Do you know that 5 to 6 hours of productive working time is lost to fatigue per week?

About $136 billion is lost each year as a result of poor productivity due to fatigue at work.

Office fatigue can really be limiting and ought to be eliminated or at least reduced by all possible means. Are you an employer or a worker that is determined to maintain a high level of productivity at work? Dragging fatigue to the ring and ensuring a win would certainly make you achieve a better performance from your workers. Combatting tiredness at work could be difficult, as it is caused by several factors; Sleep disorders, wake keeping, wrong office ergonomic practice, and unhealthy lifestyles are major causes of fatigue during work hours.

I chose to focus this article on ergonomic practice because it’s seldom considered when office fatigue is discussed. Ergonomics is the science of designing and organizing the office to fit within the abilities and weaknesses of the worker, it also involves formulating and implementing guidelines for proper use of the workstation. The goal here is to provide a comfortable environment for productivity to thrive. Do you know the best part of it? Good ergonomic practice will reduce the incidence of fatigue at work and increase the overall performance of workers. This is why every management should ensure strict ergonomic practices at work. Also, correct ergonomic practices will reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and promote the overall wellbeing of workers.

Ergonomic tips

1. Regular postural change: you must understand that bodily movement is very important at work. Do not remain in a fixed position for too long. It is recommended that you change a given position every 10 to 15 minutes. Standing and stretching for 1 minute after every hour is a good practice. There is nothing wrong with sitting for half of the day and standing for the 2nd half. Just don’t remain at a spot like a monument, you’ll stop living at the point you stopped moving.

2. Avoid slouching or craning of the head and neck: Proper head and neck posture ensure that the head is over the neck and well supported. Be sure the monitor is in front of your face with the top at the eye level.

3. Consciously maintain proper posture: Sit very close to the back of the chair with the upper and lower back well supported by the backrest. The shoulder should be relaxed (90 degrees), forearms and hand should be approximately parallel to the floor and well supported on the desk. Ensure the legs are firm on the ground with the knees at about 90 degrees’ angulation.

To be continued

Written by Kalu Agada