Discomfort at work isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a warning sign. A small ache today is a red flag- alerting you that you need to address it quickly before it becomes a bigger problem.  

The solution? Stop treating pain weeks or months after it arises. Detect and treat pain and discomfort early.  

Early identification of discomfort in the workplace and other environments is the most effective way to combat muscle, joint, and bone pain. By addressing discomfort early and by finding the root cause of it, the risk of pain escalation, impairment, emotional distress, and increased claim costs can be mitigated.  

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) identifies risk factors contributing to MSDs in three main categories:  

  • physical (job task-related),  
  • psychosocial (work and non-work environment, as well as person-related factors), and  
  • personal (individual capacity-related, such as mobility, stability, and coordination, influenced by age, sex, body mass index, etc.).  

When task demands, environmental influences and personal capacities are balanced; individuals can perform their jobs sustainably and without discomfort, leading to minimized healthcare costs, improved quality of life, and reduced expenses for both employers and employees. 

Conversely, an imbalance between task demands, environmental factors, and personal capacities leads to discomfort. If unaddressed, this discomfort can result in healthcare claims, employee turnover, lost time, productivity losses, and a decline in workplace culture. 

One way to create a balance for individuals is to address workplace ergonomics.  

 

WHAT IS WORKPLACE ERGONOMICS? 

Workplace ergonomics is a blanket term that refers to designing one’s workspace to his or her needs. One’s interaction with job tasks and workspaces are as unique as fingerprints, so the strategy to address ergonomics must be personal and customized.   

Workplace ergonomics captures where and how an employee works- from evaluating repetitive tasks, checking setup, such as chair height to keyboard type, and providing information on how an employee can avoid pain and injury. 

Once a risk is identified, it can be mitigated by modifying task, environment, and personal/individual factors. Task and environment modifications involve addressing hazards and implementing precautions through design changes, particularly regarding force, motion, time, and positioning requirements/stressors. Personal/individual factors—including strength, flexibility, endurance, coordination, balance, psychosocial factors, and biological status (such as sleep and nutrition)—must be addressed at both the individual and population levels. 

A key strategy for an effective ergonomic program is providing customized instruction in precautionary movement strategies. These strategies prepare individuals for specific tasks and environments by enhancing movement capabilities and alleviating job and environment stressors. Customized and precautionary movement training should be ongoing, beginning at the start of employment or task assignment and continuing until the decision is made to cease that job or task. Discomfort is a key indicator that further customization of precautionary movement strategies for job and environment fit is necessary. 

Solveglobal has created an Ergonomic Program in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and standards. Our team utilizes on-site, near-site, and virtual treatment options to provide timely, accessible, and personalized care to your employee population.  

If an acute injury is reported, our team rules out any medical pathology and/or a need for a specialist referral. If neither is needed, our team will adjust precautionary movements for warm-up, unlocking, and unloading to avoid aggravating the condition to ensure safe and suitable job performance.   

See how Solveglobal can help your employee population at Solveglobal.com.