Organizational ergonomics and employee productivity 1

Chapter 2

Literature Review

Research Problem – How does Organizational ergonomics impact employee productivity?

Introduction

The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of organizational ergonomics on

employee productivity. The number of injuries incurred among employees within organizations

has given rise to a number of research activities and writing by scholars on the subject of

organizational ergonomics and its impact on employee productivity. Discussion has been

centered on how ergonomics affect the physical well-being of a company’s employee, which in

turn influences how effectively and efficiently they perform their given task. Therefore, this

literature review has sought to examine the research reports and other relevant writings on four

major aspects of ergonomics: workstation, lighting, ventilation, and wall colour.

Workstation and employee productivity

Accomplished Office Ergonomics writer, Santos, (1995) defined workstation as, “a

physical space provided to do a job.” Shikdar and Al-Kindi (2007) emphasized that workstations

in offices should be laid out following ergonomics standards, guidelines, and recommendations.

They explained that employees must be trained in ergonomic layout and organization of their

workstation. In addition, Shikdar and Al-Kindi (2007), study conducted in a large oil company

with 40 office workstations, each occupied by an office employee, found major problems,

resulting from ergonomic deficiencies. The problems reported by the employees were eyestrain

(58%); shoulder pain (45%), back pain (43%), arm pain (35%), wrist pain (30%), and neck pain
Organizational ergonomics and employee productivity 2

(30%). These results indicated serious ergonomic deficiencies in office computer workstation

design, layout, and usage; as a result user health and employees productivity were minimized.

Equally important, according to the research carried out by Fernandez (1995), is the fact

that a proactive approach to ergonomic reduces pain and other symptoms in office workers. This

study was conducted at the World Bank headquarters, where all workers received new

ergonomic office furniture along with information on how to set it up. One group also received

personalized setup by a professional ergonomist. The result of this study showed a reduction in

symptoms of musculo-skeletal pain, and eyestrain. In addition, workers who received an expert

workstation set-up had a significant increase in productivity

In addition, Conrad (2002), study showed that office chairs can cause back and leg aches,

which tire workers out long before the day’s tasks are completed. In expanding on this study, it

was noted that office chairs that are not ergonomized can cause health problems among

employees, along with reducing productivity.

Not to be undone, was a study conducted by Smith and Bayehi (2003), at a catalogue

retail service organization, where 72 volunteer participants received ergonomics improvements

to their workstation and 370 control subjects working in the same department. The findings

showed that workers performance increased for 50% of the ergonomics improvement

participants and decreased for 50%. Overall, there was a 4.87% output increase for the

ergonomics improvement group as compared to a 3.46% output decrease for the control group.

The level of productivity increase varied by the type of the ergonomics improvements.
Organizational ergonomics and employee productivity 3

It is clear from this discussion that improvement in employee productivity, as a result of

an improvement in ergonomic workstations, can be affected by a number of factors such as the

type of institution, type of improvement, and the type of approach used.

Lighting and Employee Productivity

According to the writer Barrett, (2002) there are two types of office lighting: “ambient

lighting, which is light supplied by ceiling lights, and sometimes a combination of ceiling and

natural light; and task lighting which is for a specific task.” Anshel (2006) emphasized that

companies should provide for good visual health for employees, since it is economically wise.

He explained that computers are used in almost every aspect of life, including work, where many

users experience eye and vision-related symptoms and discomfort, which can negatively impact

their productivity.

Additionally, Amjad and Hameed (2009) study of a baking sector of Abbottabad,

Pakistan, where 13 banks were studied (105 employees) in which 26.6% respondents were

female employees and 73.3% were male employees. In which five indicators of office design

such as furniture, noise, temperature, lighting and spatial arrangement were considered, which

the prime factor which affected the productivity of employees was lighting in the office,

represented by 0.77 standard deviation and a mean of 3.23. Furthermore, Amjad and Hameed

(2009) study found that office design is very vital in terms of increasing employees’

productivity. Comfortable and ergonomic office design motivates the employees and increases

their performance substantially.

Equally important, McShulskis (1996) study of Lockheed Corporation, in Sunnyvale,

California, found that by using daytime lighting the company saved 75% of its lighting bill and
Organizational ergonomics and employee productivity 4

cut overall energy costs in half. In addition, the company also noticed a significant drop in

absenteeism, with a subsequent rise in productivity

Moreover, Veitch et al (2008) study which took place at a lease office space in Albany,

New York, in which the participants were hired from an office temporary service agency.

Participants worked under the given lighting condition for a full 7.5h day. The result from the

study showed that different lighting installation were perceived differently, in which individually

controllable workstation specific lighting (Dimming control) was rated as being confortable by

90% of the participants. Additionally, this affected the participants’ motivation and well-being,

which resulted in improved visibility which led to better task performance, which improved

productivity.

From the discussion about office lighting and employee productive, it is clear that office

lighting produces economic benefits for companies. Which involves lowering operating cost and

as well as increasing employee productivity.

Effects of ventilation on employee productivity

Goetsch (2007) defined ventilation as “the process of continually moving fresh air

through a space”. Goestsh(2007) expressed the view that ventilation will dilute and replace

airbourne contaminants that may still be in a confined space and will ensure an adequate supply

of oxygen. Seppanen & Fisk (2004) held the view that ventilation is necessary to remove indoor

generated pollutants from indoor air or dilute their concentration to acceptable levels. But, as the

values of all pollutants are not known, the exact amount of required ventilation rates based on

pollutant concentrations and associated risks is almost impossible to find out.

Organizational ergonomics and employee productivity 5

However, Tham and Willem, (2004) reported statistically, a significant increase in

performance with higher ventilation rate than with lower ventilation rate. This study was carried

out in Singapore in a call center, where a sample of 26 permanent telephone operators at the call

center, were examined. The study was conducted with a ventilation rate of 9.8 L/s-person(litres

per second to a person), followed by another test which was carried out at a ventilation rate of

22.7 L/s-person in order to evaluate the performance of the operators at the respective ventilation

rates. Studies revealed that there was a decrease of 8.8% in average time spent dealing with

customer issues due to the increase in ventilation.

Moreover, a similar research was carried out by Tham (2004), also in Singapore was

conducted by changing weekly temperature in a customer service operator office, from 22.5 to

24.5oC with ventilation levels of 5 and 10 L/s-person respectively. All subjects of the research

were females and they were not informed of the changes that were made. The research presented

data showing an increase of approximately 30% in the time taken to deal with a customer’s

complaint or query. The results were averaged across the 56 females to give a result out one.

In addition to the notion that increased ventilation improves employee productivity,

Wargocki, Wyon & Sundell J (2000) carried out a laboratory study by simulationg an office

environment and using 30 female subjects who were all students. In supporting the notion that

increased ventilation would improve productivity, the researchers proved, through their findings,

that there was an improvement in typing speed 25% with higher ventilation rates of 10 L/s-

person compared to a ventilation rate of 3 L/s-person. Proof reading and addition tests also

showed better results with higher ventilation rates.

Organizational ergonomics and employee productivity 6

Following up the wargocki’s et al. (2000) study is Graudenz, Kalil, Saldiva, Latorre &

Morato-Castro’, (2004) study providing evidence that productivity could be improved by

increased or better ventilation. In their study, this was done by a reduction in respiratory

illnesses. As reported by Graudenz et al. (2000), improvements in ventilation systems reduced

potential for respiratory illnesses in employees within the area, hence greater levels of

productivity. The research was carried out among 23 members, control team on the 35th floor of

a building downtown Sao Paulo Brazil. 50% were males, 38.9% females and the remainder

wished to remain anonymous. Two sets of questionnaires were issued, one during the use of an

old poorly maintained air conditioning unit and old contaminated equipment, followed by

another after the air conditioning unit and equipment have been replaced. Results of the study

(Graudenz, Kalil, Saldiva, Latorre & Morato-Castro, 2004), provided evidence of an increase in

productivity due to a 76.5% reduction in reports of respiratory illnesses in the control team, due

to the significant improvements in the ventilation of the area studied.

In conclusion, based on the results provided in this discussion it is manifested that the

integration of proper ventilation methods in reasonable proportions will increase employee

productivity through improved comfort and health.

Wall colours and employee productivity

According to Collard and DeHerde,(2001), much of the evidence on the performance of

green building in-use stems from early adopter projects where the notion of “green” was

considered to be front-and-centre in the design and operation priorities. With green building

moving into mainstream, office buildings are now incorporating “green” into the workplace in

much more subtle and integrated ways. The contemporary workplace is expected to provide a
Organizational ergonomics and employee productivity 7

whole host of benefits including a reassuring atmosphere, compensation for the abstraction of

work, protection of workers from stress, unification of the organization, expression of

organizational values, motivation and mobilization of staff, promotion of sociability and

cooperation, and reflection of a company’s desired image.

Colour can be used to improve operating efficiency in many ways—in forms, on files,

attachments to merchandise or equipment. Colour presently plays an important

role in facilitating the ready identification: of papers, materials, places required action, current

status, and other characteristics. However, new uses are constantly developed and there is good

reason to believe that old uses are not at their full potential. The automatic signal flashed by

color is a quick and reliable aid in every area of operation—office, warehouse, factory, sales

department, laboratory De Vos (1999).

Colour is an important feature in creating the desired visual and psychological

environment. Floor coverings, walls and blinds should be integrated into a comprehensive plan.

Furniture should not only be designed and arranged for practical use but should also be pleasing

to the eye. Bright and harsh colours should be avoided at all times, as these can be distracting to

library users Robertson (1194, pp. 22-43). The general consensus of students at Liverpool John

Moores University is that the libraries’ colour schemes of muted tones have a calming influence.

Robertson’s (1994) study of 1200 employees in the Administration sector at the Liverpool John

Moores University that colours impacted their daily production rate.

Stone and English (1998) found that perceived room temperature was affected by colour.

Those working in blue partitioned areas perceived it to be cooler than those in red workspaces.

This may have energy use implications. Building users could potentially be made to feel cooler

in warm climates and vice versa. The detailed psychological effects of colours are beyond the
Organizational ergonomics and employee productivity 8

scope of this paper but clearly workplace colour is an important consideration for FM and one

that can significantly influence organisational performance.

Research by Ceylan et al. (2008) measured perceived benefits of the physical

workplace for creativity and productivity. They showed 25 photographs of office interiors to 60

managers from a large manufacturing company. Elements corresponding to perceived

creative performance were more, lower complexity with cooler colours, in contrast to

McCoy and Evans (2002).These differences between research results can be explained by the

difference in questioned group: students versus managers, work environments versus learning

environments and cultural differences between the USA and Turkey; where 80.6% of the 60

managers perfered cooler colours for their office environment.

There are certain shades that have been established for a very long time, such as: Oxford

Blue, Royal Blue, French Blue, Ivory, Signal Red, Post Office Red, Pale Cream, Golden Yellow,

Canary Yellow, Bottle Green, Aquamarine, etc. It is superfluous to say that these standards could

be regional, and all the shades mentioned above are used in the paint industry. Of late, the paint

industry has come out with shade cards covering some 1,000 shades, which are supposed to

cover the entire gamut of colours. Of the shades introduced into the market, many catch on,

many fade away, and others try to copy the ones that catch on. All these colour developments

involve effort and infrastructure. Smaller companies cannot compete in this area, as they do not

have the manpower required, Taskar and Gadre (2001).

Organizational ergonomics and employee productivity 9

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