Are you effectively measuring and evaluating your ergonomics and MSD prevention process to drive performance improvements?
Evaluation and measurement comes at the end of our injury prevention framework, but it’s really the beginning, middle, end (and everything else in between) of your MSD prevention process.
Measurement is important because if you’re going to be putting time and effort into the MSD prevention process, you need to make sure you’re getting results.
Watch this video to learn:
- Why Evaluation is important
- When and what to measure
- Typical results of a comprehensive MSD prevention process
- Where you can find free Evaluation tools & tesources
Enjoy!
Slides
Evaluation Resources:
Webinar Transcript
If you’d prefer to read the webinar content or read along with the video, the webinar transcript is provided below for your convenience.
Slide 1
Hey everybody!
Matt Middlesworth here with Ergonomics Plus.
Welcome to today’s webinar on How to Prevent MSDs and Maximize Human Performance with Evaluation.
Slide 2
Keep in mind that Evaluation is just one element of the E+ System, the methodology we use to prevent MSDs and enhance human performance for our clients.
It’s important to remember that all of these elements work best when implemented in a comprehensive and integrated way. Each part of the E+ System is better when all of the other elements are in place.
Slide 3
And that’s because maximum human performance is achieved at the intersection of good workplace design and a healthy, fit and engaged workforce.
So we need the ergonomics improvement process to ensure good workplace design that fits within the capabilities and limitations of workers. And we need an educated and trained workforce that does their job properly, uses good lifting and work techniques and keeps their bodies fit for work.
So today’s webinar is on the Evaluation element of the E+ System where we measure and look at how well our process is doing. How well we’re doing with the ergonomics process and how well we’re doing with keeping workers healthy, fit and engaged and the overall results, how well we’re preventing injuries and reducing the costs associated with those injuries.
Slide 4
Here’s a look at the agenda for today.
I’ll be covering why evaluation is important, I’ll briefly cover what is in our monthly report and annual audit, the typical results of the E+ System and then I’ll let you know where you can download a few of our free Evaluation resources.
Slide 5
It may seem basic and obvious why we would want to measure and evaluate the MSD prevention process, but it’s worth pointing out because we often see companies who aren’t specifically measuring their MSD prevention efforts well enough.
You might have heard this old quote from Peter Drucker. “If you can’t measure it, you can’t measure it.
Slide 6
So we need to measure our efforts.
And here are three reasons to do that.
First, to find continuous improvement opportunities. We’ll be able to find our weak areas and set goals to strengthen them.
Second, you can prove the value of MSD prevention. For us, as outside consultants, the truest measure of our performance is the success of our clients. So if you’re a client, we want you to know that what we’re doing is working and we always want you to be in the loop of where we’re looking to improve our process. But even if you aren’t a client, you can measure and report your results to build momentum for the program.
And third, by measuring results you can reward and celebrate excellence and success. Of course, on the flip side of that, if things aren’t going well or the ball is being dropped, you can get to the bottom of the problem.
Slide 7
As for as what and when to evaluate, we recommend a monthly report and an annual audit of all elements of the E+ System.
Again, the E+ System is a comprehensive process that focuses specifically on all aspect of musculoskeletal health and human performance.
Slide8
The monthly report will give you a snapshot of the progress on each element of the E+ System – Establishment, Education, Early Intervention, Ergonomics and Evaluation.
Slide 9
Establishment activities should be tracked and documented.
Here’s an example of MSD prevention guidelines and roles and responsibilities being documented and communicated.
Slide 10
Education activities should be tracked and documented.
Formal education and training sessions as well as one-on-one education opportunities.
Slide 11
Early intervention consultations should be documented.
You can see the new, resolved and unresolved reports there on the left and early reports by department. You can also track early reports by body part, so you can find education and training opportunities as well as areas where you might need to focus on ergonomics and workplace design to reduce worker fatigue and discomfort in those departments.
Slide 12
The ergonomics section of the monthly report should include the ergonomic opportunities identified and at least the top 3 ergonomic improvements made.
Slide 13
The Evaluation section of the monthly report should include the score of the last Audit you took of your facility – if that page is blank or it’s been a year sing the last audit, it’s time for another one, which is what I’ll be covering next.
Slide 14
The annual audit should also Evaluate all elements of the E+ System, from Establishment through Evaluation and also measure and evaluate the bottom line results, including injury results and cost savings.
Slide 15
The audit contains x questions and comes with Excel spreadsheet that will calculate a score between 0 – 100 and give you a letter grade on how your facility stacks up, how advanced your process is and reflects the end results of the process – injury reductions and cost savings.
Slide16
When evaluating this process, you should be seeing great results over the long run in both injury reductions and cost savings.
We conducted a study of Ergonomics Plus clients and measured their cost savings over a four year period, and we found that, on average in the fourth year of implementing the E+ System, they had a 78% decrease in direct costs in that fourth year.
So if you implement the E+ system in a comprehensive and integrated way, you should see great results when evaluating the process.
Slide 17
Today I covered very briefly what goes into our Monthly Report and Annual Audit, and if you’d like to take a deeper look at those, we’ve made a few samples available on our website in our resource center, so go check those out. We’ve also put together an Excel spreadsheet calculator that will run a cost benefit analysis of our services and it’s based on the cost-reduction study I mentioned earlier. So if you’re looking for some additional help, go check that out.
Slide 18
As always, if you have any questions or need anything else, feel free to shoot me an email at matt@ergo-plus.com or connect with us on Twitter @ErgoPlus.
Thanks for watching!
