Ergonomics is the science of matching workers’ needs and capabilities to their working environments. Ergonomics consultants are specialists who study how the human body interacts with workplace technology, furniture, and design. The ergonomics consultant works with employers to design a work environment that promotes employee health and productivity, as well as to train employees on how to protect their bodies while working. Some ergonomics consultants are also licensed occupational therapists, while others have professional association certification.
Working’s physical strain can harm an employee’s body, contribute to health problems, and have a negative impact on their job performance, especially for those who perform repetitive tasks. As part of an ergonomics assessment, an ergonomics consultant evaluates the workplace, the work space, and the tasks that an employee must complete. Individual employees will be assessed by the ergonomics consultant, who will observe their posture and movements as they go about their jobs. Following these observations, the consultant can make recommendations to help company management and employees not only create a healthy work environment, but also use it to its full potential.
An ergonomics consultant may specialize in one or more areas, which are usually related to his formal education. As a result, ergonomics consultants may work as a team through a consulting firm, which can then match a business client with an ergonomics consultant or consultants who can best meet the needs of that business. An ergonomics consultant who specializes in kinesiology, or human body movement, as well as a technology expert, for example, may be hired by a company concerned about repetitive stress injuries among its office workers. The kinesiologist can work with employees to encourage proper posture and alignment, as well as recommend desks and chairs that will reduce the risk of injury. On the other hand, a technology expert can create keyboard macros and shortcuts for employees that protect their wrists and hands from strain.
The requirements for becoming an ergonomics consultant vary, and ergonomics consultants are not required to be licensed, though independent professional bodies do offer professional certification. Many ergonomics experts have advanced degrees in psychology, occupational therapy, or engineering. In the United States and elsewhere, occupational therapy is a licensed profession, and ergonomics consultants who are also occupational therapists may have both professional licensure and certification on top of their professional training.