America has a problem, and it may surprise you what it is and just how serious it is.
It’s sitting, and no matter how benign it may seem, sitting poses a significant risk to your workforce and bottom line.
Considered the “new smoking,” too much sitting can lead to a higher risk of conditions like heart disease, chronic back pain and obesity. For business owners, that can mean more worker injuries or health issues, employee absences and costly downtime.
There’s good news, however. Industrial workbench manufacturers have developed a tool that promotes ergonomic health in the workplace while keeping productivity high … an industrial workbench that rises and lowers using an electric control.
But what makes an electrical adjustable height industrial workbench an important addition to any workspace? Here are four benefits you can’t afford to ignore:
- Adjustable workbenches promote ergonomic health.
- The overall health of employees also benefits.
- The electric control makes lifting easy.
- Your company becomes more appealing to workers.
Adjustable Workbenches Promote Ergonomic Health
You’ve likely heard the word, “ergonomics,” thrown around a lot. While some may think it’s a catchphrase, others immediately associate this important concept in industry with a bottomless money pit.
Neither are true.
What is ergonomics? Ergonomics focuses on preventing injuries and promoting the well being of workers. When incorporated into workplace design, embracing ergonomics means customizing a workspace to fit the workers using it. Overall, ergonomics aims to promote more efficiency and productivity while reducing the discomfort of employees.
In the case of a workbench, for example, sitting for long periods of time is unnatural for the body. In fact, when we stand, we are in a neutral position. Any movements that deviate from this, whether it’s sitting for long periods of time, flexing your back, twisting at the waist or bending over from your chair, can create an awkward and potentially harmful position.
This can then lead to musculoskeletal injuries - some of the most common types of injuries among manufacturing workers. These include sprains, strains, tears, hernias and carpal tunnel syndrome.
These types of injuries can then lead to workers compensation claims that can impact your bottom line. Musculoskeletal injuries account for almost 30% of all workers’ compensation claims, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers pay for workers’ compensation insurance, and if the number of workplace injuries rise, this could lead to higher premiums.
When employees are able to adjust the height of their workstation by simply flipping an electrical switch and work standing up, this reduces the risk of injuries that can be caused by working in unnatural positions.
The Overall Health Of Employees Also Benefits
As we mentioned above, there are many downsides to prolonged sitting in a work area throughout a shift. Look no further than these startling statistics, according to WebMD:
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Those who sit are twice as likely to get heart disease as those who stand.
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You’re more likely to die earlier from any cause if you sit for long stretches of time.
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The effects of too much sitting are difficult to counter with exercise.
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Your risk for diabetes, a deep vein thrombosis and obesity go up.
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Your back muscles, neck and spine can suffer from the stress of sitting.
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You may be more likely to develop varicose veins.
Although industrial furniture chairs can provide support, allowing employees to alternate between standing and sitting can promote a better sense of wellness in the workplace.
The Electrical Control Makes Lifting Easy
While height adjustable workbenches allow workers to choose whether they want to sit down or stand up, there’s different ways employees can make this happen.
Some adjustable hydraulic benches, for example, allow workers to use a manual hand crank to raise and lower the work surface. The hydraulic nature of the work table provides an easy way to make this adjustment.
Other benches come with an electric control to lift and lower the bench to a comfortable height. Benches with an electric component may be more likely to include an additional benefit … preset positions for convenience. This can come in handy if multiple workers use the same bench over the course of several shifts.
Your Company Becomes More Appealing To Workers
The above three points explain some of the ways an electronic adjustable industrial workbench can be beneficial for employees, but what about the company itself?
If you’re a business owner, the good news is that incorporating this type of industrial furniture in your workspace benefits you as well. As we mentioned, employee injuries can have a devastating impact on your bottom line.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows musculoskeletal injuries account for nearly 34% of days away from work. And, a study highlighted in Fast Company found that workers who consider themselves unhappy are 10% less productive.
But there’s one very important benefit that many employers don’t realize comes with prioritizing their workers’ health … appeal. When a company looks out for the wellbeing of its workers, it becomes more attractive to current and prospective employees.
And, today in a competitive workplace environment, that’s important. If employees are healthy and happy, they are more likely to stay on the job and be productive. In fact, an Academy of Management Perspectives three-year study found that stronger emotional ties lessened the likelihood that employees would leave for a position at another company.
That’s good information to keep in mind when choosing the type of industrial furniture for your workspace since high turnover can be costly when it comes to recruiting and training. According to RecruiterBox, it can cost an average of just over $5,100 to hire a worker in the manufacturing industry when different variables are considered. These include a recruiter’s time, employment advertisements, job fair fees and more, not to mention any downtime that may occur as you’re waiting for an employee to come on board.
If you find yourself in a position where you need to hire more workers, being able to offer more incentives to come work for you can help attract the best in your industry.
The Benefits That Can’t Be Ignored
Sitting is something we all do at one point during the day. For workers, however, prolonged sitting can have significant health and productivity effects, and that can impact how efficient your company is and its bottom line.
Investing in an adjustable height industrial workbench, particularly one that can be easily adjusted electrically, can offer many benefits. In addition to better ergonomic and overall health benefits for your employees, your company can realize the perks of becoming an appealing company that employees today are seeking.
