Creating the optimal set-up at your desk provides a more efficient, comfortable and productive space. Technology has made us more efficient at communicating with people across the world as well as keeping connected with colleagues based in other offices or indeed those home-working. We must though not sacrifice our physical comfort by sitting bent over the laptop or PC for hours on end or slouched forward in a poorly fitted chair.

Ergonomic and Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments can be carried out with the employee at their desk or work-station. During these assessments recommendations and solutions are made for changes relating to desk set-up, furniture, work equipment and practices of the individual and any special requirements e.g. an employee with a disability. Professional help suggesting the most cost effective equipment to purchase if required is made and if applicable
advice on return to work plans. A written report outlining the findings and detailing the recommendations are provided. Any issues reported to the employer.

The article linked below on Office Ergonomics by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors is an insightful piece and includes eye-opening statistics that research has shown that effective office ergonomics interventions on average reduce the number of musculoskeletal problems by 61%, reduce lost workdays by 88% and reduce staff turnover by 87%. The Cost:Benefit Ratio is on average 1:1.78 with a payback period of 0.4 years

Workplace Ergonomics - so much more than chairs

Creating the optimal home workstation provides a more efficient, comfortable and productive space. Whilst working from home, we must though not sacrifice our physical comfort by sitting bent over the laptop or PC for hours on end or slouched forward in a poorly fitted chair.

Ergonomic and Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments can be carried out with the employee at their desk or work-station whether at the office or at home. During these assessments recommendations and solutions are made for changes relating to desk set-up, furniture, work equipment and practices of the individual and any special requirements e.g. an employee with a disability. Professional help suggesting the most cost effective equipment to purchase if required is made and if applicable
advice on return to work plans. A written report outlining the findings and detailing the recommendations are provided. Any issues reported to the employer.

Workplace Ergonomics - so much more than chairs

Manufacturing Ergonomics

Ergonomic assessments in industrial workplaces (manufacturing, production, warehouses) and service sectors identify risks from awkward postures, repetitive work, high forces, complex tasks, manual handling, and poorly designed workstations. These evaluations also consider environmental factors like air quality, temperature, lighting, and noise.

Issues with high ergonomic severity require immediate resolution to eliminate or reduce risks. Solutions range from simple adjustments to more complex interventions involving engineering changes, process modifications, environmental improvements, or organisational culture shifts toward employee wellbeing.

Assessments are valuable for areas where concerns have been raised. The primary objectives are reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and repetitive strain injuries (RSI) while improving wellbeing, comfort, efficiency, and productivity.

Through observation and employee consultation, these evaluations provide comprehensive insights into tasks, equipment usage, and working environments.

Carrying out ergonomic and human factors assessments in industrial or commercial workplaces (manufacturing, production lines & warehouses etc) and the services sector are essential to identify risks from awkward postures, repetitive work, high forces, complex tasks, manual handling, pushing and pulling, inadequate training, unsuitable or inadequate equipment, changing processes and poorly designed work stations. Consideration should also be given to the air quality, humidity, temperature, lighting and noise in the working environment.

Ergonomic issues identified as having high ergonomic severity levels should be resolved immediate to either eliminate or reduce risk. A range of common-sense solutions can be achieved, from simple, quick fixes to those that required input from engineers, change of processes or tooling, improving the comfort levels in the working environment or even a change in the organisation culture towards employee wellbeing.

Assessments are particular suitable for any areas within a worker’s environment were concerns have been raised. The objectives of the survey are to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), improve wellbeing, comfort levels and improve efficiency and productivity.

An ergonomic assessment provides comprehensive and detailed information on the task, equipment used, working environment and by observation and consultation with employees working in-situ.

Ergonomic assessments can be carried out in any workplace setting

Working above shoulder height?

Repetitive work? Sitting for long hours?

Is there clear visibilty? Could steps be provided?

In Retail, emphasis on safety perhaps more so than comfort in an office environment.

Good workplace design and appropriate training are practice are required for workers. Customers cannot be given training so design, shop layout, ambience, signage and safe processes are more important!

Retail store owners / managers should determine what their workers need at the workplace to maximise safety and improve their efficiency and productivity.

Lack of information is one of the biggest barriers store managers face with retail ergonomics. Inadequate knowledge and experience of ergonomics, appropriate equipment and training procedures.

Check out the guidance leaflet here!

Ergo & Wellbeing can provide indoor environment design consultancy incorporating ergonomics and human factors. Office design, for example, should focus on improving wellbeing and productivity of employees and this can be supported by using a user-centred approach to design. Considerations should be given to the furniture and equipment provided, air quality, lighting, thermal and noise comfort and aesthetics.

By gaining an understanding of how your employees actually carry out their work, how they solve problems, their needs for concentrated focus time and for collaboration as well as your your organisational culture, with this knowledge our consultant can help you optimise the design of your office space and ensure your work environment supports comfort, wellbeing and increased productivity.

The WELL Building standard is a leading, comprehensive framework which aims to improve health and human experience through design in the built environment. WELL measures attributes of buildings that impact occupant health by looking at seven concepts which incorporate 100 features designed to address issues that impact the comfort, health and knowledge of a buildings users

The 10 concepts are


 • Air
 • Water
 • Nourishment
 • Light
 • Movement
 • Thermal Comfort
 • Sound • Materials • Mind • Community

Fitwel, along with WELL, evaluates and rate the health and wellbeing aspects of the built environment with the aim of improving overall occupant experience. Fitwel and WELL are particularly focused on wellbeing and comfort, while at the same time benefiting employee performance, productivity, moral, a sense of community, retention and recruitment.

Whilst your business may not wish to engage in full certification there are very useful concepts and takeaways ideal for improving the working environment.

Whether helping to designing a project, starting the wellness conversation or transforming organisational policy, WELL and Fitwel are useful tools.

How Human Factors are related to the built environment, Healthy Buildings and Smart Buildings?

In a nut-shell...human factors considers anything that impacts, affects, shapes, influences people physically, psychological or socially, individually or collectively. It takes into consideration our needs, wants, behaviours, capabilities and limitations. It’s human-centric and always holistic.

If you are interested in understanding more, this link gives one of most comprehensive explanations and if that’s not enough human factors also covers the ‘related topics’ mentioned when you scroll to the very bottom: biophilic design, circadian lighting, daylighting, air quality management, glare control, views, flexibility workplace design, occupant thermal, acoustic and olfactory comfort, occupant control, engagement and satisfaction, productivity...

And Ergonomics? Well that’s a subset of Human Factors, under the same umbrella.

Healthy Buildings refers to considering the physical, physiological, psychological, wellbeing and social sustainability of occupants in buildings and in built environment. With people spending up to 90% of their time indoors, buildings can be key promoters of health and wellbeing.

To create healthy workplace environments and promote wellbeing, human-centric, holistic design principles and concepts can be adapted and applied to all workplace settings - schools, healthcare, industrial, institutions, commercial, hospitality, retail.

Healthy buildings and workplace design is always collaborative and draws on the expertise of

✔️architects
✔️designers
✔️engineers
✔️facilities management
✔️building services engineers e.g. MEP, HVAC, acoustics, lighting
✔️technologists
✔️interior designers
and various other specialists such as
✔️biophilic designers
✔️ergonomists
✔️human factors specialists

...to mention just a few.

People-centric measures will become more common in the future to reflect holistic intentions of workplace design”. according to the report ‘The Future Workplace TOP 10 PREDICTIONS’ by CBRE Ireland.

It’s extremely encouraging to see this kind of report. Hats off to CBRE. For the good of us all and future generations, we need to refocus and turn these types of predictions in reality. For those of us connected and passionate about reshaping and reinvigorating the workplace, indoor environments and the built environment in general, there is a big challenge ahead. On the back of the pandemic though, Ergo & Wellbeing believe the momentum and the willingness to collaborate and set the bar higher is most certainly growing.

“Healthy building design and operation will take center stage”.

We’re up for the challenge! Are you?

#builtenvironment
#healthybuildings
#Humanfactors
#wellbeing
#workplaceenvironment
#raisethebar

Universal design is design for all. It’s about designing a product or building or civic environment so that it can be accessed and used by as many people as possible, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and disability.

Inclusive design encourages safe, easy, comfortable and dignified use of products, services or environments in an aesthetically pleasing way. It goes beyond designing for 95% of the population. Inclusive design can be optimized for a specific user with specific design or for specific groups of the population.

Ergo & Wellbeing Ltd can offer consultancy advice to architects, engineers and product designers.

The WELL Building Standard by the International World Building Institute is the leading tool for advancing health and wellbeing in buildings and communities. It is a holistic tool, promoting social sustainability, putting people at the heart of building design.

The WELL Building Standard is a leading, comprehensive framework which aims to improve health and human experience through design in the built environment. WELL measures attributes of buildings that impact occupant health by looking at seven concepts which incorporate 100 features designed to address issues that impact the comfort, health and knowledge of a buildings users.

The 7 original concepts in WELL v.1 are •Air •Water •Nourishment •Light •Fitness •Comfort •Mind

WELL v.2 launched in 2020 builds on V.1 and now has 10 concepts

•Air •Water •Nourishment •Light •Movement •Thermal Comfort •Sound •Mind •Materials •Community

https://www.wellcertified.com/certification/v2/

Whilst your business may not wish to engage in full certification there are very useful concepts and takeaways ideal for improving the working environment.

Whether helping to designing a project, starting the wellness conversation or transforming organisational policy WELL is useful tool.

Ergo & Wellbeing Ltd are able to provide consultancy advice. Julie is a WELL AP, an accredited professional. WELL Accredited Professionals are experts in healthy building design and have made a commitment to advance human health and wellness in buildings and communities.

As part of your Project Team, Julie can help you manage your WELL Certification efforts, and advise on how to implement health & wellness strategies across the project & provide education about the project.

What can our consultant bring to the table?

As a certified Ergonomist she can assist with the WELL v.2 Movement concept, particulary the V02 Ergonomic Workstation Design, or the V11 implementation of an Ergonomics program. This feature requires that 'the project engages with a certified ergonomist (consultant, contractor or other third-party) who supports the project in achieving this...'

As a qualified Human Factors specialist, her extensive knowledge outside of WELL, allows her to have a comprehensive understanding & holistic approach to the WELL Certification process. There are HF synergies with the 10 concepts in WELL v2 which all contribute to creating a healthy building & promoting wellbeing: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind & Community

Contact Ergo & Wellbeing if you would like to collaborate.

For more information, check out the links below.

https://www.wellcertified.com/about-iwbi/

https://v2.wellcertified.com/en/wellv2/overview

Fitwel is a premier benchmarking and certification system for optimising building design and operations to support health and wellbeing not only in buildings, but extending into communities.

As a Fitwel Ambassador our consultant is well-versed in the connection between design, health & wellness and occupants’ experience and have a clear understanding of how to integrate the strategies into projects.

Fitwel certification is

* 55+ operational, policy and design strategies
* based on 3000+ evidence based research studies
* suitable for existing buildings and new
* cost effective
* dynamic weighted points system
* no prerequisites
* applicable across portfolios