KITCHEN DESIGN: BASICS OF ERGONOMICS AND GENERAL TIPS

Ergonomics has long been an issue in the workplace. The ergonomic planning of your kitchen is important for your health. To help you get started, we have summarised important basic information for you here. You will also receive valuable ergonomic tips to make kitchen work easier.

WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?

The topic of ergonomics is part of today’s service standard in kitchen planning. This term is made up of the Greek words ergon (work, work) and nomos (law, rule) and thus describes the science of the laws of human work. Ergonomics is generally concerned with making the work area human-compatible or adapting the furniture anatomically to the human being.

The central aim of ergonomic considerations is therefore always the creation of ideal working conditions for people, and this naturally plays a special role in the kitchen. Work in a kitchen takes up a large part of the weekly working hours in many homes. Here you work every day, and your back is regularly strained.

In order to work effectively and save energy, the kitchen should be customized for the most common user!

WHAT SHOULD YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN PLANNING YOUR KITCHEN?

If the kitchen is planned according to ergonomic criteria, the “kitchen user health” can be taken care of. On top of that, routine work processes such as preparing food or dishwashing are simplified, which makes for more efficient work. In addition to the correct body posture, a clear kitchen design also contributes to well-being. If important ergonomic aspects such as the optimum kitchen countertop height are not taken into account during the planning stage, incorrect posture or overloading of the spine can lead to back problems, among other things.

GENERAL ERGONOMIC TIPS TO MAKE KITCHEN WORK EASIER

Change your position more often during kitchen work. For example, when cleaning vegetables or peeling potatoes, briefly put the cutting tool to one side and move, lengthen or stretch. Lack of exercise can cause back or neck problems. Staying in an often inappropriate posture is a one-sided burden.

For longer activities, it is recommended to adopt a sitting position. Cutting work, for example, is much less straining in a seated position than standing. If there is enough space available in the kitchen, a planned seated workplace provides additional comfort.

For highly-planned kitchens, you should always have a small ladder that is safe to step on. This can be stowed away in the plinth or sink base cabinet. In this way, even utensils stored high up are easily accessible.