From office chairs to exoskeletons, physical assistance systems that adapt to the body's needs, equipment that improves working conditions is now better regarded. Since the pandemic, the company Ergosanté, which produces ergonomic work equipment, has been receiving more and more orders. We met with its founder Samuel Corgne.
Is the issue of workstation ergonomics better taken into account in companies today?
Samuel Corgne: When it comes to choosing professional equipment, the health prevention aspect is now better considered by companies. Awareness was raised with the Covid crisis and the advent of teleworking. No one had time to equip themselves and everyone was slumped over in their kitchen chair or sofa, which led to many health problems, particularly back pain. The issue of returning to the workplace has led companies to think about the layout of their spaces, their attractiveness, to make employees want to return to work. The comfort and ergonomics of office equipment, to avoid the appearance of musculoskeletal disorders, is at the heart of this reflection.
What about manual occupations? What solutions exist for more physical jobs?
S. C.: Among the solutions developed to improve working conditions are exoskeletons, physical assistance systems that adapt to the needs of the human body. Personally, I really don't like the term 'exoskeleton', which can conjure up a world of science fiction, of transhumanism, and give this device a dimension of increasing human capacities, of increasing performance... That's not the objective at all! This equipment reduces the difficulty of working by relieving the back and neck and compensating for infirmities. I therefore prefer the name "physical assistance device".
"I REALLY DON'T LIKE THE TERM "EXOSKELETON", WHICH MAY REFER TO A SCIENCE FICTION UNIVERSE AND GIVE THIS DEVICE A DIMENSION OF INCREASING HUMAN CAPACITIES... THAT'S NOT THE OBJECTIVE AT ALL! THIS EQUIPMENT REDUCES THE DIFFICULTY OF WORKING.
Are these exoskeletons reserved for high-tech industries?
S. C.: The world market for exoskeletons is growing rapidly. If it is currently worth millions of euros, it should be worth between 2 and 5 billion by 2023! Prices are becoming very attractive and more and more professionals are using these solutions, especially when they perform repetitive movements, such as people working in sorting centres, surgeons or dairy farmers milking cows. The issue of the lack of specific equipment for disabled people is at the heart of the difficulties encountered by disabled workers, whose unemployment rate is twice that of the national average.
ErgoSanté helped by the Mutuelles Impact investment fund
ErgoSanté was one of the first companies to be supported by Mutuelles Impact. When it was created in November 2020, on the initiative of the Mutualité Française and 45 mutual insurance companies, this social and environmental investment fund dedicated to health and medico-social services chose to invest 3 million euros in the company that manufactures ergonomic solutions. This is a way of encouraging its action in favour of access to employment and the improvement of working conditions for able-bodied and disabled people.