Ergonomics

"To reduce stress and eliminate injuries and disorders associated with the overuse of soft tissues e.g., muscles or tendons, awkward posture, and repeated tasks...accomplished by designing tasks, work spaces, controls, displays, tools, lighting, and equipment to fit the employee´s physical capabilities and limitations."

Imagine sitting at a desk in an uncomfortable chair for an extended amount of time. You automatically think of how badly your neck and back are going to hurt when you fancy stand up to stretch. This is caused by the lack of ergonomics in the design.

The lack of proper posture shown it the picture on the left is an example of how ergonomics is not being used to prevent the occurrence of pain in the upper and lower back. In the picture on he right, a back pad and foot stool are being used to position the body into proper posture so that pain is not experienced. 

A great example of ergonomics is a desk lamp with an adjustable neck. This allows whoever may be using the lamp to adjust it to their specific needs to accommodate to ergonomics. 

This picture is an example of how you should not position your wrists when typing.

When typing on a keyboard, it is important to have your wrists elevated to prevent discomfort. Most people who work desk jobs that require extended amounts of time typing on a keyboard tend to experience pain in their wrists because they do not have the proper support needed. As designers, we are hired to create environments that prevent these issues.

Department for Health and Human Services, US. “The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 May 2017, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ergonomics/default.html.