Shape your office around your staff

My health problems started over ten years ago when I was working in a kitchen in northern Canada. At that time, my typical day featured lots of heavy manual work - lifting, stooping and generally giving my poor back a very hard time. After just one month of this intense toil, I began to develop a medical condition known as sciatica. This was not pleasant, nor easily manageable with my work responsibilities. Indeed, every day at work was extremely painful, causing persistent pain across my lower back and also shooting pains down one of my legs. Although I did not realise it at the time, I had actually developed one of the world's most common workplace ailments.

Eventually, my condition ended my stay in north Canada and I decided to head home to Vancouver. Once back, I took a job as a fitness instructor, which helped my newly acquired condition. It allowed me to build up the strength in my back and lose some weight. Thankfully, after just over a year of rest, exercise, and muscle relaxants, the pain subsided... but it never completely went away.

A decade has past and I now work in an office environment in sunny Shenzen. Today, instead of lifting large pots and pans, I spend a lot of time sitting at my desk. You may imagine that this would be much better for my back and that my sciatica is now a thing of the past. However, this is not actually the case. Even though I am no longer doing the back-breaking labour I was used to in Canada's frozen North, I am still susceptible to my old ailment.

This may surprise you, but back problems such as mine are actually one of the most significant causes of absenteeism around the world.

According to studies performed by the American Chiropractic Association, ailments such as sciatica affect 80% of workers at some point in their lives. 80% is a surprising and frighteningly high number. When I first digested this statistic, it made me ask, "Why do so many people seem to have weak backs?" Surely, not all of these people are engaged in the kind of tough physical labour that I was doing in the frozen north. If they are not, what factors are causing all these problems? The crux of the issue is that the human body - particularly the back - is not designed to spend prolonged periods seated. Spending too much time sitting puts pressure on the back and, in serious cases, can cause stretching of the spinal ligaments.

Introducing Ergonomics

Doubtless many of you looked at the title of this article and puzzled over the word ‘ergonomics'. I would not be surprised if it was something the majority of you were not especially familiar with. Therefore, let me give you a brief introduction and explanation. Ergonomics is the science of matching a person's work environment with their physical needs and capabilities. This is seen most commonly in factors such as seating and other office furniture. Here is a list of areas in which we often see ergonomics in action:

• Lighting

• Chair/desk height

• Computer screen height/angle

• Computer keyboard position

• Telephone receiver/headset

• Office Noise level

• Office air quality

• Work routine

• Size of workspace

Even though ergonomics may be a relatively concept in China, its impact - or at least its potential impact - is already clear in offices across the nation. With new skyscrapers rising on almost a daily basis in every city, more and more of us work in office environments facing related risks, such as the back problems I discussed earlier.

In China Daily's recent report on the subject, Dr. Loretta Dobblesteyn of Beijing United Family Hospital discussed the impact of so many people spending 8 hours (or more) per day in front of computer screens. She explained that, "Most people aren't aware of what that does to their posture and their health." She argued that working in front of a computer creates an unnatural "forward flexed position."

Ergonomics in Action

If you wish to avoid painful work related injuries and are keen to prevent other members of your team from suffering the same type of condition as my sciatica, then you should consider introducing ergonomics into your company. This may sound daunting, particularly if you have a large office with hundreds of employees. You may be worried about needing to make sweeping changes to scores of desks, meeting rooms, and workspaces. However, while this might appear complex, it is actually easier than you think. Let me illustrate some basic steps that could have a major impact on you and your organisation ergonomically.

The first thing you need to appreciate is that ergonomics can impact all aspects of health, not just factors like the back or the eyes. This means that there are hundreds of opportunities for you to improve your team's working environment. Your first step is to begin with an assessment of your organisation's working environment. This need not be an overly technical process. Simply talk to your colleagues and ask them how they feel about their office and working area, and try to identify any obvious problems they may have. Is there a feature of the office that makes them uncomfortable or causes them undue problems? For example, is the lighting too bright? Are their workspaces too small? Are your chairs uncomfortable? Is it too noisy in the office? A few minor adjustments could be all that it takes to improve the health and performance of your employees dramatically.

Here are a few tips that could be perfect for your organisation.

Tip One

This is a simple one - get up and walk around every 30 minutes. Doctors advise that you keep things varied. Moving around will help get oxygen to your muscles and in so doing will help prevent muscular strains and stiffness. Ensure you do this yourself and encourage other members of your team to follow suit.

Tip Two

Perform isometric exercises when taking the bus, the elevator, waiting in line, or anytime that you stand for long periods of time. Flex and release your abdominal muscles to train them to keep your posture correct. Display diagrams of this type of exercise in public areas on your site and encourage your employees to do the exercises whenever they have a few spare moments.

Tip Three

Use a chair that gives your back support and is designed to improve your posture. The key area to focus on is your lower back. The spine naturally curves in at the base of the back just above the buttocks. Good support for this area alleviates the stress placed around the muscles in that region. Ask your staff how they feel about their chairs and workstations. Are they supported? Is there a working position causing them pain?

Tip Four

Know your limits! If you think you need help moving or reaching for something, ask those around you to assist. There is no reason to risk a workplace injury by pushing yourself too far physically.

As I write this, I sit in perfect harmony with my workspace in Shenzhen. I am seated on my yoga exercise ball, typing on a low angled keyboard whilst I glance at an anti glare computer screen. This environment fits me perfectly, helping me perform at my very best. The same can be true of your office if you introduce ergonomics.