries. Now that remote work is here to stay for millions, it is imperative to incorporate ergonomic design into the home office.

What is a Virtual Ergonomics Assessment?

Here, an ergonomics consulting firm performs a mini-ergonomics assessment on your home office. The benefit of this is that a virtual ergonomics assessment does not need to happen in the remote worker’s home and can be done via phone or video.

During an assessment, the ergonomics consultant starts the review with your general working space. They will look at your desk, computer, office chair, and other tools or devices that you use for your daily tasks.

Their objective is to make sure your workspace keeps you pain-free and efficient. Afterwards, the ergonomics consultants will make recommendations on how to improve your workspace.

For example, an ergonomics expert may recommend a keyboard that reduces pressure on your wrists while typing. They may suggest a new office chair to improve posture and relieve the burden on your back and neck.

Some suggestions may be related to employee safety. Ergonomics consultants are trained to identify safety hazards that place the employee at risk. Other recommendations are performance-based, with suggestions made to help improve employee efficiency.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessments for Remote Workers

Proper ergonomics must be considered in the new remote work environment. Unfortunately, the transition to remote work was hasty and did not adequately address ergonomics. This has left too many remote employees vulnerable to injury and inefficiency as a result.

The good news is that a virtual ergonomics assessment can provide solutions for a worker’s home office. If you are interested in a virtual ergonomics assessment for remote workers, contact our ergonomics experts today to schedule an appointment.

At SolutionsNW.com we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Multiple Locations

Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397
Olympia, WA 98501
Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F
Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773
Email: Info@solutionsnw.com

Olympia, WA

360-236-8748

Portland/Salem, OR

503-768-9742

Seattle, WA

206-521-5676

Contact our Ergonomics Experts

An Ergonomics Guide for Workers That Use Computers

by Solutions Northwest | Aug 2, 2022 | Ergonomic Home Office Design, Ergonomics Assessments, Remote Workers, Working From Home

An Ergonomics Guide for Workers That Use Computers

An Ergonomics Guide for Workers That Use Computers
More than 1 in 4 people in America suffer from some form of back pain. The figures are even higher when you take neck pain into account.

So, why are these aches and pains so prevalent? Well, it may have something to do with a lack of knowledge and application of proper ergonomics for people that use a computer for work.

An ergonomic workstation plays an essential role when it comes to work efficiency and avoiding back and neck pain at work. If you’re interested in working on your workstation ergonomics, consider reading ahead.

Workplace Ergonomics: A Quick Look

Workplace ergonomics revolves around analyzing and understanding people in a working environment. Workplace ergonomic design focuses on improving the setup of a workplace, so that it better fits the worker’s needs. A workplace with proper ergonomics will reduce worker discomfort and increase worker productivity and efficiency.

There’s also a growing spotlight on ergonomics now for home office design, as becoming a remote worker is increasing in popularity.

Creating and Designing an Ergonomic Workspace

It is highly recommended to start off with an ergonomics assessment before making any new purchases or starting your workstation design. Furthermore, the best way to ensure a proper ergonomics assessment is to hire an ergonomics consultant company to perform the assessment. This investment, like all investments in worker safety and productivity, will pay off in the long run.

Next, it’s important to invest in the right ergonomic equipment for the worker’s task. This is followed by learning to adjust how your worker’s work. These, along with a few other methods, can help reduce worker injury, pain, and other aches while improving their productivity.

Equipment for an Ergonomic Office

An ergonomic workspace requires the right equipment. This starts with getting the right ergonomic desk and chair. An ergonomic desk should be adjustable to ensure the worker’s arms can rest on it and have their wrists stay straight.

There should be ample space below the desk for one’s legs, and a footrest may be used for support. An ergonomic chair should have back support and provide support along one’s entire spine.

The final essentials involve peripheral gadgets like an ergomomic keyboard, a keyboard tray, and your mouse. The keyboard should have adjustable parts underneath it. The keyboard tray helps with hand position. And, when possible, consider a wireless ergonomic mouse; a wireless mouse allows for freer movement.

These essentials are a great place to start, but there will likely be other pieces of equipment that will be required depending on a worker’s task. This is where investing in an ergonomics assessment from a professional ergonomics company can help you with the details of the setup.

Related article: “5 Benefits of Using an Ergonomic Mouse and Keyboard”

Adjusting for Ergonomic Posture

Beyond equipment, employees need to be shown how to achieve the right posture while they work. When it comes to ergonomics for computer workers, there are a few key rules to follow.

First, you have to keep your head balanced directly above your hips and shoulders while relaxing your arms and shoulders. Next, you have to rest your back against your chair in a slight arch with your elbows at your sides. Your forearms and wrist should lay straight on your desk.

Finally, your knees should be straight in relation to your hips, with your legs slightly extended forward. If you feel some discomfort in your legs, you should consider using a footrest for relief.

Ergonomics for Employees that use Computers at Work

The growing need for employees to use a computer at work has resulted in a plethora of people reporting back and neck pains. And, the newly arising remote workforce must do their job on their computers as well. So, it’s essential for employers to perform an ergonomics assessment for their workers whether they are in the office or working from home.

For optimal results, one should hire an ergonomics consultant to perform the ergonomic assessment and give specific recommendations for the space. You should be prepared to invest in getting the right desk, chair, keyboard, mouse, and footrest to start with.

If you wish to do an ergonomics assessment or a virtual ergonomic assessment for remote workers, our ergonomics consultants can help. Contact the experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. today to check up on the ergonomic risks of all your remote employees. This will pay off a great dividend for your company in the future.

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!