Library Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of designing equipment to fit the human body, reducing discomfort and preventing injuries. When looking at the library as a workplace, one of the main issues is the injuries staff sustain from performing repetitive tasks. To avoid this, it is important to consider ergonomics in every job that is done throughout the workday.
At Lyngsoe Systems Library Solutions we consider ourselves experts on the topic of library ergonomics, having released our first ergonomic transport bin, the ErgoBin, almost 25 years ago. Within the realm of ergonomics, there are five aspects that should be considered:
- Safety
- Comfort
- Ease of use
- Productivity
- Aesthetics
This article will explain further about each of these aspects based upon our own experience in developing products that live up to all five.
Safety
It goes without saying that safety is the most important part of library ergonomics. Nothing should be prioritized higher than staff and patron safety. When designing library products, features such as low centers of gravity, ergonomic handles, and secure locking mechanisms are ways to significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries for staff and thus increase the level of safety in the workplace.
Generally, libraries are fairly safe workplaces in many ways, and the main safety hazards pertain to tripping or heavy books or other objects falling. Therefore, we aim to design products such as the ErgoBin™ and ErgoCart™ that are easily maneuvered around the library despite heavy loads and thus decrease the risk of staff tripping and objects falling over because they are improperly stacked.
Comfort
Though comfort for some may sound like a luxury in a workplace, it is imperative when staff perform repetitive tasks. If staff continually overexert themselves, it can lead to repetitive strain injuries that are difficult to recover from. It is, therefore, important to make each task as comfortable as possible. This can, for example, include utilizing height-adjustable desks and trollies, so bending is reduced to a minimum.
Overall, this will not only lead to fewer injuries, but also higher job satisfaction among library staff.
Ease of Use
Ease of use can be interpreted in two ways when it comes to ergonomics. One is that workers need to be able to perform their tasks easily without awkward movements that put stress on the body. As mentioned above, height-adjustable solutions are highly effective in this respect.
The other is that the tools and solutions that staff use during their workday need to be intuitive and easy-to-operate so that efficiency is not diminished, but also so that staff are content in their day-to-day tasks.
Productivity
Productivity is really an extension of ease-of-use as it refers to the increase in efficiency that intuitive and ergonomic products can provide. Equipment that streamlines processes, reduces downtime, and provides well-organized storage solutions can help libraries operate more efficiently.
An example of this could be the Lyngsoe Library Clerk™ that helps staff identify and pick items without the need for bending or stretching. By identifying items almost instantaneously with the Library Clerk, staff are not only spared these straining movements, but can also find what they are looking for much faster.
Aesthetics
Though it may sound as if equipment need to be beautiful to be ergonomic, this aspect tackles the idea of aesthetics differently. It is rather about the equipment and its functions being easy to understand and properly labeled. If not, it can lead to unnecessary frustrations, stress, and injury.
At Lyngsoe Systems Library Solutions, ergonomics are at the center of our product designs, and we always aim to address all five of the aspects mentioned above.