Ergonomics considerations in the workplace and role HR policies

With ever increasing progress in Information Technology, the world has become interconnected.
Due to the advancement of computer use, most of the manual driven activities in offices are now
replaced by human input into computers.

Ergonomics is basically fitting the job to the worker. Not all workers are identical and everyone
has limits. Ergonomists assure that tasks, information, environment suit each worker. In order to
access the fit between the employees and their work ergonomists consider:

 Relationship between job being done and the demands on the worker
 Equipment being used ( size, shape and its appropriateness for the task)

 Physical environment ( temperature, humidity , lighting, noise, vibration)

 Social environment (such as teamwork and supportive environment )

Workplace ergonomics is of increasing importance to employee health and safety. Knowledge of

ergonomics is used in improving the policies, strategic as well as operational plans, training of
people and monitoring the work of HR managers. For example in case of injury, compensation
and support in the form of medical treatment is provided by the personnel department.

The present work is concerned with the role of HR policies of an organization in banking sector
of Aligarh .Most of the work in banks and financial institutions involve long hours of sitting at
the computer, some factors need specific consideration like chairs, desks, monitor, office,
lighting, office arrangement should be such that these should not cause any physical and mental
harm to the employees.

As per Office ergonomics Handbook (2008) the main ergonomic risk factors in banks are:

 Repetition: tasks or body movements carried out continuously.

 Awkward posture: body posture which deviate from neutral, e.g. twisting the neck to
view monitor.
  Static forces: Prolonged sitting, viewing the monitor with a bent neck.

Banks require sitting at computer workstations with appropriate positions of wrist, elbows,
shoulder, neck knees, feet etc. Adjustable chairs in respect of height, seat pan, armrests are
preferred from ergonomic point of view. Similarly adjustable desks are preferred. Various items
on the desk should be placed based on the weight and frequency of use. Heavier items should be
placed between seated shoulder and waist height. Type and design of telephone, keyboard,
keyboard trays, mouse, placement and use of wrist also affect the efficiency of employees. Liquid
Crystal Display (LCD), monitors improve the visual work performance. Continuous hours on
computer and monotonous work should be avoided. All the above factors should be known to the
HR department.

Literature Review: There is hardly any literature specific to relationship between ergonomic
considerations for the employees of bank under Indian conditions of work culture but studies
dealing with ergonomics and offices using computers for long hours are reasonable. In fact ,the
foundations of the science of ergonomics go back to the culture of Ancient Greece .A good deal of
evidence illustrates that Hellenic civilization during 5th century BC used ergonomic principles in
the design of their tools, jobs, and workplaces. The in the 19th century, Frederick Taylor introduced
the term "Scientific Management" method, which proposed a way to find the optimum method for
carrying out a given task. Taylor found that he could, for example, triple the amount of coal that
workers were shoveling by incrementally reducing the size and weight of coal shovels until the
fastest shoveling rate was reached (Wikipedia). Ergonomics became a vital issue among academic
institutions, government agencies, and private services groups in the 1990s. Sznelwar etal (1999)
carried out ergonomic work analysis in call centers where inadequate tools, workstations, software
and space exist. And the work is concerned with extensive use of computers and phones. They
concluded that serving customers, when the job is to provide information is not a simple task as it is
often fragmented into computer system. Workers were not able to give personalized attention to
clients and often, they have to work in stressful environment which causes work related
muscuskeletal disorders (WMSD). A study is done by Holman, D. (2003) which says that
supportive management and human resource practices, effective job design can reduce stress in call
centers where employees have monotonous work with telephone usage.
Specific ergonomics related injuries by using computer are well described (Massachusetts
Institute of Technology’s RSI Information). There are guidelines ( ergonomic checklist from
Environmental Health & Safety of University of Minnesota ) which provide standards for
developing a successful ergonomics program for modifying the unsafe workstations and
configuring the ergonomic workplaces for increasing worker’s healthy computer usage and
productivity (UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health, program ).Studies and surveys have
shown that employees who use computer equipment with Video Display Terminal have more
complaints of neck and shoulder discomfort as compared to those who do not use the equipment.
A survey is done in Queens College Library(NY) which suggests that efforts should be made in
increasing awareness of ergonomics program aware through websites , workshops and
publications. (J.Chao, Sheau-Yeuh etal, 2001)

The traditional working life patterns and the demands of an increasingly industrialized and high
technology society, has created increase in workplace psychological problems in Asia and the
Pacific Rim countries. . Cases of pollution, mass hysteria, the relationship between overtime and
absenteeism and finally cultural factors also affects employee mental health and productivity.
(Kogi K and Kawakani T, 1997) Employee ergonomics training programs are increasingly being
called upon as a strategy to reduce illness and injury in the workplace. Based on survey in Aetna
Life and Casualty Co King ( 1995) has concluded that nearly 50% of compensation claims
reported and 60 %of their attendant costs were ergonomic related . Corporations, regulators and
unions are now beginning to recognize the potential value of early intervention and prevention of
work related injuries. Ergonomics is viewed as a key element in improving employee health,
safety and productivity. Danna and Griffin (1999) have suggested primary factors associated
with health and well-being, the consequences of low levels of health and well-being, and common
methods for improving health and well-being in the workplace.
Objectives of the study

This study had the followings objectives

 To study the basic ergonomics at the workplace.

 To find out whether HR policies and programs has any consideration of ergonomic factors
affecting heath and safety of the employees in banks

 To find out what problems employees in banks are facing and how it could be solved with
effective HR policies.

Methodology

Research Design

This study is empirical in nature. A representative sample from different levels/cadres in

banks has been selected to collect data.

Selection of organizations

Questionnaires were prepared and sent to a total of 100 employees at the managerial as well as
assistant levels in various banks at Aligarh.Out of these 48 responses were found to be
complete in all respects according to various elimination criteria and were finally selected
The banks covered were SBI, Syndicate Bank, CBI, PNB, Corporation Bank, Bank of
Maharashtra, and insurance company e.g. LIC.
 Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses were formulated:

H01: There is no association between numbers of hours worked and compensation demanded

by employees.

H02: There is no association between number of hours worked and discomfort felt by the employees

H03: There is no association between number of hours worked and correct working postures.

H04: There is no association between number of hours worked and training given on ergonomics.

H05: There is no association between number of hours worked and seating arrangement.

H06: There is no association between number of hours worked and keyboard position.

H07: There is no association between number of hours worked and correct monitor position.

Data Analysis and Interpretation

The results generated are shown in exhibit 1.

Exhibit 1:Chi-Square Analysis on Various Dimensions Under Study

S.No. Dimensions Chi-squqre,df Interpretation Null

& p-value Hypothesis
1. Compensation χ²=.095 Not Significant Not rejected

df=1

p=.758
2. Discomfort χ²=4.46 Significant Rejected
 df=1

p=.035
3. Working Posture χ²=17.43 Significant Rejected

df=1

p=.000
4. Training χ²=1.88 Not Significant Not rejected

df=1

p=.127
5. Seating χ²=11.09 Significant Rejected

df=1

p=.004
6. Keyboard χ²=11.00 Significant Rejected

df=1

p=.007
7. Monitor χ²=.085 Not Significant Not rejected

df=1

p=.858
As per Gender Chi Square Value

Item Variable X2 Value

Discomfort V1 .708
Compensation V2 .476
Training V3 .492
Working Posture WPT .753
Seating ST .770
Keyboard KT .200
Monitor MT .361
General (Workstation) GT .889

The null hypothesis Ho1 stating that there is no association between authority gender of the employee

and aspects related to work stands accepted. It also stands accepted for H01A, H01B, H01C, H01D,

H01E, H01F, H01G and H01H.

Qualitative Analysis of data

Responded Yes Percentage Responded No Percentage

V1 25 52 21 44
V2 4 8 38 79
V3 12 25 35 73
WPT 21 44 16 33
ST 21 44 27 56
KT 46 96 2 4
MT 35 73 13 27
GT 33 69 15 31
Conclusions and Recommendations:
The finding shows that there are many factors which enhance employees stress, discomfort, and
strain in the banks. Some of the employees are not able to correlate these factors are work related
only. This shows that awareness of ergonomics and resulting physical and mental ailment is
lacking among employees. Staff at the managerial level also are either not knowledgeable about
ergonomic design of workplace or are not getting enough support from their top management
.But it is very much clear from majority of responses that training is not provided on office
ergonomics in many of the banks .Employees suffer from pain and discomfort in neck, back, eyes
and shoulder, spine etc.Few of them who are sure that discomfort is work related, yet they have
not claimed medical benefits. Although the expenses on medical treatment are fully re-imbursable
but bank employees seldom get time to visit doctors, physiotherapists, or yoga specialists. In few
banks there were non adjustable chairs, table, desks, mouse, and mouse pads. Sometimes
connectivity also delays the work. An uncomfortable atmosphere due to heat and cold reduces
their work output.

On the basis of responses there are few recommendations as:

 The design of the office could be arranged more suitably and the environment could have
been more comfortable in order to increase their productivity, efficiency so that employees
could deal with customers and do banking transactions effectively.
 The working conditions could improve by proper infrastructure, regular maintenance of
computers.
 There should be distraction of noise (as some of the banks are in or near market place). Banks
need to be cleaner, good lighting and dust free.
 An initiative to conduct refresher ergonomics training workshops could make all the
employees well acquainted with working and seating postures.
 A help from ergonomics specialists and medical experts could be taken in providing early
diagnosis, treatment, and advice of computer related disorders and problem , maintaining the
expenses incurred on these.

References
Danna and Griffin (1999),”Health and Well-Being in the Workplace: A Review and Synthesis of
the Literature” in Journal of Management, Vol. 25, No. 3, 357-384

Holman, D. (2003).”Phoning in sick? An overview of employee stress in call centres”in Journal

of Leadership and organization Development, vol24.no3pp.123-130

J.Chao.Sheau-Yeuh etal, (2001). “Planning and implementing a library ergonomics program: case
study at Queens College Library”, the university of New York in Journal of Electronic Library,
Vol.19.no.5pp.327-341

King (1995), “Employee Ergonomics Training: Current Limitations and Suggestions for
Improvement” in Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, Vol. 5, No. 2,

Kogi, K. and Kawakani, T. (1997),” Current Research-Psychological issues, in Environmental

Management and Health, Vol.8, No.5 pp.191-192
Office Ergonomics Handbook, (2008), http://ohcow.on.ca/resources/workbooks/ergonomics.pdf

Sein, R .and Broberg, O. (2009), “Participatory Workspace design: A new approach for
ergonomists

Sznelwar etal (1999), “Ergonomics and work organization: the relationship between tayloristic
design and workers' health in banks and credit cards companies”, in Int J Occup Saf Ergon,
5(2):291-301KK

http://web.mit.edu/atic/www/rsi/mitrsi.htm

http://www.dehs.umn.edu/ergo/office/checklist.html

http://ergonomics.ucla.edu/Ergowebv2.0/articles/office_front_page.htm

Wikipedia
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