Ergonomic Evaluation of Furniture and Equipment Elements Used in Offices: Kastamonu University Example

This study conducted an ergonomic evaluation of some furniture and equipment used in workplaces, and identified health problems that users experienced. For this purpose, a data collection survey was administered to 173 academic and administrative staff at Kastamonu University, aged between 21 and 52, and the results were compared with literature and standards. The study concluded that some furniture and equipment used in workplaces were not ergonomic for employees, leading to health problems for users. The identified health problems included pain in the shoulders, neck, head, back, waist, and legs, with a higher prevalence of pain among female users than male users. Based on these results, it can be argued that ergonomic working conditions should be provided for Kastamonu University academic and administrative staff, which could reduce or eliminate pain complaints. Furthermore, training on ergonomic working conditions and appropriate exercises could contribute to a more productive academic and administrative staff. To this end, a total of 173 surveys were administered to office users, 86 administrative and 87 academic staff between the ages of 21 and 52. The survey results, determined using frequency analysis, were compared with literature and standards. The study found that some office furniture and fittings were not ergonomically designed for employees, leading to a higher incidence of pain in the shoulders, neck, head, back, waist, and legs among female users than male users. These results suggest that providing ergonomic working conditions for Kastamonu University's academic and administrative staff may reduce or eliminate pain complaints. Furthermore, ergonomics training may be beneficial, as it could contribute to the more productive work of academic and administrative staff.