SESA SYSTEMS PRESENTS Ergonomics and LEAN in the Service of Operational Excellence Ergonomics in your Offices and Workshops 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS An introduction to ergonomics 1. Findings 2. Ergonomic postures in the office 2.1. Recommended ergonomic postures in the office 2.2. Why choose electric desks? 2.3. Ergonomic fitting according to the Lean Office principle 3. Our product selection for an ergonomic work environment 4. Ergonomic postures in production 4.1. Recommended ergonomic postures in production 4.2. Why choose workstations that can be height adjusted? 4.3. Seats and standing seats for an ideal comfort 4.4. Anti-fatigue mat 5. Ergonomic and dynamic workstations 6. Financial aid to help you to invest in ergonomics at work? Conclusion 04 06 07 11 12 13 16 17 18 20 20 22 28 29 2
AN INTRODUCTION TO ERGONOMICS Ergonomics at work is a growing discipline within companies. Ergonomics consists in adapting work, tools, methods and the environment to people based on the physiological, psychological and social aspects of work. The principle is to anticipate risks related to the way operators evolve in their environment and the way they use equipment. Ergonomics, however, is not limited to the physical aspects of the workspace; it also targets the organization of work, to help reconcile constraints related to processes, logistics, operating modes, safety and the overall working environment. The goal is to prevent MSDs and work-related accidents while optimizing performance. MSDs (musculoskeletal disorders) are illnesses directly linked to working conditions. They result in painful symptoms for employees, reducing their workload capacity, and affecting the general performance of their company. In other words, this affects the company from an economic point of view. Disorders caused by MSDs are generally temporary though they can sometimes be irreversible. What is ergonomic is thus what is adapted. 3
1- FINDINGS Employees health is a true issue for companies Operators are at the center of the organization, with several missions to accomplish: - Ensure production - Monitor production - Comply with quality - Ensure 1 st level maintenance Each type of task requires different postures but is performed in the same workspace. As a result, the workspace is often poorly adapted to most of an employee s tasks. Poor posture diminishes the operator s capacity, which leads to lower performance. This does not only concern operators in production workshops, but also those working in offices. At the same time, the evolution of working methods and the growing number of employees who spend more and more time at work bring new challenges and new outlooks on ergonomics. Solutions to remediate the issues listed above have become even more vital. 4
Today, 30% of work-related leaves are due to MSD (musculoskeletal disorders). 80% of the population suffers from backaches. Work-related leaves are expensive and penalize the entire company. Lumbago: an increased percentage of work accidents Number of Work Accidents Cost for the work In Millions accidents category In Millions Per Year Percentages (%) of Lumbago within work Public Healthcare Annuities or Capital Compensation *Work Accidents Occupational Accidents Daily Allowances A growing number of companies are introducing a new way of working. Their keyword is: ergonomics. This trend includes technology, environment and humans, leading to positive outcomes such as: Flexibility Productivity Personal and professional satisfaction Lower costs (lower absenteeism) 5
2- ERGONOMIC POSTURES IN THE OFFICE Ergonomics in office environments should follow LEAN Office principles, in the same way as optimization initiatives in production environments follow LEAN Manufacturing principles. Ergonomics includes a growing number of material and organizational dimensions that help to limit illnesses and promote fulfillment for employees. However, occupational disease figures remain concerning and show us that there is room for progress. Humans aren t made to remain inactive, they must move. Remaining seated in an office for 6, 8, or 10 hours per day can harm health. This has been proved by multiple studies. 7.7 Hours Source LINAK 6
2.1. Recommended ergonomic postures in the office The choice of office equipment (armchair, chair, keyboard, screen, etc.) and the way the office is laid out must follow ergonomic guidelines to ensure good working conditions for your employees. The first signs of pain following poor postures are often located in the lower back and shoulders. This means it is important to have a comfortable seat with a correctly adapted desk. But that is not enough to eliminate essential postural constraints; in particular it is necessary to have the right distance between the height of the seat and the height of the work surface. Of course, office chairs can be adjusted for height, but work surfaces often aren t adjustable. Discover the most important points on correct working positions and adapt them to office work. Adjust and sit in your seat: 1Sit at the back of the seat and place your back on the backrest. When working in a seated position, pressure increases on your intervertebral discs. A straight position of the back also divides pressure between discs, straightens out the chest cavity, increases pulmonary capacity, facilitates breathing and cardiac functions. 2Adjust the height of the backrest so it fits into the lower back area. Maintaining the lower back straight at all time is the most important function of a backrest, whatever size it may be. Adjust the height of the seat so that the femur and tibia are at a straight angle. Feet should be flat on the ground or on a footrest to avoid pressure on the thighs. 3 4 Adjust the mechanism to incline the backrest according to your weight. Use the various functions of your seat. Alternate between a seated position inclined towards the front and a seated position towards the back to relax your back. Always avoid working in the same seated position. Alternate between a seated position and a standing position. Nonetheless, an ergonomic chair cannot guarantee correct postures alone. 7
Adjust the height of your desk to have a good balance between your pelvis and legs. The surface of your desk should be located approximately at elbow height when your arms are down next to your body. Alternate between sitting down and standing up. What are the health risks of a non-adjustable desk? When seated, a desk that is too low causes back pain; a desk that is too high solicits your shoulders. To compensate for an absence of adjustability of a desk, you can adjust your seat in a different way, but this is not without any risks. - A seat that is too low: your stomach is compressed, support surface on your thighs is reduced - A seat that is too high: your heels are never flat; your legs thus cannot correctly touch the ground. Remarks and schema from action-ergo.com Here are the ideal positions when working with a computer. Careful though, no position is ideal for an indefinite amount of time. 8
When seated: The head is slightly inclined downwards The backrest of the chair supports the back Elbows form a right angle Height can be adjusted to adapt to each individual Knees form a right angle to keep a straight back Both feet are flat on the ground When standing 9
How should height be adjusted? The standard height for desks is adapted to those who are 68.89 inches (172 cm) tall. There is a 5.51 inches (12,7 cm) height adjustment amplitude for people who measure between 63.00 (160 cm) and 74.80 (187,96) inches. How should my work surface be organized? When seated, it s best to adjust your seat before to determine the height of your working surface. Generally speaking, to find the optimal working position, tools should be located in the places easily reached by your hands. Surface outside the working Dedicated usual (daily) work surface Objects often used are easy to reach Dedicated occasional work In all cases, each workspace element should be adjusted to each user s dimensions as well as his or her daily tasks. 10
2.2. Why choose electric desks? Though they haven t yet become a standard here, adjustable desks have been tested and proven in Scandinavia. Humans are designed to move. Remaining in a static position for hours impacts health, in the mid and long term. It is thus highly recommended to regularly change your position: this has many advantages. First, an electric desk allows you to naturally adopt different postures during the day. It also has the advantage to be adaptable to each individual and his or her physical characteristics. This is why we recommend equipment that can be electrically adjusted. Adjusting the height of the desk is done with an electric control (keyboard, terminal with buttons, remote control, desktop, smartphone application) that provides flexibility for dynamic and modern working conditions. These changes in posture stimulate the body throughout the day, improve blood flow to muscles, help reduce general fatigue and thus optimize concentration. Beyond these various qualities, standing up allows you to diminish backache by naturally replacing the backbone in its vertical axis. Alternating between a seated and standing position also allows you to avoid muscular pressure, whether it is on the neck, in the lower back or in the arms as the efforts are more equitably spread through all parts of the body. We offer solutions that meet your ergonomics needs and can adapt your workstation when this suits you. 11
2.3. Ergonomic fitting according to the Lean Office principle The Lean Office is an administrative organization approach aiming to simplify administrative processes, reduce waste and integrate visual management on a daily basis. It creates a positive image of a company. This should be honed every day through shared and permanent progress. The Visual Desk concept now includes ergonomics as one of its priorities. We strive to put people at the heart of organizations through visual management and ergonomics, bringing them the best working conditions for increased mental balance and focus. Dashboard Visual signage List of procedures Ergonomic electric desk FIFO principle 5S Storage Advantages of an ergonomic Lean Office: - Making the administrative flow visual - Preferring high added value operations and reducing or eliminating useless operations - Saving processing time and saving space - Improving the competitive advantage by a better organization of workflows and through better postures at the workplace 12
3- OUR SELECTION OF PRODUCTS FOR AN ERGONOMIC WORK ENVIRONMENT IN YOUR OFFICES LEANERGO ELECTRIC DESK Max 50.39 in Min 24.80 in The LEANERGO ELECTRIC DESK targets specific physiological needs. It helps transform the workplace into a place promoting well-being. Quick position change: seated to standing in 10 seconds Adjustable height from 24.8 to 50.39 inches (60,96 to 127 cm) Bluetooth connection on your smartphone Seated, standing or mixed positions Better concentration Better comfort Prevents MSDs 13
Our products: ergonomic desks LEANERGO LEANERGO ALUMINUM The LEANERGO ALUMINIUM structure is ideal to organize your workstation. Clever and revolutionary, this workstation was the object of an extensive study in ergonomics. Easy to install on the entire work surface Complies with the Lean Office 5S principle Compatible with a large range of accessories Frees up space on the work surface Defines a place for each thing Height adjustable elements (files / screens) 14
Our products: ergonomic desks ERGONOMIC OFFICE CHAIR The ergonomic office chair is adapted to daily use. It has a synchronized mechanism to follow body movements. Your pelvis and backbone remain in an ideal working position. Synchronized settings with pressure adjustments Lower back is reinforced Seat is adjustable in depth Silent wheels Reduces MSDs Brings better working comfort when seated 15
4- ERGONOMIC POSTURES IN PRODUCTION Ergonomics is based on adapting tasks to employees. By improving ergonomics, you reduce muscular fatigue. In many cases, it also avoids musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that lead to bone, articular or muscular problems. PRODUCTION FIGURES* 20.1% of professional pathologies are based on bone, articular or muscular problems that affect your shoulders, neck, arms and hands 29.5% of health problems are based on bone, articular or muscular problems that affect your back *Note: Source of content and schema: Linak 16
37 47 in (93 119 cm) 33 43 in (83 109 cm) 26 37 in (66 93 cm) 4.1. Recommended ergonomic postures in production To prevent problems of posture at workstations, purchasing adjustable equipment is an excellent idea to improve ergonomics. Nonetheless, any acquisition of equipment requires an extensive assessment of needs and of the work environment, to find the best solution for your employees. After that, you must teach employees the best practices to adapt and correctly use an adjustable workstation. Here are, according to the technology provider Linak, a few rules to follow when reorganizing your work environment. A precision task usually requires work to be done near your body and eyes. The top should be raised at the right level. An assembly task requires quick execution and more space to move your arms. Demanding tasks require a lowered top, to reduce the weight raised, pushed or pulled by the operator. Precise Work Example: Electronics Assembly, 1.96 inches (2,50 cm) under the elbow Light Work Example: General Assembly, 1.96-3.94 inches (2.50 7.60 cm) under the elbow Demanding Work Example: Strength Applied, 7.87-15.75 (17,78 38 cm) inches under the elbow 17
4.2. Why choose workstations that can be height adjusted? (Electric or manual) As you remember, MSDs are caused by repetitive gestures combined with physical efforts and non-ideal postures by employees. You must reduce the disequilibrium between each person s physical capacity and the corporal solicitations he or she is subject to on a daily basis to ensure the best working conditions as well as better health. As human beings, we all have different physical characteristics and the first one is height. At work, several operators can work at the same workstation, one after another. This is not always adapted to the person using it. This results in the following consequences: - The person will develop postures that may lead to irreversible damage on his or her health: a high workstation will create pressure on the shoulders, a low workstation will make the person lean forward. - The person will try to fit his or her workstation using methods that are neither safe nor ergonomic and that will certainly impact his or her activity (take time to find workarounds, add accessories, etc.) A height adjusted workstation allows you to avoid these inconveniences: whether it is manual (with a crank) or electric, it can be quickly adapted with precise settings to the height of each operator according to his or her requirements. With an electric button, operators can also change between working in a standing or seated position depending on their activity. This will allow you to improve working conditions and keep your employees in better health at the workplace. Ergonomics brings much more than protection: it is also key to increase performance. 18
. For optimal performance, ergonomics is indispensable in designing and fitting workstations. Better working conditions enhance employee morale, increasing productivity and company profitability. In a nutshell, being able to adjust the height of your workstation allows employees to work with correct postures and allows them to change between working sitting down and standing up according to each activity. For example, on your left, you see a poor posture that people in workshops often adopt. This poor gesture, repeated throughout the day, will cause injuries. Below is a perfectly adapted solution to preserve the operator s health. 19
4.3. Seats and standing seats for ideal comfort Height adjusted workstations aren t a complete ergonomic solution without the right seat. 1 Your seat must take your physical characteristics (weight, height) into consideration 2 Your seat must fit the type of work done (repetitive gestures, extended positions without moving). 3 Define your work environment: a humid or dry environment, type of ground, height of the work surface, compatibility with your workstation, etc. Depending on your environment, 4 What type of seat (depending on the type of work: seat or standing seat? Standing seats promote a dynamic seated position choose a seat that is easy to maintain These seats maintain posture and clean. with the possibility of adding accessories (arm rests, wheels) Even in production, don t neglect the : they play a key role in employees well-being. breakdown of body weight 4.4. Anti-fatigue mats Some jobs require employees to stand the entire day. To ease the operators position and enable them to work in optimal conditions, the solution is: anti-fatigue mats. Anti-fatigue mats bring comfort to operators who remain in a static and standing position on a hard surface. Thanks to the material they are made of, anti-fatigue mats absorb steps and promote easier movement. That reduces pressure on articulations, bones and muscles which can lead to MSDs. 20
Anti-fatigue mats also stimulate blood circulation and cut down on fatigue in feet, legs and on the back. In addition to enhanced well-being, they provide extra safety for employees as they are an anti-slip solution. Most workplace accidents that lead to three or more days of leave are caused by falling or slipping. Sometimes the consequences are serious: slipping can endanger the life of an employee or create a lifetime handicap. Here are the key advantages: Anti-fatigue, thermal, phonic and vibratory insulation Relieve fatigue on the back, legs and feet when standing Reduced risk of slipping on wet or oily flooring Reduces the impact of dropping equipment on the ground For some products, yellow borders can limit safety zones ANTI-FATIGUE Reduction of risks INSULATION SAFETY REDUCTION OF MSDs Comfort HEALTH Protection Well-being at the workplace 21
5- ERGONOMIC AND DYNAMIC WORKSTATIONS Our products: electric workstations QUALIPOST 620 AND 3200 ERGO Max 51.57 in Min 25.98 in Height-adjustable workstations QUALIPOST 620 and 3200 ELECTRIC are industrial, ergonomic and multifunctional workstations that optimize working conditions for operators. Quick position change: seated to standing in 10 seconds Adjustable height from 25.98 to 51.57 inches (66 132 cm) Compatible with a large range of accessories Load capacity: - 620 version: 353 lbs (160 kg) - 3200 version: 705 lbs (320 kg) Seated, standing or mixed positions Better concentration Better comfort Prevent MSDs 22
Our products: electric workshop servers LEANPOST 300 ERGO Max 54.33 in Min 28.74 in The electric workshop server with its LEANPOST 300 traysupport function brings mobility and ergonomics to employees thanks to its wheels and its heightadjustable settings to have better working conditions. Quick position change Adjustable height from 28.70 to 54.30 inches (73 138 cm) Uses a battery or plug-in Load capacity: 352 lbs (160 kg) Tray dimensions: European standards of 23.60 x 15.70 inches (60-40 cm) Facilitates work for operators Guarantees enhanced comfort Prevents MSDs 23
Our products: electric workshop servers LEANPOST 400 ERGO The LEANPOST 400 workshop server is ideal to maintain components at a constant height thanks to its electric tray-holder. This ergonomic forklift accompanies operators and thus cuts down on poor gestures and postures. Maintains trays at a constant height Quick position change Adjustable height from 11.02 to 36.61 inches (28-93 cm) Solid and mobile: wheel, towing handle, maximum load of 176 lbs (80 kg) Uses a battery or plug-in Reduced effort Prevents MSDs, especially low back pain Better comfort Better concentration 24
Our products: ergonomic seats WORKSHOP SEATS Telescopic workstation seats with seats and backrests in black polyurethane are ergonomic and multifunctional: they can be adapted to all industrial workstations, from the workshop to the laboratory. Adjustable height from 23.62 to 32.88 inches (60-82 cm) Possibility to add accessories (footrest, arm rests, wheels) Easy to maintain Resists solvents Excellent back support Better comfort 25
Our products: standing seats ERGONOMIC WORKSHOP STANDING SEATS Ergonomic workshop standing seats with their inclinable seats spread the weight of the body correctly: users can naturally stretch their legs and get up easily. Height can be adjusted to 13.8 inches (35 cm) Capacity load approximately 264 lbs (120 kg) Polyurethane seat: washable, oil resistant, shock-resistant, resists sharp tools Can add a height adjustable footrest Dynamic working position Respects curves in the back without effort Effortlessly goes to a standing position 26
Our products: anti-fatigue mats ANTI-FATIGUE MAT Our rubber anti-fatigue mat ensure comfort for operators who work in a static position throughout a long time. They ease fatigue in the back and legs when standing. Anti-fatigue properties Thermal, phonic and vibratory insulation Slip resistant properties for enhanced safety Very resistant surface Stimulates blood circulation Guarantees better comfort when standing Reduction of risks of slipping on wet or oily flooring 27
6- Financial aid to help you to invest in ergonomics at work? To help companies reduce risks of their employees falling sick at work by opting for ergonomic workstations or desks, there might be financial assistance available to invest in those projects of occupational health and safety. You may find an organization in your area that could help with identifying MSD risks in your company and assist with securing the financial support. This financial assistance in the form of grants of subsidies may help you to (partially) finance the following products or services: - The training of an employee (and/or hiring the support of an ergonomics specialist) so that they are able to lead and implement an MSD prevention plan in the company - Other ergonomics services: - A risk assessment - Follow-up of an MSD prevention plan - Implementation of solutions, technical (purchasing special, adapted equipment, adapted workstations and desks), as well as organizational (changes in work schedules). 28
Conclusion Employers concerned about employees physical and mental well-being can easily implement height adjustable work spaces, resulting in a more balanced, motivated and safer workplace. Ergonomic equipment and tools can enhance productivity, by supporting employee health, reducing MSDs, and cutting down on sick leaves. All companies, whatever their activities, are concerned by ergonomics at the workplace: this study was made for them. Personalized electric QUALIPOST 3200 ERGO workstation Electric service table at a constant level LEANPOST 400 ERGO LEANPOST 300 ERGO electric service table Anti-fatigue mat CONTACT US CONTACT US We will be pleased to advise you on how to fit your ergonomic work environment. Call us at +1 (646) 417-8227 Or at team@sesasystems.us CONTACT US SESA SYSTEMS, INC. 25 W 39 th Street, 14 th Floor New York, NY 10018 USA www.sesa-systems.com 29