3 ways to keep ergonomic injuries from being a pain in the wallet

Ergonomic-related injuries can put a serious pinch on your company’s cash. This is one case where there are some quick fixes – no $1,000 chairs required.

This is the time of year when plenty of people develop a chronic case of summer-itis, where the best remedy is plenty of sun and sand.  But there’s another major contributor to an organization’s absenteeism rates: ergonomic injuries.

The hard facts:

• Nearly two thirds of all illnesses reported are ergonomically-related, and
• The cost of ergo-related absences can be as high as 20% of a company’s total payroll.

You don’t have to take this kind of hit. In fact, there are some simple steps you can take that’ll slash the number of ergonomic injuries your employees suffer from.

And no, you won’t have to replace everyone’s desk chairs with those stability balls to do it.

A few quick hits:

1. Look out for female employees. Most equipment has been designed with men in mind, so women are more likely to suffer strains and injuries.
2. Check workstations. Can people adjust their own chair height, armrests and backrests? You also want to be sure their monitors are at eye level and their wrists and forearms are parallel to their keyboards.
3. Remind them. A weekly ergonomics tip can keep employees focused on staying injury-free. Designate someone to e-mail a tip – or even a reminder to stretch every Wednesday. Visit Safe Computing Tips for some great ideas.