Need for Ergonomics Awareness

© Wellness@work is a Godrej Interio (a division of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd.) initiative, [email protected] P a g e | 1

ErgonomicsHelps ImproveOrganizationProductivityGodrej Interio has been promoting the

need for ergonomics awareness,

study, analysis and the need for

appropriate action through various

Wellness initiatives. This paper aims to

share the result of a recently

concluded Ergonomics & Wellness

engagement at an organization - with

direct and conclusive proof of

increase in comfort and productivity

of employees by 15%.

Godrej Interio Ergonomics Cell

Wellness@work is aGodrej Interio initiativecommitted to helping improvethe health of employeesin modern workspaces.


BackgroundIn October 2012, Godrej Interio (GI) published a white paper titled, Health

Challenges in Evolving Offices. The paper essentially addressed the key

factors impacting the wellness and productivity of staff: with office

furniture playing a key role.

The paper underlined the fact that most offices today were operating with

furniture that is mismatched to the new age with its highly networked work

culture that exists in offices today. This has resulted in an alarming~ 71% of employees suffering from a rapidly spreading office illness:Musculo Skeletal Disorders (MSDs).

The findings of the white paper were sourced through a Survey

conducted by GI across corporate locations in various industries, with

employee groups having differing work profiles.

Survey of the employees revealed following details:

• ~71% employees confirmed to be suffering from pain / discomfort during

working

• Incidence of pain / discomfort in specific areas was as below:

– Lower back (36%)

– Upper back, Neck & Shoulders (62%)– Eyes (37%)

– Wrist (31%)

– Lower Leg (15%)

The Research Paper stated that while raising awareness among

employees may be the first step forward; doing a deeper root-cause

analysis and finding constructive and individually actionable solutions is

the need of the hour.

The core idea of this white paper has been part of GI’s discussions with

the organizations it interacts and engages with during the many Wellness-

related ground level activations done.

Godrej Interio

Ergonomics Cell

team conducted

an ergonomic audit

at Linfox,

followed by a deeper

root-cause analysis

and also

recommended

actionable solutions.


Linfox: affected by MSDIn response to this White Paper, Linfox Logistics (India operations)

contacted the GI Ergonomics Cell team to better understand the concepts

discussed. Linfox is Australia’s largest privately-owned logisitics

company, having an extensive Supply Chain Solutions service network

across Asia Pacific. Like most offices today, Linfox handles huge

amounts of data, is extremely well-networked… all implying that its

employees spend long, continuous hours seated in front of the

computers. The white paper study brought the employee concerns of

physical discomfort to the fore for the Linfox HR team.

As part of the Wellness discussions with the GI Ergonomics Cell team,

Linfox decided to investigate the possible cause of back- and neck aches

which were common amongst its employees. The initial study conducted

by the GI team revealed that ~80% of Linfox employees complainedabout physical discomfort as against the already high average of~71%. (The acceptable norm for employees’ complaints is 20%. Anything

above that needs to be addressed by the organization to prevent long

term physical ailments and problems in members of staff.)

Accordingly, Linfox commissioned a comprehensive ergonomics

intervention program for its employees, spread over 3 months.

It encompassed:

The New OfficeIllness … MSD!

MSD or MusculoskeletalDisorders are characterized by

worn out tendons, muscles, joints& nerve tissues; which are theresult of repeated use over an

extended period of time leadingto: Pain, Numbness, Tingling,

Burning, Cramping, and Stiffness


ERGONOMIC AUDITEmployee Work Pattern & Work Desk Interaction Audit:

- Work Pattern Understanding

- Furniture evaluation (Chair, Working Table, Computer / Laptop)

- Furniture adjustment (To fit user / meet user requirement)

As part of the audit, the GI team analyzed the incompatibility in

infrastructure & nature of work as the key cause of discomfort in the

workspace

RECOMMENDATIONSAimed to cover and establish the following:

- Fit of furniture to the employee work profile

- Improvement / changes required in the existing set-up to improve

employee productivity.

Following an interaction with the staff, GI Ergonomics Cell team

recommended specific changes in infrastructure as per individual needs

and work profiles. The physical needs of individuals were also taken into

consideration while recommending suitable ergonomic seating options.

These solutions were aimed at reducing the discomfort of the employees.

Ergonomic Chairs recommendedOne of the key recommendations offered by GI team was ergonomic

chairs for the Linfox employees; in light of the fact that they spent long

hours working at their tables. Such work profiles need chairs that support

the lower back at all times, have adjustable armrests and height. Further,

the GI team also advised Linfox employees on issues of seat & desk

management : simple dos and don’ts that ensure comfortable and easy

working at the table, minus un-ergonomic stretches, twists, tilts and pulls

at the table.

Linfox Implemented Recommendations

Linfox procured the suggested Ergonomic Chairs & made necessary

changes in the furniture as per the advice of the GI team.

GI Ergonomics Cell

team recommended

specific changes in

infrastructure as per

individual needs and

work profiles.

Pointers forergonomic seating

and posture

Make sure your chairlets you bend your

knees at 90 degrees toyour thighs and allowsyou to place your feet

flat on the floorwhile you work.


ACTIVITIES INITIATED TO MAXIMIZE INVESTMENT IN RODUCTIVITYIMPROVEMENT

1. Ergonomics Awareness workshops

The objective of these workshops was to spread awareness about

changing office trends, correct ergonomic postures to be adopted at

workplace, office yoga tips & techniques to improve efficiency in offices.

During the course of the workshop, Dr. Reena Valecha of GI team also

taught some key stretching and relaxation exercises to the participants,

while highlighting the need to take a regular break from the static pose

one is expected to sit in while using the computer.

2. Weekly Wellness Tips

To keep the Wellness tips top of mind after the workshop, Linfox

subscribed to the weekly wellness tips emailer from Godrej Interio and it

circulated the same to its entire team. The purpose of this weekly emailer

was to constantly remind the receivers of the need to develop correct

seating and working habits.

A workshop was

conducted by GI

Ergonomics Cell

team where experts

highlighted the

common errors most

people make while

working for long

hours at their tables.


Godrej Interio Team conducted a Post investment AUDIT after a

period of 3 months to access the impact of installation of New

Ergonomic Chairs, Employee Wellness Workshops and Wellness

Tips reinforcement

Quote from Linfox :

“For any change in culture you need someone who is passionate, focused

& more than anything a Go-Getter especially when the chips are down.

Why on earth did we not think of being associated with “Wellness at

Work: for all these years when we proudly proclaim of caring for our

employees. Godrej is no doubt a Great Company and will for sure be

pioneers in being named as a caring company with initiative like “wellness

at Work”

John Mathews(National Manager HR & HSE)

Linfox Logistics (India) Pvt Ltd, Mumbai , India

For any further input on this White Paper, please feel free to get in touch with

our Ergonomics Cell at [email protected] or call us on +91 22 6796 2467 / 2468 / 3421.

Health & Medicine

Need for Ergonomics Awareness