Ergonomics

I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of ergonomics.

With the amount of time we spend at work, usually sitting at a desk, I find it baffling that there aren’t office ‘audits’ to examine employees’ quality of life.

Not only does cleanliness matter, the set-up & arrangement of our desk, computer, and chair largely affect the “health” of an office.

How is it that there are health inspectors for restaurants, but not for offices?

Why is it that a restaurant must get an inspection by a health inspector in order to stay in business, but an office doesn’t require one by an ergonomics inspector?

How is it that we have inspectors to conduct reviews of restaurants, of where we eat once or twice, yet not offices, where we spend the majority of our time?

Why are we more concerned with the risk of getting food poisoning (which could last for 50 hours tops), than the risk of developing a back problem which could last for weeks, months, or even years?

I’m no ergonomics expert by any means, but a quick look at my former desk set-up would tell anyone that if left unchanged, I was in for some serious back pain down the road.

Lucky for me, The Buffalo News has an in-house ergonomics expert who was able to change the set-up of my desk and provide me with a foot rest to allow for a much healthier, ‘ergonomically sound’ working environment.

Although I am just starting the recovery process, I feel fortunate to work for a company who values the health and well-being of their employees enough to make changes when requested.

So, don’t sit any longer in an uncomfortable, unhealthy working environment.

Stand up for yourself….

Seriously, stand up…it’s better for your back anyway.