Extensive studies have proven the strong correlation between built environment and work performance. The most recent research 

Based on a recent study by  the Norwegian State Institute, office workers who suffer from health issues such as muscular soreness cause low performance and absenteeism. It is also perceived that the typical office worker will have a hunched back and protruding stomach in just 20 years.

In actuality, most people overlook the importance of office interior design to meet the needs of its employees. By studying the human body’s interaction with its surroundings, it will be able to balance workplace design and human physical demands. Ergonomics aims to accomplish all of this and more targeting two considerations. First, is the built environment and second the purchase of office equipment and furniture.

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is a branch of science concerned with the suitability of an office design to people. An ergonomically designed workplace strives to be effective in meeting the functional requirements of users by taking into account people’s physical, physiological, and psychological capabilities and limitations. For office interior design, this is an essential consideration during the planning phase.

What are the Characteristics of Good Office Interior Design?

Whether you are planning for an office renovation or newly built office space, a good office interior design provides immediate and long-term returns. The workplace should be designed to promote intuition, teamwork and, most importantly, provide a safe and comfortable environment.

Workplace design has a significant impact on worker productivity. Making the best use of space through ergonomically designed furniture, quality equipment, incorporating the human factor into workplace design, and effectively aligning the workplace with its surroundings are all important aspects of ergonomics.

What is an Ergonomically Designed Office Space?

The National Institute of Building Sciences states that ergonomics of the workplace can have a significant impact on employee productivity and health. You can improve office ergonomics by using correctly sized and designed ergonomic office chairs and desks that are sized and designed to fit the person and task. Provide areas for physical activity in the space, such as exercise areas, steps, or other areas for socializing and movement.

Importance of Human Well-Being Principles

Incorporating human well-being principles into workplace design has become critical for ensuring that employees perform to the best of their abilities. 

The office setup generally involves having people sit around 6 hours a day or more, this is one of the main concerns for office interior design to address. Rethinking space with the human well-being principles are linked with existing design ideologies and strategies such as biophilic design, green certifications, sustainability and designing for resiliency.

Impacts on Health

Repetitive Stress Injuries are one of the disorders associated with the workplace (RSIs). Working years on a badly-designed chair or desk and having a bad posture is potentially fatal. The repetitive work movements or activities can stress the eyes and cause migraines, backaches, neck pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Norwegian State Institute also found that if improvements were made to workstation design and seating, health problems causing poor work performance and absenteeism was halved and rates of employees leaving the business or going on long-term leave plummeted. 

There is also the risk of developing musculoskeletal problems. The possibility of injury from an awkward posture or the repetitive nature of your job can make you uneasy and cause work-related stress.

Ergonomics aids in the provision of tools needed to ensure that an individual’s body parts are not subjected to undue strain. With rising rates of injury and illness as a result of poor workplace design, the company’s costs can quickly mount.

Cluttered office workstations are a dominant contributor of absenteeism and low morale in the workplace. Rather than forcing people to fit into the design, workplaces should be designed to meet human needs. The placement of office chairs and desks should aim to create a welcoming environment for employees. This allows a worker to produce the best results possible while remaining healthy.

A holistic approach should be applied in research that aids in understanding a job’s physical, physiological, and psychological demands. The following items should also be included:

• Workstation configuration in terms of proper posture, the time required to complete a specific activity, movement, and repetitions needed to complete an action.
• The type of work that you do as the type of workplace which will affect the lighting, noise levels, humidity, and temperature required.
• The equipment used to complete the task such as the mouse, computer screen, keyboard and printers,
• How much time is spent at work to determine how much ergonomics affects our well-being.

The use of good ergonomics is considered imperative in today’s office interior designs. The best workplaces are tailormade to meet specific needs. Ideally, an office interior design favors open plans where minimal use of cubicles and invites a dynamic work environment. Involving the employees in the office interior design process is also advantageous. Studies show that employees involved in the design process of their workstations show a higher level of commitment and are more productive.

Takeaway

The significance of ergonomics cannot be overstated as it improves employees’ state of mind and physical health all the while creating a built-environment that meets an organization’s goals.

There are office interior design companies like SORDC that use specialized services, such as CAD Services, to better understand office interiors can more effectively incorporate ergonomics into workplace design.