Ergonomics is the science that studies the best working environment and body postures in the workplace. It studies the relationship between the human and the surrounding, machinery and tools we use, to maximize performance and minimize discomfort and injuries. Here are some tips while using computers according to the principals of ergonomics. Best Lighting Arrangement Important thing to keep in mind while using computers, according to the principles of ergonomics, is to reduce glare and reflections from the computer screen or any shiny objected in the room. A combination of fluorescent and inc ..read more

Did you ever wonder why that simple computer chair costs a $1,000? It could be the fabric they used, or the brand, but those are certainly not the only reasons.   The comfort and functionality of it, that is the “ergonomics” will also increase the cost.  But 100% for the better. Ergonomics in the workplace is a fairly obvious idea to understand in its most basic form; the harmony of a worker’s body and the worker’s working condition. The better the harmony, the better it is for the worker as well as the work. But the term ‘ergonomics’ itself was coined as recently as 1857 by the ..read more

Did you know that a 19th century philosophy was turned into a practical industrial application many decades later, and today it touches aspects of every day life from work to leisure? That philosophy is summed up in one word: ergonomics, based on the Greek words ‘ergon’ and ‘nomoi’, which mean ‘work’ and ‘natural law’ respectively. The term ‘ergonomics’ was first coined as recently as 1857 by the author Wojciech Jastrzebowski. Frederick W. Taylor, who was born in 1856, went to become a highly successful engineer and late in his life developed the ergonomics theory into a practical sphere by de ..read more

by Lexi Klinkenberg The pandemic has affected our lives in countless ways, but a shift in workplace habits is among the most notable. The pandemic has forced millions of workers into their homes, taking away their commutes, their routines, and, of course, their offices. In fact, having a home office is one of the most popular home trends on the market right now and homes with a home office are currently seen in 9% more homes for sale than last year. If you’re among those stuck at home, day in and day out, making a few tweaks to your home office can improve your productivity and ..read more

Working From Home:  What to Look for in a Proper Office Chair Many people who are now working from home are finding themselves sitting longer hours and often in not-so-comfortable chairs.  Kitchen chairs and inexpensive task chairs are more the norm now and they can contribute to pain. Is your chair hurting you?  If you are considering purchasing a different chair, here are some specific things to look out for.  What to Look for in an Office Chair An ergonomic chair provides proper support and can be adjusted to suit the individual using it. Many adjustable features makes i ..read more

Nearly 6 in 10 Canadians say they wake up feeling tired.  About 40% of Canadians will exhaust themselves with a sleep disorder at some point in their lifetime studies suggest. (Can J Psychiatry. 2011 Sep;56(9):540-8.)    How can you tell if you’re not getting enough sleep? A good night’s sleep is when you fall asleep quite easily, do not fully wake up during the night, do not wake up too early and feel refreshed in the morning. Stages of Sleep Stage 1 Very light sleep where one is drifting off and woken easily Lasts around 5 to 10 minutes Stage 2 Brain functio ..read more

Coronavirus Outbreak – working from home means living in your kitchen, eating randomly and maybe not having the best eating habits. With many finding that they will have an extended delay in returning to their regular workplace, working from home may not yet have an end in sight and now is a good time to look at how to keep a healthy eating routine. Our eating habits have an impact on our physical comfort, with a poor diet contributing to chronic pain. “A lot of chronic pain is the result of chronic inflammation, and the evidence is quite strong that your diet can contribute to increased syste ..read more

Exercises for eyestrain Looking at a computer all day can be challenging at the best of times; but when it is a smaller laptop or the lighting in your space isn’t ideal or the font size / resolution on your screen needs some improvement, burning and tired eyes can result.   The Palming exercise is designed to help relax the ciliary muscles in the eyes that do the main focusing.  When you are looking at objects close to your eyes, these muscles are used to focus your eyes in a narrow range.  This tires them more than if you were looking into the distance.  If you have g ..read more

Are you looking to introduce Ergonomics into your industrial workplace?  Need to increase your knowledge about Ergonomics and how it can work in your workplace?  This 4-hour introductory course is designed for all safety leaders to show them where to focus their efforts to reduce the risk of Musculoskeletal Injuries in their workplace.  Through the use of examples, participants will be able to target the risks in their workplace, and learn the key measures to implement to reduce those risks. Topics Include: What are Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) / Repetitive Strain Injuries ..read more

Stay Safe and Stay Mentally Healthy by Shona Anderson, CCPE and Adebayo Ogunrinde, MSc.   The COVID 19 pandemic has changed the modern world as we know it.  The way we think, feel and behave has changed unprecedentedly. Workers have had to adjust to working from home with work and downtime merging into one.  This can greatly affect the psychological and emotional well-being of workers. Attention to mental health in the workplace has received increasing interest over the past couple of years. Employment and Social Development of Canada states that about 47% of working Canad ..read more