3 Interactive Ergonomics Activities to Engage Your Team

There are many benefits to implementing an ergonomics process, including productivity increases, improved product quality, and a reduced incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, one of the largest benefits is often overlooked: employee engagement. To ensure you’re engaging your employees right off the bat, consider implementing these hands-on activities. You’ll have your team ergo-aware in no time.

1. Use an Ergo Stick to Demonstrate the Comfort Zone

Keeping work between the knees and shoulders (the “comfort zone”) helps to limit non-neutral postures. To help your team visualize this, build an ergo stick. Adhere colored tape to a pole to show the best zones for material handling tasks.

    • Green optimal zone: 39″ – 48″ (981 – 1216 mm)
    • Yellow comfort zone: 21″ – 39″ (529 – 981 mm) and 48″ – 50″ (1216 – 1259 mm)
    • Orange extended zone: 10″ – 21″ (265 – 529 mm) and 50″ – 61″ (1259 – 1559 mm)

2. Demonstrate Force and Ergonomic Risk

Research shows that high force is a primary risk factor in the development of MSDs. Set up a force gauge station and provide exercises to demonstrate how applying forces with awkward postures is more difficult. This will help people create a connection between perceived and actual forceful exertions. You can also mock up a job on the floor to practice proper measuring techniques and compare the results to design guidelines.

3. Show Employees How to Adjust Their Office Chairs

Don’t forget about the office. One of the most common issues with seated work is not setting up the chair properly. Host a session on how to adjust your office chair. If employees can’t attend or are in another location, record a video and share it. Demonstrating all the adjustability features, such as height, back tilt and tension, seat pan depth, and lumbar support, communicates that you care.

VelocityEHS Can Help!

Hands-on activities are a great way to get employees thinking about ergonomics. But building an effective ergonomics process means turning that awareness into action. With VelocityEHS Ergonomics, you can identify and assess ergonomic risks, prioritize improvements, and take action to help reduce musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risks across your workplace.

Part of the VelocityEHS Accelerate® Platform, our Ergonomics Solution gives your team the tools to build a more proactive, engaging approach to workplace ergonomics.

Request a Demo to see how VelocityEHS can help strengthen your ergonomics process.