BY JEMIMAH CHUNGU
By: Jemimah Chungu
Ergonomics refers to designing a work environment for safe work and comfort of a worker. Ergonomics is something considered by many work places but during the global covid-19 pandemic and the rising delta variant, a lot of people are working from home. Some people are also taking a lot of time for creativity and use of ICTs for money making, entertainment and others.
Working from home can be convenient and fun, but ergonomics such as working postures, temperature, furniture or choice of working environment like a bed or lounge can be extremely exhausting and unhealthy. Based on the foregoing, this health segment brings you the following bad ergonomics associated with working from home:
- Postures such as croutching, bending the back from an improperly adjusted workstations and chairs are common among people who work from home. The musculoskeletal system can be affected by bad working postures that cause fatigue, muscles pains, joints pains and impacts tendons, ligaments, and nerves negatively. Ensure to have good working postures and sitting situations at home.
- Poor lighting is likely to occur in homes as alighting may not be exactly a priority when working from home. Bad/poor lighting can cause sight problems, lack of concentration, discomfort and reduced productivity. Poor lighting can also cause stress and annoyance. Lighting should be prioritized while working at home for proper productivity and health.
- Temperature is also an ergonomic thing to consider while working from home. High temperature can cause heat stress, heat stroke, fatigue, dehydration, heat injury, reduced productivity just to mention but a few. Low temperatures can cause among others; hyperthermia, flues and coughs (cold), pins, and trigger illnesses like bronchitis and asthma and other bronchial and related diseases. Ensure to have moderate temperatures while working in the comfort of your domain.
- Awkward movements and too much work can also be impactful especially if they are repetitive and frequently. Situations are probable where people try to be creative, innovative or productive to kill time, kill boredom or even to make money at home. Too much force and awkward movements can cause stress, fatigue, body pains and external and internal body injuries such as musculoskeletal injury, muscle pulls, spinal complications and many others. A change of work routines, rest, hot showers and avoiding repetitive forceful movements is healthy for the health of body internal and external structure and enhance productivity.
