7.1 million working days are lost to aches and pains – Ergonomics Assessor explains what employers can do about it.
Debbie Atkinson of Wyvern Business Systems features in the latest episode of Dandelion Video Production’s What Do You Do? podcast, explaining how big a difference can be made by taking employee comfort seriously.
“A lot of people don’t think that ergonomics is a necessary thing to do,” says Debbie. “They think it’s over the top and it’s going to cost a bomb. But it really isn’t. Sometimes it’s just a quick fix.”
As an Ergonomics Assessor, Debbie visits workplaces – from universities and private companies to home offices – identifying where workspace design is causing discomfort, and recommending practical solutions. The scale of the problem is significant: 7.1 million working days are lost in the UK annually to musculoskeletal aches and pains, with 364 million days lost globally. Debbie’s point is straightforward: most of this is preventable.
One case illustrates the impact clearly. A student with tremors found herself unable to navigate a mouse due to her condition. After researching, Debbie found a small device that slowed the tremors enough to allow her to use a computer normally. “She said it changed her life,” Debbie recalls. “She passed all her degrees and she’s flying now.”
The episode is a reminder that with the hours we work, employee comfort isn’t a luxury.
The full episode is available on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. Visit Dandelion’s website for this episode and more.