Ergonomic and its usage
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7th July 2005
The word ergonomic when used as an adjective seems to have gone through a period of massive overuse or even “overkill” so that today everything connected with work or activity of any type is claimed to be ergonomic - from desks to chairs, tables, tools, even pens. Just as an aside here, I was so disgusted with this aspect that for a number of years I refused to use the word in the description of my chair. However, since this was one of the common search terms being used I had to give up on my one man stand and include it among my title and descriptive terms if I wanted searchers to find me.
So what do we mean then when we use the term as an adjective? For my own part I would suggest that
if a device is truly ergonomic then it should by definition allow the person using that device to be more efficient in their work - whatever that type of work happens to be. Now taking this argument one step further what does “more efficient” mean for the owner of a business. Here, I believe, we come to the crux of the matter and it stems directly from the
connection of ergonomic with the term economic (that dismal science).
(Note:- I trained for 4 years in Economics so I have some fair knowledge of this topic)
So what happens when a firm decides to buy new equipment for the workers so that they will be “more efficient”? They hire a firm of ergonomists to come in and study the work done and hopefully make suggestions which will assist in this aim. At great expense these “experts” come in , take copious notes, draw up fancy reports and then make recommendations. Some time later new chairs, for example, will be brought in for all the workers to use. ( I am quoting now from an actual case study) No attempt was made to interview the workers themselves who would be using these chairs to test them out and see if they were comfortable or worked well for the job entailed. The end result was that overall efficiency was reduced rather enhanced.
In this case was the term “economic” more important that the health of the workers?
Or to quote directly from a customer of mine:-
Hello,
I learned of your website because a co-worker of mine ordered a chair from you more than a year ago. I use a computer all day long, and have been having back problems for 10+ years. Last summer, my co-worker went on a 2-month long vacation and I used his chair while he was away. My back problems were relieved!!
I asked my employer to purchase the chair for me, which began a long period (until now) of their hiring ergonomists to recommend a variety of equipment for my use. I showed them your chair, but none would recommend it in their written reports, so my employer would not purchase the chair for me. My back problems returned!!
So, today, I have given up on my employer - and purchased the chair for myself. An investment in my health!! I look forward to receiving my Equipoise Chair. Now there will be two of us here in this office of about 100 persons who have this great chair!
Natalie
Everett WA.