In the modern world, many people spend most of their working life in an office. Usually, this time is spent behind a desk. In addition, an increasing number of workers are using computers to do their jobs. This situation among others is leading to an increase in the number of workplace injuries caused by incorrect use of equipment or the use of inappropriate equipment. This is the basis of ergonomics. Ergonomics refers to the issues relating to the safe use of equipment. As such, the fundamental part of the process of the development of equipment in ergonomics is the design phase. This makes ergonomics “an engineering issue” rather than “a health and safety issue”. However, equipment is only one side of the coin. The safe use of the equipment requires the availability of the equipment and the skills to use it safely. Therefore, a more complete definition of ergonomics is “the science of fitting the right jobs to the right people, based on physical ability and other characteristics relevant to a specific job”. Many companies appreciate the importance of ergonomics, but they do not make it a core issue in their operations. Evaluations conducted in such companies reveal a satisfactory level of awareness among company executives. However, very few companies translate this understanding into effective programs in practical terms. Ergonomics will become more important with time because of the increasing level of awareness among company employees. Importance of Company Involvement in Ergonomics The case for the involvement of companies in ergonomics is becoming stronger by the day. The reasons for this vary from better returns to the reduction of unjustifiable worker compensation claims. The first benefit a company derives from ergonomics is a reduction or elimination of successive problems that new employees come with as preexisting conditions. When an employer hires new workers, some of them have predisposing factors that makes them liable to suffer from injuries in the workplace. The presence of an ergonomics program can help to identify these factors, and to reduce their impact on the effectiveness of the employee. For instance, a new worker with a preexisting condition related to back pains will benefit from an ergonomics program aimed at eliminating or alleviating back pains from the work environment. As such, the worker will be more productive. Apart from managing predisposed employees, an ergonomics program will ensure that these conditions come to the attention of the company early enough in case of future litigation. The second reason why all companies ought to have an ergonomics program is that in the workplace, “healthy people perform better”. An employer is better off with a healthy and fit workforce than one which has high rates of work related injuries. Repetitive stress injuries cost employers 1 Billion dollars per year in America. Time spent by employees recuperating in hospitals or at home is lost to the business. The highest cause of job absenteeism is repetitive stress injuries, which is higher than the combined rates for falling, slipping, and exposure to harmful substances. Therefore it is in the employer’s interest that the working conditions in the workplace do not damage the