Risk prevention: Ergonomics vs Overuse (is ergonomics overrated?)

Hi there. Welcome back to my RSI life.com. Today I’m going to be giving a bit of a hot take! We’re going to talk about the discussion of workplace risk management. Let’s discuss 2 questions: Why does ergonomics get more focus in the workplace and online than overuse? And of course, is ergonomics overrated?

 

Question 1) Why does ergonomics get more focus in the workplace and online than overuse?

Here are the reasons why ergonomics dominates the discussion:

1. Ergonomic tools and training are a straightforward investment that companies can use to reduce a measurable risk
2. Market forces drive the dialogue: ergonomics sells
3. Misconceptions about the risks, prevention, and consequences of computer-related injuries

Question 2) Is ergonomics overrated when it comes to computer-related RSI prevention? 

• 2 reasons for Yes
• 1 BIG reason for No

Ergonomic tools and training are a straightforward investment that companies can use to reduce a measurable risk

The simple truth is that ergonomics is a much easier variable to control for business leadership than trying to prevent their workers from overworking. Ergonomics is very straightforward – keyboard, mouse, desk, chair, professional ergonomic evaluation. One each of those for the team, and now managers have measurably reduced the workplace risk at a cost that’s fairly easy to predict and manage. This is the kind of risk management that company managers want to make sweet sweet love to: prevention strategies with results that are measurable and explainable with data. The fun doesn’t stop there: a big investment in ergonomics makes a great story, and can communicate to employees that the company invests in their well-being (as we’ll see in the next reason).

 

Market forces drive the dialogue: ergonomics sells

There’s a lot of money to be made selling things to the managers of these companies, and ergonomics is an easy sell. These companies spend a lot of money on the physical ergonomic office equipment, ergonomic specialists, and employee

Misconceptions about the risks, prevention, and consequences of computer-related injuries

Before my injury, I had never even heard of RSI. Nobody I knew, family, friends, even bosses and coworkers had heard of it.

There just are and will continue to be people who don’t know or don’t care about the risk of overuse, and may even try to deny and discredit it. I think it’s part of human nature to deny the existence of things which are unseen but frightening.

To people who don’t have much experience with RSI, ergonomics seems like it promises the solution. I remember one conversation I had with a boss, where he asked me if that ergonomic keyboard we got for me had helped my condition. He was absolutely shocked and flabbergasted, and I could see it on his face over Zoom, when I told him I couldn’t use it because it still hurt the same as a regular keyboard. With regard to my work duties, he was interested in which gadgets and equipment were going to help – my employer never suggested I take time off or take more frequent breaks.

People just don’t know about the risks of overuse, so naturally they assume that ergonomic desk tools eliminate the problem, since that’s how ergonomics is marketed. The promise of a perfectly ergonomic workspace where someone can work endlessly with zero risk of injury is a very appealing fantasy. In today’s modern world, people are addicted to the quick fix, instant gratification, easy solution, so they tend to look elsewhere when someone proposes solutions beyond that.

Question 2) Is ergonomics overrated when it comes to computer-related RSI prevention? Yes and no.

Yes, ergonomics is overrated and here’s why:

Ergonomics won’t have as big an effect on the costs of computer-related injuries on an aggregate level as we expect.

Overuse is a risk that can undo the benefits of good ergonomic equipment and posture/technique habits, especially for those who are predisposed to RSI. No matter how safe the office workspace is, a portion of the population will continue to be predisposed and will continue to become injured due to overuse.

While I was prepping this blog post, I ran into an interesting concept called risk compensation. It’s a theory which suggests a reason why humans change their behavior in response to changes in perceived risk. Some fascinating examples include some studies which suggest that people who wear seatbelts tend to actually drive faster, and that free condom distribution might not as effectively reduce the spread of STDs on an aggregate level since free condoms could implicitly encourage more sexual activity in general. This could be happening in the office workplace – computer users might feel unconsciously emboldened to overuse because of the perceived safety of the equipment.

My point is that on a macro level, ergonomic equipment and training may have less of an effect on the overall costs of computer-related injuries than we might expect, due to individual predispositions towards injury and risk compensation.

Ergonomics is overrated with respect to the aggregate costs to the economy due to computer-related injuries.

Another reason for Yes:

Once you become injured due to computer-related overuse, ergonomics can’t really help you anymore.

Here’s an example of this from my life: every type of keyboard and every type of mouse, labelled ergonomic or not, that I’ve ever used with my hands since my injury has exacerbated my symptoms. Folks with computer-related injuries tend to know quite a bit about the ergonomic options and alternative computer input tools out there, but ironically find very few solutions that actually work as well as what they used to use. 

Ergonomics is overrated from my personal perspective, as someone recovering from a computer-related injury.

 

A BIG reason for No:

Ergonomics equipment and training is not overrated because it objectively reduces risk in the workplace.

Now I need to round out my opinion and just say that I DO know that ergonomics is valuable and does indeed reduce significant risks in the workplace. From the standpoint of the general computer user population, ergonomic tools and habits are extremely beneficial. I LOVE ergonomics, I am fascinated by it and I’m very glad that ergonomics and workplace safety are becoming more popular in the business world. For the record, I also love seatbelts and condoms. These are amazing modern inventions which measurably reduce risks in our lives.

Ergonomics equipment and training is NOT overrated with respect to the general computer-using public.

 

Thanks for reading! I’m interested to hear your thoughts and feedback – do you think ergonomics is overrated? Do you think the risk of overuse is adequately communicated to employees? Does your employer encourage you to make the most of your time off benefits and take breaks during the workday?

And lastly, does this kind of content about the “state of work” interest you? Do you think my arguments are defensible? I’m excited to talk more in the blog about the macro impacts of computer-related injuries and trends in business, government, and within the RSI community.

Article on Risk Compensation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation

CDC definition of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Ergonomics: https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/health-strategies/musculoskeletal-disorders/index.html

 

For those interested in using a computer HANDS-FREE, check out Dragon Dictation and the 3DRudder Footmouse! 

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Photo Credit: https://www.pexels.com/@n-voitkevich