Awareness About Ergonomics Has Increased Many Folds In the Past Decade

We spoke to Vipul Kumar, General Manager and Head Product Design, Wipro Furniture Business, Bangalore, IGBC AP & Member - Ergonomics Sectional Committee, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to understand the level of awareness regarding ergonomics in Indian organisations, focus areas for Wipro in the Indian industry for ergonomics related products, how their products ensure optimum ergonomics care for office workers and his views on large occupational safety and health shows such as OSH India and the work done by them in spreading awareness on OSH in India.

Interviewed by Adeesh Sharma  

1. What is the level of awareness regarding ergonomics in Indian organisations?

  Ergonomics has become a well known word in present day communication. Be it design of a seating product, an automobile, a wearable accessory, a house layout or for that matter any man made product or environment, ergonomics plays an important role to make these comfortable to use and more efficient to work with. Indian organizations employing Industrial Designers are made aware of the various aspects of Ergonomics. Due consideration is now being given to it while designing any object or system. Office Chair gets reviewed most critically from Ergonomics point of view. Reason for this is not difficult to find, we are spending ever increasing number of hours of our work life on an office chair, so long hours of seating comfort along with effect of seating for many years without causing any undue harm to our health has become very important. Most organizations involved with Office Furniture Design, Automobile Design, Machinery Design and Agricultural Equipment Design and Architectural Design are aware of Ergonomics.  

2. What are the focus areas for Wipro in the Indian industry for ergonomics related products?

  We at Wipro take Ergonomics as the core requirement of any Furniture or Seating design project. Indian Anthropometric Dimensions are considered to provide required adjustment range to accommodate maximum percentile of Indian Population. We also put our products through a third party review by an Ergonomics Expert before the product is launched. Suggested recommendations are reviewed and changes, if any are incorporated. We also drive special ergonomics awareness programs with our customers, like “BE A YOGO” where we train users on how to use our furniture products ergonomically, how to adjust products and workstation re-layout for long term comfort and enhanced efficiency. These sessions also teach them how to perform yoga on a chair to stay healthy. We have received a great appreciation for this program from our customers.  

3. How do your products ensure optimum ergonomics care for office workers.  

Right from the product design stage we take all ergonomic issues in to consideration. Available Ergonomic Guidelines from BIFMA are referred to in conjunction with Indian Anthropometric Data to decide on important product dimensions and adjustment ranges to make product suitable for the largest population set. Seat height adjustment, Lumber support and adjustment, Arm rest geometry and its adjustment, Seat to Back angle, Shape and type of cushioning for seat as well as back form the major part of ergonomic design considerations. Ease of access to these adjustment features and a clear guideline on how to adjust these for optimum comfort are given due importance. User guidelines are attached to each and every chair for easy reference.

  4. How do you believe the large occupational safety and health shows such as OSH India can help further the cause of spreading awareness about ergonomics in Indian organisations?

Even though the awareness about ergonomics has increased many folds in past decade or so but still a lot is needed to make the fruits of this knowledge to reach to the right people. A large part of this awareness is limited of “Office Going” population, however much hardship is encountered by Factory workers, Farm workers and Unorganized workers engaged in Infrastructural Sector. OSH India has a good reach to these set of people and their employers. Increased awareness through exhibitions, seminars, demonstrations of ergonomically designed products shall pave way to adoption of these leading to safe and healthy work environments.