The Impact of Workplace Ergonomics on Employee Productivity, Comfort, and Health: A Mixed-Methods Study in the Department of State GST, Karnataka
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/wwyd5r82Keywords:
ergonomics, productivity, RULA, workplace comfort, occupational health, musculoskeletal disorders.Abstract
This study explores the influence of workplace ergonomics on employee productivity, comfort, and health in a governmental
administrative context. A mixed-methods approach was applied, collecting data from 70 employees of the Department of
State GST, Karnataka, through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, direct observations, and Rapid Upper
Limb Assessment (RULA). Findings reveal that while 80% of respondents were at least somewhat familiar with ergonomic
principles, only 52.86% had made personal adjustments to their workspaces. Discomfort was prevalent, with 50% reporting
mild discomfort and 21.43% moderate discomfort, primarily back pain (40%), neck pain (21.43%), and eye strain (18.57%).
RULA assessments indicated medium to high ergonomic risks due to poor lumbar support, improper desk setups, and
prolonged static postures. Over 62% believed that an ergonomic setup would significantly improve productivity, and
57.14% felt it would reduce health-related issues. However, 58.57% had never reported ergonomic concerns to management.
The results highlight the need for policy-level ergonomic interventions, including adjustable furniture, structured break
schedules, and targeted employee training, to enhance workplace efficiency and well-being.
Downloads
References
H. K. M. Dora, L. S. R. Krishna, and P. R. Reddy,
“Enhancement of safety and productivity all the way
through function of ergonomics principles – A case
study,” Materials Today Proceedings, vol. 64, pp. 212
, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.04.444.
K. L. W. Webster PhD and E. R. H. M. Facs PhD,
“Human factors and ergonomics in the operating
room,” in Elsevier eBooks, 2023, pp. 75–86. doi: 10.1016/
b978-0-323-66179-9.00011-7.
Ö. Kaya, “Design of work place and ergonomics
in garment enterprises,” Procedia Manufacturing,
vol. 3, pp. 6437–6443, Jan. 2015, doi: 10.1016/j.
promfg.2015.07.921.
M. S. Denadai, S. R. Alouche, D. P. Valentim, and
R. S. Padula, “An ergonomics educational training
program to prevent work-related musculoskeletal
disorders to novice and experienced workers in the
poultry processing industry: A quasi-experimental
study,” Applied Ergonomics, vol. 90, p. 103234, Sep.
, doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103234.
J. Sanjog, T. Patel, and S. Karmakar, “Occupational
ergonomics research and applied contextual
design implementation for an industrial shop
f
loor workstation,” International Journal of Industrial
Ergonomics, vol. 72, pp. 188–198, May 2019, doi:
1016/j.ergon.2019.05.009.
S. Montreuil, “Ergonomics training for managers,
employees and designers involved in the design and
organization of work systems,” Safety Science, vol.
, no. 2–3, pp. 97–106, Jul. 1996, doi: 10.1016/0925
(96)00035-5.
P. Vink, E. A. P. Koningsveld, and J. F. Molenbroek,
“Positive outcomes of participatory ergonomics in
terms of greater comfort and higher productivity,”
Applied Ergonomics, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 537–546, Jun.
, doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2006.04.012.
U. J. Udosen, “Ergonomic workplace construction,
evaluation and improvement by CADWORK,”
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, vol.
, no. 3, pp. 219–228, Jan. 2006, doi: 10.1016/j.
ergon.2005.11.005.
M. Genaidy, “Physical ergonomics job design:
an
accident prevention approach to control
upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders in
manufacturing industry,” Journal of Occupational
Accidents, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 303–320, Nov. 1990, doi:
1016/0376-6349(90)90036-u.
Karltun, J. Karltun, D. A. Coelho, K. Havemose, and S.
Kjellström, “The work of first line managers – A key
to resilience in manufacturing,” Applied Ergonomics,
vol. 110, p. 103993, Mar. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.
apergo.2023.103993.
K. Reinhold, M. Järvis, and P. Tint, “Practical tool and
procedure for workplace risk assessment: Evidence
from SMEs in Estonia,” Safety Science, vol. 71, pp. 282
, Oct. 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2014.09.016.
W. Olesen, “International standards and the
ergonomics of the thermal environment,” Applied
Ergonomics, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 293–302, Aug. 1995, doi:
1016/0003-6870(95)00033-9.
J. A. Veitch, “How and why to assess workplace
design: Facilities management supports human
resources,” Organizational Dynamics, vol. 47, no. 2, pp.
–87, Apr. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.orgdyn.2018.01.002.
Santoso, G. (2023). Ergonomics of Work Performance and
Work Productivity Aspects. Ergonomics, 2(4). https://
doi.org/10.55927/ijis.v2i4.3726
Reinhold, K., Tint, P., Tuulik, V., & Saarik, S. (2008).
Innovations at workplace: Improvement of ergonomics.
Engineering Economics, 60(5).https://www.ceeol.
com/search/article-detail?id=953131
Chim, J. M. (2019). 6Ws in ergonomics workplace design. In:
Proceedings of the 20th Congress of the International
Ergonomics Association (IEA 2018), Volume VII (pp.
–1286). Springer. https://link.springer.com/
chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-96071-5_129
Chintada, A., & V, U. (2022). Improvement of productivity
by implementing occupational ergonomics. Journal of
Industrial and Production Engineering, 39(1), 59–72.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21681015.2021.1958936
Sumarningsih, T., Wibowo, M. A., & Wardani, S. P. R.
(2016). Ergonomics in work method to improve construction
labor productivity. International Journal of Science and
Engineering, 10(1), 30–34. https://doi.org/10.12777/
ijse.10.1.30-34
Ugbebor, J. N., & Adaramola, S. S. (2012). Evaluating
the effectiveness of ergonomics application. Work,
(S1), 484–486. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012
-484
Neubert, N., Bruder, R., & Toledo, B. (2012). The charge
of ergonomics – Influence of ergonomic workplace design
in the automotive industry. Work, 41(S1), 4389–4395.
https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-0735-4389
Boatca, M. E., Draghici, A., &Carutasu, N. (2018).
A knowledge management approach for ergonomics
implementation within organizations. Procedia - Social
and Behavioral Sciences, 238, 199–206. https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2018.03.024
Kaya, Ö. (2015). Design of workplace and ergonomics in
garment enterprises. Procedia Manufacturing, 3, 6437
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2015.07.921
Roy, D., Cho, S., &Avdan, G. (2024). Data envelopment
analysis (DEA) for improving ergonomics and workplace
performance. Journal of Applied Research on Industrial
Engineering, 11(1), 24–36. https://doi.org/10.22105/
jarie.2024.422077.1569
Street, T. D., & Lacey, S. J. (2019). Accounting for
employee health: The productivity cost of leading health
risks. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 30(2),
–237. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.200
Braganza, B. J. (1994). Ergonomics in the office.
Professional Safety, 39(8), 22. https://www.proquest.
com/openview/94985e2461ac984243f26840cedcc7b7/
Harari, Y., Bechar, A., Raschke, U., & Riemer, R.
(2017). Automated simulation-based workplace design
considering ergonomics and productivity. International
Journal of Simulation Modelling, 16(1), 5–18. https://
www.researchgate.net/publication/315417036
Eklund, J. A. (1995). Relationships between ergonomics and
quality in assembly work. Applied Ergonomics, 26(1), 15
https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(95)95747-N
Maballaghi, M., Salimi, N., &Nasirnejad, N. (2016).
Ergonomics and employees’ performance. Specialty
Journal of Psychology and Management, 2(3), 59–63.
https://sciarena.com/article/ergonomics-and
employees-performance
Robertson, M. M., & O’Neill, M. J. (2003). Reducing
musculoskeletal discomfort: Office ergonomics and
training intervention effects. International Journal of
Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 9(4), 491–502.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2003.11076585
Corlett, E. N., Wilson, J., &Manenica, I. (1986). The
ergonomics of working postures. London: Taylor &
Francis.
Suwartini, L. G., Tirtayasa, K., & Adiputra, L. M. I.
S. H. (2020). Improved working posture and ergonomic
stretching reduced musculoskeletal complaints among
nurses. JurnalErgonomi Indonesia, 6(2). https://doi.
org/10.24843/JEI.2020.v06.i02.p04
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.