The Real Cost of Ignoring Ergonomics in Nigerian Workplaces
- Sep 17, 2025
- 5 min read
For many Nigerians, especially those of us who use Display Screen Equipment (DSE) for extended periods or work remotely in less-than-ideal workstation setups, musculoskeletal discomforts have become an unwelcome part of our daily lives. You might dismiss it as just stress, tiredness or a simple muscle ache, thinking it will pass. But what many consider a minor issue can become inevitable the moment the neck, back, or wrist pain becomes constant and affects activities of daily living.
Ignoring ergonomics in Nigerian workplaces and as a remote worker comes with significant and often underestimated costs, impacting not only the wellbeing of employees but also the financial health and overall productivity of businesses. We can say direct costs like medical bills and workers' compensation are evident, but the indirect costs are often far more substantial, leading to a negative cycle of decreased productivity.
A 2018 report by the Society of Occupational and Environmental Health Physicians of Nigeria (SOEHPON) highlighted that Nigeria loses an estimated US $5.2 billion annually, or roughly 4.4% of its GDP, due to poor occupational health, including work-related injuries and diseases.
The findings of this report highlight the fact that ignoring early signs of musculoskeltal pain is costly, not just for individuals, but for the nation at large. In this post, I will be explaining the musculoskeletal problems that arise, the impact on productivity and finances, and why paying attention to your workspace ergonomics is a crucial investment in your health, career and business growth.
What exactly Is ergonomics and why should Nigerians care?
Ergonomics is the science of designing and arranging workplaces, systems, and products so they fit the people who use them. It's all about creating a comfortable, efficient, and safe working environment by considering the physical and cognitive capabilities and limitations of individuals.
In the Nigerian context, where many businesses are still growing and remote work is taking a centre stage, ergonomic principles are often overlooked as comfort is sacrificed for productivity. This oversight can have significant consequences for the health and wellbeing of our workforce.
Think of it this way. You have a farm, where you plant a few crops, and you totally ignore the weeds. The weeds may seem harmless at first, but if left alone, they will spread rapidly, choking out the crops and significantly reducing the harvest. Similarly, working in a poorly designed workspace puts undue stress on your body, leading to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) among Nigerian workers
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries or disorders that affect the human body's movement system, which includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and joints. These conditions are a major concern for DSE users and remote workers who often spend hours in static postures, performing repetitive tasks, and they can lead to acute or chronic back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and wrist pain.
Back pain: This is the most common complaint. Prolonged sitting, especially in chairs without adequate lumbar support, poor posture, and incorrect lifting techniques, even of seemingly light objects around the workspace, can all contribute to lower and upper back pain.
Neck pain and stiffness: Looking down at laptops and phones between the ear and shoulder, and having monitors positioned at the wrong height, can cause significant neck strain and stiffness.
Neck pain/Wellbeingng Shoulder and arm pain: Repetitive mouse movements, reaching for items on the desk, and awkward arm positions can lead to conditions like tendinitis and rotator cuff issues.
Wrist and hand problems: Carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition caused by the compression of the median nerve in the wrist, is common among those who spend long hours typing on keyboards with poor ergonomic design or positioned incorrectly.
What are the implications of ignoring ergonomics?
Ignoring ergonomics is not just about the physical discomfort it causes; it also carries significant financial costs for both individuals and organisations. Just as farmers face the economic dilemma of spending a lot of money on herbicides after failing to control weeds in the early planting phase, the same applies to DSE users, who also neglect ergonomic comfort. The crop may not yield enough fruit in that planting year despite the intervention, as the growth cycle might have been affected already.
Imagine running to a medical practitioner to get help with the musculoskeletal pain you are experiencing. After spending a fortune, you are advised that the pain can't be reversed totally but you are provided with advise on how to manage it and not make it worse. Now the individual feels lost like they are in a prison in their own body while wondering what life without pain feels like.
The direct costs for neglecting DSE include:
Medical expenses: Seeking treatment for MSDs, including visits to physiotherapists, doctors, and specialists, medication costs, and potential surgery, can be a significant drain on personal finances.
Man in a neck collar/Wix Employee compensation and insurance claims: For organisations, work-related injuries due to poor ergonomics can lead to increased employee compensation claims and higher insurance premiums.
The indirect costs, which are often higher and overlooked, include:
Reduced productivity:
A man looking tired while working/Wix Mental focus is key to productivity. Even the individual with the highest pain threshold level will suffer with reduced concentration and poor productivity despite being able to mask their pain without physical expression. When employees are in pain, they might take longer to complete tasks, make more errors, and experience decreased overall output.
Increased absenteeism or presenteeism:
HR meeting/Wix In Nigeria, absenteeism or presenteeism has reached an unprecedented level, stemming from various health needs, family problems and managerial decisions or indecisions. Absenteeism is a habitual pattern of absence from a duty or obligation without good reason. You can also put it as unplanned absences. In contrast, presenteeism refers to the situation where an employee comes to work despite being unwell or in pain.
Let me walk you through the danger of absenteeism and presenteeism I experienced first-hand. When I was in SS3, my chemistry teacher took in her first child. Mrs A began missing her lessons to attend antenatal classes. When she was physically present in school, she would briefly explain the lesson for 15 minutes and then hand over her lesson book to the class captain for note-taking for the whole class before returning to her office. Mrs A was not a lazy person; however, the pregnancy Journey was taking a toll on her health, and her lesson timetable was not helping, as she was always exhausted by the time she came over to teach us on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons on her 1-3 pm fixed timetable.
An Office worker experiencing pain/Wix Lo and behold, WAEC and NECO results came out, and it was a mass failure, a deviation from the 95% success rate in chemistry my school had in the last five sets before mine. If a physiological process like pregnancy can have that effect on my dedicated chemistry teacher, now imagine how chronic musculoskeletal pain can affect employees' attendance and productivity at work.
High employee turnover:
Job Interview/Wix When employees consistently experience pain and discomfort in their work environment, they are more likely to seek employment elsewhere where their wellbeing is prioritised. There's no prize for suffering, abeg. The cost of recruiting and training new staff can be substantial for employers. But still, employees will seek better opportunities if their wellbeing is not prioritised.
Ignoring ergonomics in Nigerian workplaces is a costly oversight for both employees and employers. The physical pain, reduced productivity, and financial burdens associated with musculoskeletal disorders are significant and far-reaching. By understanding the principles of ergonomics and applying them to workspaces and work habits, we can significantly reduce these risks. Remember, you are not doing too much by investing in your wellbeing. As a matter of fact, you are helping yourself and your business.
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