The best posture is the next posture… or is it?
by Joanne Allpress – Senior Ergonomics Consultant If you’ve ever looked into ergonomics or musculoskeletal health, you’ve probably come across the phrase: “The best posture is the next posture.” It’s a message that has become increasingly popular, particularly amongst healthcare professionals specialising in musculoskeletal health, and for good reason. The idea is simple: our bodies are designed to move, and staying in one […]
The Changing Pace of Work (Part 1): How task analysis has evolved
by Joanne Allpress – Senior Ergonomics Consultant When people think of a DSE assessment, they often think about chairs, desks, screens, and posture. However, one of the most important aspects of any ergonomics assessment is understanding the task itself. In fact, one of the things I find myself explaining most often during assessments is that I […]
Reasonable adjustments for DSE users – it’s not always about the chair or desk
When discussing Display Screen Equipment (DSE) adjustments, the conversation can quickly focus on chairs, desks, or specialist peripherals. While equipment can absolutely play an important role, effective reasonable adjustments are often broader than furniture alone. In many cases, the biggest improvements come from changing how someone works, rather than simply what they work with. Reasonable adjustments can include: Flexible break […]
The Ghost at the Desk: Britain’s Presenteeism Crisis and What We Can Actually Do About It..
By Eilidh Stewart-Barritt, COO Inspired Ergonomics Every day, millions of people drag themselves to work, physically present but mentally somewhere between their bed and a GP waiting room. Whether you run a five-person accountancy firm in Sheffield, manage a hospice in Hertfordshire, or lead a team of 5,000 in a Whitehall department, the cost of […]
“Homeworker Chair” Explained: What It Really Means (and Should You Use One in the Office?)
Blog written by Joanne Allpress, Senior Ergonomics Consultant A “homeworker chair” isn’t just a post-COVID trend, it’s a practical, cost-effective type of task chair that became far more visible during the rise of remote work. Designed to balance affordability, comfort (and often home-friendly aesthetics), these chairs also meet strict UK fire safety standards typically using CMHR […]
Wrist Pain and DSE: Is a Vertical Mouse Always the Answer?
By Joanne Allpress – Wrist Pain and DSE: Is a Vertical Mouse Always the Answer? This is a topic we’ve been discussing more frequently lately, so we thought it would be helpful to pull together some guidance and share it in this week’s article. “An employee has reported wrist pain on their DSE self-assessment — […]
Ergonomics for Neurodivergents: Could the future of inclusive work start with human factors science?
Blog written by Eilidh – Ergonomics for Neurodivergents: Could the future of inclusive work start with human factors science? It’s Neurodiversity Celebration week, and I have been thinking a lot about the challenges currently faced in the workplace by neurodivergent people and the organisations they work for, not least because professionally, it is my […]
Back straight, knees bent – Does it make a difference?
by Antony Hylton – Back straight, knees bent – Does it make a difference? Manual handing injuries are common, accounting for around 17% of the 680,000 non-fatal injuries that occurred at work in 2024-25. That’s about 115 000 people. They cause significant time off work, with financial and social consequences, not to mention the […]
Keyboard trays – essential tool or legacy habit?
by Joanne Allpress – Keyboard trays – essential tool or legacy habit? Requests for keyboard trays still crop up regularly, particularly in organisations with US links where they’re often seen as standard. But in practice, they’re rarely a requirement and sometimes they solve the wrong problem. Are keyboard trays required?Usually not. The priority is achieving […]
Addressing the Evolution of Human Size and its Impact on Workplace Ergonomics
As humans, we’ve undergone significant changes in our physical stature over the past century. In many cases (obviously not all), we’ve grown taller, wider, and live longer lives. But what’s behind these shifts in our size, and how does it affect us in the modern world? Contrary to popular belief, these changes aren’t due to […]
Micro vs. Macro Ergonomics – What’s The Difference?
Increasingly, the terms micro and macro ergonomics are being used so I thought, today, it would be useful to focus in on their differences. In our work, in order to provide a holistic approach and optimise an individual’s wellbeing, we need to use both! Micro ergonomics is when, as an ergonomist, we pay meticulous attention […]
The Missing Piece
Proper ergonomic adjustments can lead to increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and improved overall well-being for employees. However, simply making adjustments without educating employees about the “why” and “how” can result in failures and even potential harm Understand the “Why”: One of the primary reasons why ergonomic adjustments can fail is that employees often lack a […]