'Ergofocus provided an in-house training course. The Ergo-Risk Tool is very comprehensive and an excellent tool that does not only provide scientific evidence but can also be used to create awareness in the workplace. Thank you for sharing your skills & in-depth knowledge of ergonomics.'
- Joretha Olivier, Occupational Hygienist - Necsa

It is becoming more and more important for businesses who want to have their buildings green, that their buildings and interiors also need to have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of the occupants. This is why ergonomics in green buildings play such a big role.

The need to consider human factors/ergonomics in green building design has been recognised by the Green Building Council of South Africa as an industry standard by launching the Green Star Office Tool in 2008. The GreenStar SA Office tool also encourages the design of a productive, healthy, and comfortable working environment through a focus on indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The factors that determine good IEQ are derived from multiple research sources, including environmental health (Evans,2003), environmental engineering (Heschong, Wright, &Okura, 2002), environmental psychology(Parsons, 1991), and environmental ergonomics (Hedge, 2000).

Credits that can also be obtained for the ergonomic lay-out of workstations and for the use of ergonomically certified furniture, fittings, and equipment, are stipulated in the IEQ-8 Ergonomics. 

The IEQ-8 Ergonomics Credit’s aim is to recognise and reward the choice of ergonomic equipment and design of space that promotes wellbeing, efficiency and effectiveness, essentially providing even more incentive for businesses everywhere to conform to the expected industry standard.

It is built up of 2 points, one point is awarded where equipment is deemed ergonomic where it fits the intended user population, and one point is awarded when the employees themselves are set up optimally at their workstations.

Before designing lay outs and purchasing required workplace equipment, it is recommended to seek professional ergonomic guidance. This is advised to ensure that companies will implement lay-outs and equipment that fit the employees to their tasks in a comfortable and efficient manner.

For example, many office chairs that are available on the market, may be labelled “green”, but they often lack one of the 5 basic ergonomic adjustment requirements, resulting in a poor fit for the user. On top of this it is not only the chair that makes an office workstation an ergonomical one. The interrelation between the user, his/her chair, desk, monitor(s), keyboards & mouses, etc needs to be evaluated in order to deem the fit-out ergonomically “correct”.  The inclusion of accessories such as foot rests, laptop stands, and monitor arms, should be part of the standard fit-out of a work station, where the use of these is required.

A poor design and/or purchase runs the risk of not earning the company its ergonomic credits, but also exposing its workforce to an ill suited and potentially injury inducing workplace environment.

South African businesses are finally beginning to move towards a future that recognises the importance of employee workplace comfort and health and, with real tangible benefits now on offer to those who wish to reform their interior workplace design.

The value of ergonomic professionals has become almost indespensible. The Osh-act aims to ensure that no harm is done to employees whilst on duty. One aspect in this is that the physical and cognitive abilities of the employee are not exceeded, which may result in harm to the employees, equipment or processes. Ergonomics ensures that companies can comply to this requirement of the OSH-act, but how do you know if the consulting service actually achieves this aim.

Until now there has been no official certification for ergonomic consultants, and it has been up to the client to determine if the consultant has the required training and experience to perform the services required. As ergonomics is a specialised field, it has very often been the consultant who convinces the client that he or she is qualified, not based on any quantifiable standard. The fact that many non-ergonomic professionals have been able up to now to pass themselves off as ergonomists is hurting South Africa’s industries and has put the profession in a negative light.

This has now however changed, as ESSA (Ergonomics Society of South Africa) has, via the PAB (Professional Affairs Board) begun a certification program to ensure that Ergonomists are certified and registered to perform their disciplines. This has resulted in two certifications, CPE (certified professional ergonomist) and CEA (certified ergonomics associate).

A CPE covers the entire breadth and depth of ergonomics knowledge to address complex problems and advanced ergonomics technologies and methods, combined with a vast experience in South African Industries.  A CPE is expected to provide leadership in professional matters, to apply and develop methodologies for analysing, designing, testing, and evaluating systems and thus may undertake the responsibility to perform ergonomics work on interfaces, work stations and work systems.

A Certified Ergonomics Associate (CEA) is an interventionist who applies a general breadth of knowledge to analysis and evaluation of currently operating work systems. The scope of practice of a CEA is limited to the use of commonly accepted tools and techniques for the analysis and enhancement of human performance in existing systems. A CEA may for example be responsible for the co-ordination of an Ergonomics Facilitation team within their own industry to create an awareness of Ergonomics, to identify problems, to implement basic solution and to recognise when to consult a CPE.

These certifications will ensure that the correct type of ergonomist is used for the ergonomics work required in a company, and that this work is done to a professional standard, which should ensure compliance with the aims of the OSH-act. The DOL (department of labour) is currently busy setting up specific guidelines regarding ergonomics which are to be expected to be published for public comments in the second half of 2016.

With this in mind, it should become immediately clear that using the services of a non-ergonomist professional to conduct an ergonomic assessment simply will not add value to your business. If your aim is to improve the efficiency in your workspace, it’s imperative to check that any ergonomist employed by your business is certified by the Ergonomics Society of South Africa (ESSA). In this way, you ensure that your business receives a high quality service where the real ergonomic issues facing your business are dealt with.  

'Esmeralda carried out an ergonomic assessment of our office furniture and all our staff. She presented first on why ergonomics is important in an office environment. It was very informative and Esmeralda really demonstrated her excellent skills in this area'
- Marloes Reinink, Owner – Solid Green Consulting

Accommodating your disabled co-worker (tuition)

Adapting the workplace to accommodate disabled employees and visitors (managerial level)

‘ErgoFocus provided us with great service. We required in-depth scan done to establish whether our building can accommodate physically challenged, visually and hearing impaired people. They kept to agreed timelines, understood our brief and provided a comprehensive report. All in all, we were happy and would gladly refer others to the business’
- Tshepiso Chocho, Human Capital Generalist - SASRIA

‘Esmeralda carried out an ergonomic assessment of our office furniture and all our staff. She presented first on why ergonomics is important in an office environment. It was very informative and Esmeralda really demonstrated her excellent skills in this area’
- Marloes Reinink, Owner – Solid Green Consulting

‘Your service was friendly, fast and efficient. You gave us exactly what we asked for and more. The report contained comprehensive information and included suggestions and alternative methods to address our ergonomic challenges.’
- Dr Wika Esterhuizen, SHE Advisor – SABRIX

"Esmeralda’s knowledge of Ergonomics is second to none. She added a valuable dimension to our Occupational Health Symposium in 2015. What a dynamic and informed professional she is..."
- Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Conference Producer – JPEC

Facilitating In-House Office Ergonomics