Proper ergonomics in the workplace can significantly reduce costs for employers. Musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive strain injuries cost US businesses over $20 billion per year in direct and indirect expenses like workers' compensation, lost productivity, and staff replacement. Formal ergonomic assessments identify issues and help set up efficient workstations that reduce injuries by up to 50%. This decreases absences and healthcare costs while boosting employee morale. Implementing proper ergonomics through education and assessment can save employers substantial money over time.

1. PROPER ERGONOMICS:
HOW EMPLOYERS SAVE $$$
Proper Ergonomics = Efficiency
Every day employers are discovering the importance of proper ergonomics in
the workplace. Ergonomics, the scientific study of people at work, identifies
work area inefficiencies and how space can be manipulated to make it
and the employees using the space as efficient as possible.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor… “there were 388,060 cases of
musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries in private industry for the year
2012. The DOL estimates that $1 of every $3 of workers’ compensation
costs are spent on occupational MSDs.
According to federal estimates, employers spend as much as $20 billion
each year on direct costs for MSD-related workers’ compensation, and up
to five times that amount for indirect costs. These costs include
absenteeism, staff replacement and retraining, productivity, and issues
around quality control.”
Establishing proper ergonomics in your workplace begins with
education and awareness. Formally implementing practices and work-
stations that are ergonomically sound begins with securing ergonomic
assessments.
Helpful Information on workstation ergonomics for cost-sensitive employers and health conscious employees.
Poor Ergonomics:
Poor ergonomics, most often seen
in workstations that are set up
without direct attention to healthy
body mechanics, is a primary
cause of neck strain, joint pain,
eye strain, headaches, fatigue and
more.
The value of proper ergonomics,
has an even greater impact on
the bottom line health of an
employer than many realize.
Proper Ergonomics:
Proper ergonomics can
significantly reduce employee
injuries associated with poor
posture, repetitive tasks and
the overuse of muscles.
Decrease Employee Absences
Reduce Workers Comp Claims
Boost Employee Morale
Demonstrate that You Care
Reduce/Eliminate Potential Fines
Lower Health-care Costs
Save $$$
How you can help your
staff and reduce your
costs NOW...
 Encourage your staff to
answer the 10 Important
Ergonomic Questions on the
page to follow.
 Post or distribute the Visual
Guide to Proper Ergonomics
included in this paper.
 Learn about the value of
Ergonomic Assessments
and how they can save your
company $$$
www.gilboe.com 586.779.8892

2. PROPER VERSUS IMPROPER ERGONOMICS:
10 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF
1. Do you feel unusually tired when you leave work?
2. Do you spend more than 20% of your time each day on the phone?
3. Do your shoulders hurt?
4. Do your fingers tingle when you use your mouse?
5. Do you feel like you’re reaching for your keyboard when you’re typing?
6. Do you have trouble seeing your monitor because of a glare?
7. Do your feet rest comfortably on the floor when you’re at your desk?
8. Does your chair move easily when you want to move forward or back?
9. Does your neck hurt from turning or leaning to see your screen monitor?
10.Do your knees or back hurt when you stand up after sitting at your desk?
If you spend many hours a day at your workstation and answered yes to one or more of
these questions, it is probable that your discomfort is coming from how your workstation is
set up and how you are moving your body in relation to your work. We encourage you to
learn about proper ergonomics for your well-being.
Helpful Information on workstation ergonomics for cost-sensitive employers and health conscious employees.
www.gilboe.com 586.779.8892

3. PROPER VERSUS IMPROPER ERGONOMICS:
A VISUAL GUIDE
Improper Ergonomics can commonly cause… neck pain, eye strain, headaches, shoulder pain, fatigue, back pain, joint pain, carpal
tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff issues, as well as internal health issues such as heart disease and an over-productive pancreas.
PROPER ERGONOMICS
Adjust your chair to achieve a
comfortable working posture by
paying attention to your:
 Chair height
 Back rest
 Lumbar support
 Arm rests
 Seat pan/depth
 Stable base
PROPER ERGONOMICS
Adjust your monitor to achieve a
comfortable working posture by
having your:
 Monitor at an appropriate
distance, taking your vision, font
size and screen resolution into
consideration.
 Monitor at the appropriate height
and location, directly in front of
you with the top of the monitor
at eye level.
Helpful Information on workstation ergonomics for cost-sensitive employers and health conscious employees.
www.gilboe.com 586.779.8892

4. PROPER VERSUS IMPROPER ERGONOMICS:
WORKSTATION ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENTS
WHAT IS AN ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENT?
An ergonomic assessment is an in-depth review of how
each employee’s workstation is set-up and how it fits the
work the employee is doing. When we conduct an
ergonomic assessment, we observe the impact of the setup
in each of the following physical areas:
- Eyes, Head, Neck & Shoulders
- Arms, Elbows, Wrists & Hands
- Back, Legs & Feet
When we see poor ergonomics we carefully document our
observations and determine a plan of correction addressing
the individual employee’s posture, positioning, function.
PROACTIVE EMPLOYERS SAVE MONEY
Each year an increasing number of employers are securing workstation ergonomic assessments after recognizing the cost of improper
ergonomics. Studies show that soon after identifying workstation problems and integrating proper ergonomics into their operations they
are realizing significant cost-savings. The cost savings are the result of decreased absenteeism, a reduction in work errors, improved
productivity, a reduction in workers’ compensation claims, lower healthcare premiums, improved employee morale and more.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER AN ERGONOMIC
ASSESSMENT IS DONE?
When we conduct an ergonomic assessment, we generate
a BETTER MOBILITY RECOMMENDATION REPORT for
each employee and provide this to the employee and
employer.
We include in the report: An ASSESSMENT of each of the
functional areas we’ve studied.
A PLAN OF CORRECTION providing direct guidance as to
how the workstation can be set up to improve the employ-
ee’s posture, positioning and functioning.
An ERGONOMIC RECOMMENDATION describing
equipment and devices that can be used to make these
important improvements in an affordable, cost-effective
manner, including where they can be found for purchase
when needed.
CONTACT US TO LEARN HOW WE CAN HELP
YOUR COMPANY
23161 Greater Mack Avenue
St. Clair Shores, MI 48080
Phone: 586.779.8892
Fax: 586.779.2869
www. Gilboe.com
Helpful Information on workstation ergonomics for cost-sensitive employers and health conscious employees.