Previous Next

A Guide to Kitchen Ergonomics

Many home makers experience back pain and joint pain as they age. It is reasonable to believe that the physical intense chores done in an unergonomic kitchen has made a fair share of contribution.

Technology has reduced much of physical intensity of work, but the unergonomic kitchen hasn't improved at all despite modernity in designs. In fact, we are seeing a senseless imitation of the western kitchen designs in the name of modernity. "Senseless" because the western kitchen isn't designed for Indian cooking and thus makes things harder.

This post discusses some workflows and design principles that can be used to improve existing kitchen or considered for new ones. In short, the principles are as follows:

• Design your kitchen for less bending.
• Place things in the kitchen for proximity.
• Consider human anatomy in the design of every element.

Design for Less Bending

Bending stresses your back. Bending with a load or weight stresses it even more. While it is impossible to eliminate bending in the kitchen, it is possible to eliminate much of it by certain clever design decisions.

• Store frequently used items on kitchen slabs, counter tops, kitchen tables or cabinets above the slabs. Do not store such items in places that require much bending to access them, such as the kitchen cabinets below the slabs. Store rarely used items there.
• If you must access the cabinets below the kitchen slabs for a long time, use a short stool and sit. This will ensure a more comfortable position for your back relative to standing and bending.
• Use brooms and mopers that can be operated by standing. Often brooms that require you to bend are the major contributor from the kitchen to back ailment.

Arrange for Proximity

Proximity refers to the state of being nearby and accessible without much work.

Most things in the kitchen serve one or two tasks. Placing them in proximity to the task will reduce your physical stress and contribute to better workflow in the kitchen. Consider masalas that are required only while cooking and marinating. Keeping them nearby your stove will prevent you moving around too much in the kitchen and a time saving workflow.

Consider extra dishwashing soaps, scrubbers and other cleaning items to be refilled. Keeping them in the cabinet under the sink makes it easier to access them when it's time to refill. Placing it in the cabinet above the sink saves you from bending too. Such placements also clears up clean storage elsewhere for food as they cannot be stored below the sink because of the risk of water leakage.

Human Anatomy Considered

The structural anatomy of humans isn't hard to understand but often overlooked. Considering human anatomy while designing anything (let alone a kitchen) will do wonders in terms of ease, effective and healthy use. Here are some examples.

• The kitchen slab must be built according to the height of the home maker; or if everybody uses it, choose a height that everyone is comfortable with. Do not go by usual height used everywhere.
• If the slab is already built and is not according to you height, use spacers wherever applicable. If it is built on top of kitchen cabinets, user spacers for the cabinets. If the slab is fixed to the wall, use spacers on kitchen items such as stoves.
• When building kitchen cabinets or slabs, consider the space required for your feet. Do not forget a toe kick. The bottom must be recessed at least 6 inches inside. If the cabinets have no toe kick, extend the slab 6 inches outside.

It is most effective to consider human anatomy while designing and constructing the kitchen, but it isn't too late to improvise a badly designed kitchen.

Previous Next