October is National Ergonomics Month, a time for employers to evaluate how work affects their employees' health, safety, and performance. But the importance of workplace ergonomics extends well beyond a single month. Organizations that make ergonomics part of their ongoing safety strategy can better identify hazards, address physical demands, and reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
As October comes to a close, employers can use this opportunity to turn awareness into action. Understanding what ergonomics is, recognizing common risk factors, and implementing practical improvements can help build a safer, more productive workplace throughout the year.
Ergonomics is the practice of designing jobs, tasks, tools, equipment, and work environments to fit the capabilities and limitations of the people performing the work. Rather than expecting people to adapt to poorly designed tasks, ergonomics focuses on improving the fit between people and their jobs.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a well implemented ergonomics program can directly reduce or eliminate work-related musculoskeletal disorders and improve workplace safety.
But ergonomics is about much more than injury prevention. According to Briotix Health Senior Solutions Advisor and Certified Professional Ergonomist Tony Silva, “Ergonomics is about making work easier and more effective so people can be more productive, maintain higher quality standards, and finish the day without unnecessary physical or mental fatigue.”
Ergonomics is also not just a solution for the office, with ergonomic desk chairs and keyboards. Silva says, “Whether the task is drilling for oil or developing the next pharmaceutical drug in a Class 5 cleanroom, ergonomics applies because it focuses on how people interact with their environment.”
An effective ergonomics program goes beyond purchasing ergonomic chairs or reminding employees to lift correctly. It centers on understanding job demands and making changes that reduce the risk of injury or discomfort.
There are three types of ergonomic principles that are considered in office or industrial ergonomics programs: physical, cognitive, and environmental.
Physical Ergonomics: The physical load placed on the body when completing a task and the potential effects that load may have
Cognitive Ergonomics: The mental processes a task requires, including mental workload, decision-making, perception, memory, and reasoning
Environmental Ergonomics: How humans react in a specific environment, such as to temperature, noise, and light when completing a task
According to Heather Ritz, a Certified Professional Ergonomist at Briotix Health, “Whether you are working in an ice cream parlor scooping ice cream, or if you are a dental hygienist, or if you are an assembly line worker building a car, or you work 40 hours at an office desk, ergonomics is a part of every job we do."
A well-designed ergonomic program supports employee health in both office and industrial settings while helping organizations address operational challenges. Three benefits are particularly important across industries:
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include conditions that affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, and other supporting structures, which often cause pain, stiffness, and restricted mobility. Common work-related musculoskeletal injuries can include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder injuries, and nerve compression syndromes affecting the neck, back, elbows, and wrists.
Research suggests that when a worker’s tasks are adapted to include ergonomic principles that reduce physical stress in the workplace, up to half of all serious musculoskeletal injuries could be eliminated each year, dramatically improving employee health.
Ergonomic assessments help organizations identify these exposures before they contribute to more serious problems. Corrective actions might include redesigning a workstation, changing tool selection, improving material flow, or introducing equipment that reduces manual handling.
Implementing preventive ergonomic principles can also improve company productivity. Poorly designed tasks contribute to fatigue, discomfort, inconsistent performance, and avoidable interruptions. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, work-related musculoskeletal injuries account for more than one-third of all lost-time workdays.
Ritz puts it this way, "Workplace ergonomics programs make the job process more efficient.” For example, moving frequently used materials closer to the point of use can reduce unnecessary reaching to improve production speed as well as comfort.
While comfort is a good target when designing these systems, the primary goal should be to reduce unnecessary demands while supporting safe, effective job performance.
Ergonomics programs have been linked to improved overall job satisfaction. Employees are more likely to recognize an organization's commitment to workforce safety when leaders respond to reported discomfort and involve workers in identifying solutions.
Ritz says that “when companies care about ergonomics, they care about their employees. Incorporating ergonomic design principles, ergonomic body mechanics, or ergonomic lifting equipment - it all makes the job easier on our bodies so we can go home from work the same way we came to work and we can enjoy spending time with our families or doing things we love outside of work”. Encouraging early reporting can also help safety teams investigate potential hazards before discomfort becomes an ergonomic injury.
Employee feedback is essential because workers understand the practical challenges of their daily tasks. Involving them in ergonomic assessments and testing proposed changes can improve the usefulness of solutions and encourage adoption.
Ergonomics is therefore both a workplace design strategy and an ongoing process that benefits from employee participation.
Ergonomic risks vary by industry, job, and work environment. Employers should look beyond obvious heavy lifting to identify the full range of physical demands their employees encounter.
Common ergonomic risk factors include:
Repetitive motions: Performing the same movements repeatedly, especially with limited recovery time
Forceful exertion: Lifting, pushing, pulling, gripping, or carrying loads that require substantial effort
Awkward postures: Working with a twisted back, bent wrists, extended arms, or hands above shoulder height
Prolonged static positions: Sitting, standing, or maintaining a fixed posture for extended periods
Contact stress and vibration: Applying pressure against sensitive body areas or using vibrating tools and equipment
Poor workstation or task design: Working with equipment, tools, or material locations that do not accommodate workers' needs
These risks can affect office employees, healthcare professionals, warehouse teams, manufacturing workers, and many other occupations. The appropriate response depends on the task, the level of exposure, and the working environment.
For additional guidance, OSHA's ergonomics resource center provides information on MSD prevention, industry-specific guidance, and ergonomic program development.
National Ergonomics Month is a useful starting point, but meaningful improvements require consistent attention. Employers can build a more effective ergonomic program by following a structured approach.
Begin by reviewing jobs with frequent discomfort reports, recurring injuries, high physical demands, or repetitive tasks. Observe how work is performed under normal operating conditions, including peak production periods when demands may be higher.
Gather information from employees, supervisors, injury records, job observations, and existing risk assessments. Look for patterns that may indicate a need for further investigation.
The NIOSH Elements of Ergonomics Programs guide offers a practical framework for identifying ergonomic deficiencies and developing workplace improvements.
Once hazards are identified, focus on changing the conditions that create unnecessary physical demands.
Examples include:
Engineering controls: Use lift assists, adjustable workstations, conveyors, or redesigned tools to reduce physical demands
Workstation and task redesign: Change material placement, work heights, reach distances, or task layouts to support more neutral working positions
Administrative controls: Review work-rest schedules, task rotation, and staffing arrangements where appropriate to manage exposure
Training and coaching: Help employees recognize risk factors, use equipment correctly, and report discomfort early
Training is valuable, but it should not replace practical changes to hazardous work. For example, teaching employees proper lifting techniques is less effective on its own if loads remain unnecessarily heavy or are stored in hard-to-reach locations.
Employees often notice ergonomic problems before they appear in injury reports. Establish clear processes for reporting discomfort, suggesting improvements, and evaluating whether changes work in practice.
Supervisors also play an important role. They can identify changes in task demands, reinforce safe work practices, and help ensure that new equipment or procedures are used as intended.
An ergonomic program should evolve as jobs, equipment, staffing, and production requirements change. Track relevant measures such as reported discomfort, ergonomic hazards identified, corrective actions completed, and recurring injury patterns.
Leading indicators, such as the number of assessments completed or hazards corrected, can help safety teams monitor preventive activity. Lagging indicators, including injury rates and lost work time, can help evaluate broader outcomes over time.
Technology and ergonomic software can also support data collection, trend analysis, and prioritization across multiple facilities. However, data should inform decisions rather than replace qualified professional assessment or employee input. The most useful programs connect findings to corrective actions and verify whether those actions reduce risk.
The end of National Ergonomics Month should mark a transition from awareness to sustained improvement. Organizations do not need to overhaul every workstation or job at once. They can begin by identifying a high-priority task, gathering employee feedback, implementing a practical change, and evaluating its effectiveness.
For more complex workplaces, an ergonomics program may benefit from support from qualified ergonomists, occupational health professionals, or injury prevention specialists. These professionals can help assess job demands, prioritize risks, and develop solutions that reflect the needs of both employees and the business.
Briotix Health supports organizations with workplace ergonomics and injury prevention strategies to identify risks and implement practical improvements. By combining workplace observations, employee engagement, and data-informed decision-making, employers can make ergonomics a consistent part of their safety strategy.
What is the main purpose of workplace ergonomics?
Workplace ergonomics aims to design jobs, equipment, and work environments to fit workers' capabilities. This helps reduce ergonomic risk factors, prevent work-related MSDs, and support safe, effective job performance.
How can employers improve workplace ergonomics?
Employers can conduct ergonomic assessments, gather employee feedback, redesign high-risk tasks, introduce appropriate equipment, provide targeted training, and monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions.
Is workplace ergonomics important outside of National Ergonomics Month?
Yes. Ergonomic risks can change as tasks, equipment, and working conditions evolve. Ongoing assessments, early reporting, and continuous improvement help organizations maintain effective injury prevention efforts throughout the year.