Maintaining the Benefits of Properly Planned and Implemented Workstation Solutions.
Challenge:
One constant that every company faces is change. Employees can change, or be transferred from one department to another. Procedures can change and reduce the ability of workspaces to accommodate the task functions. Chairs or work spaces can be "borrowed" and new adjustments made – regardless of how short the stay. The occupant of the workstation will not notice minor changes – only the discomfort that is inevitable a few months down the road. They will have no idea why they are experiencing discomfort, nor how it should be alleviated. They may react to the symptoms of discomfort so it does not become serious – and only their productivity will suffer.
Solution:
- After initial Training and Education, employees should be provided with the means of keeping track of their keying height and/or working height requirement. (It will change only with substantial weight gain or loss.) When employees are moved to a new workspace, working heights should be pre-set, and they should always be allowed to bring their existing chair.
- Whenever a new employee is hired, they should be trained and educated on proper workstation utilization, including hands-on assistance with their chair and workstation adjustments. New employees are very unlikely to bring to management's attention any discomfort they may start experiencing, regardless of how painful it becomes.
- Every time there is a substantial change in software, procedure, or anything else that can impact on how a task is completed, workspaces should be re-assessed to determine their ability to accommodate the new process. Minor modifications often have a major impact on productivity, efficiency, and employee well being.
- Painless Coach every employee once a year on proper posture, efficient work habits, and the correct adjustment and utilization of their chair and workspace components to ensure that they continue to work pain-free. The effect of this procedure in sustaining high levels of productivity makes this one of the best yearly investments any organization can make.