November 20, 2025 from Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
You might have heard the word ergonomics before, but you may not know what it means or how it can help improve safety at work. Simply put, ergonomics is about designing jobs and workspaces to fit the people doing the work. Find out how ergonomics can help prevent injuries, boost productivity, and support your business’s success.
What is ergonomics?
“Ergonomics is the science of designing work to fit the worker,” says Don Patten, Specialized Consultant (Ergonomics) with WSPS. “It looks at how people interact with their tools, tasks, and work environment.” Ergonomics takes into account physical movements, mental demands, and how work is organized, which may negatively impact these demands. Certified ergonomists use this knowledge to make work safer, more efficient and more productive.
Ergonomists can help prevent problems before they happen. “If you’re planning new equipment, workstations, or processes, involving an ergonomist early can help avoid future injuries, downtime, and costly changes,” says Don.
If an incident or near miss happens, ergonomists can investigate what went wrong and suggest changes to prevent it from happening again. For instance, if an employee lifts something heavy and is almost injured, this is a near miss, and the same injury could happen to others.
Ergonomics: Not just for offices
“While ergonomics is often associated with office setups, or safe lifting, its application spans all sectors, including retail, restaurants, manufacturing, and logistics,” says Don. “Ergonomists assess how work is performed and identify design improvements that reduce risk and improve productivity.”
Key areas where ergonomics directly impacts safety include:
- Visibility and lighting: Poor visibility can lead to errors and accidents. Ergonomists assess lighting levels to ensure workers can see hazards and perform tasks safely.
- Vibration: Prolonged exposure to vibration, whether it’s using a hand tool or operating a lift truck, can lead to musculoskeletal disorders and other health issues. Ergonomists can quantify exposure and recommend tools and administrative controls to reduce exposure and protect worker health.
- Fatigue: Fatigue is a major contributor to workplace incidents. Ergonomic interventions, such as job rotation, improved workstation design, and better shift scheduling, help reduce fatigue-related errors
- Slips, trips and falls: Handling materials on ladders can increase the demands on the body, and in some cases, more than lifting the same items while on the ground. Ergonomists can provide suggestions on how item characteristics and item placement on shelves could increase the risk of falling from heights. Carrying large items can obscure vision, leading to more slips and trips
5 tips to get started with ergonomics for your business
- Conduct ergonomic assessments
Regularly evaluate workstations, tools, and workflows to identify hazards that lead to MSDs. “Use checklists or bring in specialists to assess forceful exertion posture, repetitive motions, and workstation setup,” recommends Don. “This helps tailor solutions to individual needs and job roles.” Ergonomics assessment also has other benefits such as:;
- improved productivity
- enhanced work quality
- increased employee engagement
- higher job satisfaction
- reduced absenteeism
- lower turnover rates
- better safety outcomes
- support for an aging workforce
- improved accessibility
- greater inclusivity
- reduced cognitive load
2. Invest in the proper equipment
Equipment required to complete work tasks is essential to prevent exposure to MSD hazards, yet it can have many benefits that extend beyond MSDs. The proper equipment, especially if it is adjustable, that fits the worker and allows them to perform work comfortably, will improve productivity, efficiency and quality while reducing MSD hazards.
3. Promote movement and breaks
“Encourage employees to take short, frequent breaks to stretch or walk to reduce strain from prolonged sitting or repetitive tasks,” says Don.
Consider implementing:
- Microbreak policies. These are short breaks that last from a few seconds to several minutes. This allows workers to break up long periods of sedentary behaviour. Build these breaks into your work process to allow muscles to recover between movements. Design work so that microbreaks are built into the process.
- Sit-stand workstations. Providing more options for different postures is important.
- Wellness programs. Providing resources, support, and activities for physical, mental and emotional health that include movement breaks.
- Encourage a fit and healthy workforce by providing subsidized fitness memberships.
4. Provide your team with ergonomics training
Educate staff on proper posture, lifting techniques, and workstation setup. “Empowered employees are more likely to adopt safe practices,” notes Don. Training can be delivered through workshops or eCourses. It can also be helpful to include visual guides in work areas.
5. Involve employees in ergonomic solutions
Invite feedback and suggestions from employees about their workspaces. Collaborative problem-solving ensures solutions are practical and well-received, and it fosters a culture of safety and continuous improvement.