Ergonomics


Sketch by Me

Ergonomics: the study of the human body's abilities and limitations and how they determine how we interact with our environment and daily lives. Ergonomics determines how we work, leisure, and our safety while doing so. Without applying ergonomics to design, bodily injuries would be even more prevalent. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, works within the Department of Labor to ensure that employees everywhere are subject to safe working conditions. They have devised a list of regulations that employers must follow to insure the health and well-being of their employees is put first. This includes training, implementing solutions, and continuously evaluating working conditions.

So how is ergonomics implemented in real life?


Pro Plus 36 Standing Desk VARIDESK Black Pro Plus 36 Standing Desk

A good example of ergonomic design can be seen in the desk above. The desk is made so that it can move up so that the worker can stand and type or sit. These desks are meant to ease back pain that comes with sitting at a desk job all day. The majority of injuries that occur in an office setting are called Repetitive Stress Injuries. These include back injuries, carpal tunnel, eye strain and more. By implementing tools such as these, the strain on the worker is significantly decreased.

For me, being tall and lanky, I like to be able to stretch out my legs while sitting at a desk. The desks that I work at at school aren't really designed for this. They are tall and the seats, though adjustable, do not reach a height where I can comfortably rest my feet. They either dangle or I find some weird way to cram them up under the desk and rest them on a spot that isn't really meant for feet. Because of this I find that my legs get restless and I like to go for short walks to help them feel better before I continue my work. Ideally, more ergonomic chairs would increase comfort levels and increase the use of the studio space.

My Workspace, photo by me

Ergonomics is massively important in design and almost always revolves around the end user. It is hard to develop an ergonomic space without knowing who would be using it. Though there are "universal" guidelines for employers to follow, those rules and regulations will be different depending on the what the job expects from it's workers. Regardless of what it is the end user is doing, ergonomics are applied to them and they aim to make their lives better. 

Additional Sources Used-
https://workdesign.com/2012/08/ergonomics-and-workplace-design/
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/
https://www.ergonomics.com.au/what-is-ergonomics/

Comments

  1. KayleeNovember 17, 2018 at 2:44 PM

    I also discussed adjustable desks and definitely agree that they help minimize strain and other things. I like that you included the regulations OSHA has helped put in place so that we are focusing on the end-user. Acknowledging that people's needs vary and keeping in mind who the design is for was good insight on the subject. I enjoyed reading your post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Michael E JenkinsNovember 18, 2018 at 2:00 PM

    I'd like to try one of the stand up desks. Trying to think through it in my head, I have no idea how I feel about it. Your post is well written and thought out.

    ReplyDelete

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