As an ergonomics consultant we carry a responsibility to ensure that our services are of the upmost quality and highest standards. We want to understand the preferences of our client managers but at the same time, help them understand what is best for their business and employees. Sometimes, a company that has a history of doing ergonomics in-house or has an ergonomic consultant with differing views, can skew the mindset and stance a company should have towards ergonomics in the workplace. A great ergonomic consultant will help management define the limitations of equipment that might be recommended including chairs, desks, and peripherals. Peripherals include keyboards and mice of ergonomic design. Ergonomists can help differentiate between items that are marketed as "ergonomic" versus what has an actual beneficial design to improve mechanics, posture, and reduce contact pressure and excessive muscle activation. The return on investment for ergonomics is substantiated by a reduction in cost from worker's compensation insurance mods or premiums that can drain capital from businesses. Think about all the huge towering insurance companies in San Francisco and try to convince someone that they are not profitable. They are an essential part of business continuity and businesses are forced to abide by OSHA regulation which takes the side of the employee. So employers need to be on top of regulations related to repetitive motion injury causes and prevention. If a company is just lax on regulations it usually comes down to worker environment and morale. If company workers feel pressure and stress but feel like their safety and health are not cared for, they are more likely to report an injury than a worker that is very satisfied with their job, have a good deal of work autonomy, and feel like the company looks out for their wellbeing and growth. It is best to have a combination of company attention to California and US government compliance as well as a focus on worker well being. Ensuring that management takes the stance of caring for how their workers are doing health-wise and mentally makes a big impact. Also, ensuring that the company Injury and Illness Prevention Program includes an ergonomics program that identifies ergonomic risks, allows individuals to request assistance and training, and resolves risk including providing ergonomic related products as appropriate. It is best to have an ergonomic consultant be part of the setup and workings of a company ergonomics program. Call Ergobility today if you need help developing an ergonomics program.