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At the end of your work day do you ever hear yourself saying, “Oh, my aching back?” Or maybe you feel numbness in your hands, stiffness in your shoulders, or swelling in your feet? These are common complaints of many in the work force. So common in fact that too often the pain is overlooked as just part of the job! Many of us may be working ourselves into permanent health problems by not seriously listening to our bodies and evaluating work habits. So Stop taking two aspirin while soaking in a hot bath and take a good hard look at your work place.

Ergonomics is the key to good health and productivity in the workplace. The study of ergonomics started during World War II when heavy performance failures due to human error needed to be overcome. Today, ergonomics is used in the design of everything from workstations to toothbrushes, aircraft cockpits to craft tools. People working in ergonomically designed workplaces or using products and tools with ergonomically design have proven to be less tired, less uncomfortable, and less likely to hurt themselves on the job. Productivity and quality of finished product is also much higher.

The formal definition of ergonomics is the systematic application of knowledge about the psychological, physical, and social attributes of human beings in the design and use of all things which affect a person’s working conditions: equipment and machinery, the work environment and layout, the job itself, training and the organization of work. In language you and I can understand it simply means fitting the job to the person through properly fitted equipment and procedures and adapting the person to the job with procedures and training. The “fitting” comes in two distinct areas, which are the physical and mental well-being of the worker.

Physical Ergonomics

It is assumed that ergonomics starts with a healthy individual. This doesn’t mean an individual who is without physical limitations, but rather an individual who is eating properly, getting exercise, and getting restful sleep. These are lessons that every mother and high school health class drilled into our heads, but it is the first area of health that we often let slip during our hectic schedules. It is a known fact that lack of physical health habits is one of the leading causes of work place accidents and low productivity. Review your personal health routines seriously. Take the time you need to keep your overall health well rounded and in good form.

The work place is your concern as a professional crafter. Most professional crafters are self employed and based out of the home. This gives you ultimate control over your work place. Several areas need to be carefully considered: Lighting, chair position, table height, and tool selection. Most professional crafters prefer natural lighting, but a back up of full spectrum lighting in a must. Eyestrain is a leading cause of fatigue in the worker and quality control drops accordingly. Notice any glare or bouncing light. Seeing clearly at any point in your workday allows for detail tasks, color matching, ease in reading, and overall comfort for the body.

Any chair used in the workplace should have seat height and back (especially lower back) adjustability if the worker is sitting for more than one to two hours daily. Consider the following when selecting chairs/seating for your workplace: 1. Padded seat. 2. Support for back and legs. 3. Feet support with ability to place feet in a footrest or flat on the floor. 4. Swivel seat. 5. Separate adjustments for back and seat cushions. Try out several chair types before selecting a chair. While sitting in the chair go through the motions you would put your body through in a given day. Most professional crafters spend the majority of the workday sitting, so invest in a chair that goes easy on your body.

The work surface of any production area or studio should be adjusted to how the worker is going to use the area. If the worker is standing or using a stool to lean on during the workday adjust the table/work surface so the worker is not stooping over the table. The same adjustment is needed for the worker who sits in a conventional chair. Arms should rest comfortably onto the work surface. There should be no need to hunch or stoop over the work surface. The ideal situation would have the worker with a straight back, feet firmly flat on the floor, and looking slightly down at the production work.

Repetitive motions are the leading cause of carpal tunnel syndrome and the flare up of arthritis in the hands. The selection of your crafting tools may make all the difference in your health and comfort. In most cases, carpal tunnel and arthritis aren’t “cured” by wise tool selection; however, additional damage can be stopped to your body. The wisest advice is to test all tools for hand comfort, hand stress, and overall ease of use. Look for tools that are spring loaded, padded, and ergonomically designed. Also take a look at how you use your tools. Are you using them within the guidelines recommended? It may seem faster to cut 6 layers of fabric in one cutting, but the stress applied to your hands is too much. It is important to make sure all handles, triggers, and grips are designed for your hand size. Look for tools with adjustable grips.

Several leading manufacturers (Berroco, Adhesive Technologies, Fiskars, Body-Rite, and OTT-Lite Technology) in the ergonomic area have put together a seminar taught at the craft industry trade shows. Here is a list of tips these companies’ highly recommend to Professional Crafters:

1. Chair: Invest in a proper sized chair for your work area(s) if you sit for more than 1/3 of your work ay. You should be able to sit back comfortably in the chair with your feet flat to the floor. Do not cross your legs while working.
2. Break: Schedule regular 15-minute breaks for every two hours of work. Every 30 minutes stand and stretch.
3. Work Circle: Create a work area that forms a circle. The more a tool or supply is used the closer it should be to your reach.
4. No Slouching: Mom was correct and you should watch your posture to avoid neck and back problems.
5. Note: Make notes of repetitive movements in your work. Try to vary and change the repetitive movements.
6. Lighting: Invest in it. Natural light is the best, but make sure that there is plenty of non-glare lighting where you work.
7. Tools: Try and test tools before buying and look for friendly designs like spring-loaded, padded handles, easy grips, and other comforts. One size rarely fits all! Get the proper fit!
8. Pain: If it hurts, feels painful, goes numb, or any other discomfort is felt…STOP. Learn a new way of working the situation or process
9. Rest: Don’t work when tired or fatigued. The number one cause of accidents is carelessness and carelessness is often brought on by fatigue.
10. Place: Everything in its place and that is not on the floor or any other traffic area. Organize and schedule. Most accidents are very preventable.

Mental Ergonomics

One area we do tend to overlook in ergonomics is the mental health side of our workplace. There are many influences of our mental well-being that go into a given workday. It is not easy, but the problems of our home life should be left at home and the problems of our workplace should be left at work, however, the professional crafter faces a special challenge. For most professional crafters home and work are within the same walls. There is no time to gear up for work or wind down from work that many commuting working are given. The professional crafter must create his or her time to get in the mood for work and get in the mood to return home. Give yourself a schedule and create set working hours. Develop a routine that gives you time to make the mental adjustments to start your workday and end your workday.

The stress of working with clients, customers, or suppliers that aren’t easy to please or pleasant to deal with is another evaluation you may have to judge carefully. I recently found that one client I worked with was such an unpleasant business relationship that each time I had to phone the client I found myself anxious and a bundle of nerves. Upon looking closer at the situation, I found that my other jobs were suffering. My apprehension was so sever that I didn’t want to sit down and start production of my craft products. After trying to resolve the conflicts with the client, I found I needed hours of precious time to put the conflict out of my mind and settle back into work.

After much soul searching I finally decided to end the relationship. Even though I gave up a good job I am still way ahead. My productivity has increased significantly and I have new clients I searched out are much better work with than the old client. Part of maintaining a positive well-being is to make sure we avoid those stressful situation that aren’t necessary. When overloaded, get rid of those less profitable or high stress jobs. When a design is not going right, stop, put it aside, do something less stressful. Avoiding useless stress will increase you attitude towards your work and your productivity.

Evaluate every job for all the ergonomic values of physical and mental safety and health. Ergonomics, the comfort, safety, and well being of the workplace is not a new field of study, however, in the past decade a wealth of information has been gathered and placed into layman’s terms. Put into practice the knowledge that is available. If ergonomics can build better aircraft, better packaging and better toothbrushes, then it surely can improve your workplace too!