Did you know that the global prevalence of musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) ranges from 14% to 42%? And as per the trusted source, the occupation-specific prevalence is as high as 90% in India.

Before we dive into the details, let’s understand what are Musculoskeletal Disorders and what causes them?

Musculoskeletal disorders are a group of injuries caused by repetitive activities. They affect the movement of a human’s body by causing discomfort in muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, discs and blood vessels. They are the most common workplace disorders and the main reason behind the lower levels of employees’ productivity.

The most common musculoskeletal disorders that can be found in the workplace are

• Injuries caused by repetitive motion and strain – When you repeat one movement for a prolonged period, it can have a temporary or permanent effect on your muscles and tendons.

• Cumulative trauma disorders – These disorders are the end product of arduous posture like an awkward position of the wrist while using a mouse or a keyboard and extending elbows away for an extended period. For example; carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger thumb or finger.
  
  

• Occupational overuse syndrome – It causes swelling or numbness in the wrist because of demanding desk jobs. It is also the culprit behind the stiffness of the neck and back which happens because of sitting in the wrong posture or a wrong chair. For example, tension neck syndrome and mechanical back syndrome.

• Soft tissue disorders – These disorders target the muscles, tendons and joints. Employees suffering from such disorders often feel a sharp pain in their muscles and become prone to tissue damage.

These disorders are the sole reason why employees take leaves from work and cannot focus on their jobs. Employees even spend a significant amount on curing these disorders through treatments and medicines. There are two fundamental types of these injuries – one is acute and painful while the other is chronic and lingering. The first one can be seen in jobs where heavy lifting is required like warehouses whereas the second one is more prominent in desk jobs.

Employers need to give priority to the well-being of the employee by providing them with ergonomic furniture and the right equipment for the job. The way you set up the workstation of your employee could either eliminate or encourage these disorders. Additionally, this furniture aids in minimizing employee absenteeism and enhancing productivity levels.

The ultimate goal of bringing ergonomic furniture is to provide optimum comfort to the employees while they are in office premises. Ergonomics is all about understanding the limitations and abilities of your workers with the tools, environment, furniture and equipment provided to them.

In the physically demanding desk jobs, workers spend 8-10 hours sitting in the chair, making sitting hazardous for health. In such jobs, employers should provide the appropriate ergonomic chair as per the requirements of a job. The chair should have a comfortable seat and have five legs with wheels. The back should support the waist arch and should not exert the user. For an organisation, it is not just an investment in the well-being of employees, but also the productivity and profitability. It is all about creating a sound and cheerful working environment which ensures quality work and effectiveness in employees.

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Here are the reasons why you should invest in ergonomic furniture:

It boosts the morale of your employees – When you provide the best of everything to your employees, they think highly of the organisation as the employer has not overlooked the well-being dangers in the workplace. It influences them positively and keeps them motivated towards the goals of the company.

More efficiency and improved focus – Ergonomics takes away all the workplace discomfort and lets your employees focus on what is important. It helps in building an efficient office culture.

Aids in early intervention and prevention – It helps in finding out the early signs of injury and preventing it from becoming a chronic disorder.

Eliminates poor work practices – It cuts down the risk factors by encouraging healthy and body-positive work practices.

Pulling it all together

Employers should not ignore the health risks involved in the workplace. The well-being of your employees indicates the health of your business as well. If you exclude that then they will be at a risk for chronic fatigue which will outrun their recovery system. Be considerate about the energy of your organisations’ work atmosphere – make them feel happy, healthy and motivated. And, if you want to give your workplace an ergonomic makeover, then count on HOF. We have a sensational range of ergonomic chairs. Visit shop.hofindia.com and Shop NOW!