Ergonomic Interventions In The Workplace

3.1 LITERATURE ON ERGONOMICS

As a systematic discipline, Fernandez (1995) has defined Ergonomics as the scheme to design the workplace, equipment, machine, tool, product, environment, and system taking into account the human’s physical, psychological, biomechanical and psychological capabilities, and optimizing the effectiveness and productivity of work systems by ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of workers. Yet another simple definition of Wilson (1995) provides that ergonomics is the practice of learning human characteristics and utilizing that information to improve people’s interaction with the environments. Quite a few research studies tell about the influence of physical working conditions on job situation.

The proper application of ergonomic principles in workplace design, environment and facilities design have shown many positive results (Resnik,M.L., Zanotti,A.,1997). Yet another study made out that ergonomically designed workplace with other appropriate ergonomic interventions will improve employee productivity

This environment includes humidity system, lighting, work area design, accoustic system and like other aspects. Thus, in the process of designing a job place, several factors especially ergonomic factors must be taken into consideration (Yeow and Nath Sen, 2003; Mohamad Khan et al., 2005). BNet Business Dictionary (2008) has defined the Office design as “the arrangement of workspace so that work can be performed in the most efficient way”. The office design affects the employees’ way of doing works and is an important factor in job satisfaction. Many authors are of the view that the physical layout of the workspace along with efficient management processes is playing a major role in boosting employees’ productivity and improving organizational performance (Uzee, 1999; Leaman and Bordass, 1993; Williams et al. 1985). An independent research firm has conducted a research on US workplace environment (Gensler, 2006) in which 89 percent of the respondents rated the design as very important and almost 90 percent of senior officials opined that effective workplace design is important for the increase in employees’ productivity. The study by American Society of Interior Designers (ASID, 1999) has revealed that the physical workplace design is one of the top three factors which affect