Video: 5 Characteristics of Value-Creating Ergonomics

Thirty years of experience has taught us that the most successful organizations have five primary characteristics that empower their success in workplace ergonomics and overall injury prevention efforts.

Is your organization set up for success? Watch the video to find out!

Transcript

Hi, my name is Mark Middlesworth and I’m with ErgoPlus. Our experience in implementing ergonomic improvement processes for the last almost 30 years now has taught us that there’s tremendous value in implementing a comprehensive approach to ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder prevention.

Ergonomics is good for business. It makes the workplace better. It makes the workplace more efficient, more productive. We produce better quality product when ergonomics is implemented. Ergonomics is also good for people. It’s good for our workplace athletes. When jobs are less physically stressful, when they’re more efficient, less frustrating, less fatiguing, then our workers have a better work experience and that improves the quality of their life.

We’ve noticed in leading and successful organizations that we work with on ergonomics and establishing a robust MSD prevention process, we’ve noticed five key characteristics that are present that create new value for the organization when ergonomics is implemented in a comprehensive way. So let’s review those five characteristics.

1. Ergonomics should be implemented as part of a comprehensive ergonomics process

Characteristic number one, ergonomics should be implemented as a part of a comprehensive approach. MSDs arise as a result of workers being exposed to a number of a combination of risk factors over time. Risk factors that are related to the workplace and risk factors that are under the control of the individual. So in terms of workplace risk factors, we need a robust ergonomics improvement process to address those risk factors. In terms of individual controls, we need to provide our workplace athletes with the education and motivation and inspiration that they need to accept the responsibilities they have to keep their bodies healthy and fit, to properly warm up their bodies and prepare their bodies for work, to use good body mechanics and lifting techniques. To use good recovery techniques so that the next day they’re ready to go again.

So ergonomics needs to be implemented as a part of a comprehensive approach with a full range of controls modeled after the NIOSH Total Worker Health initiatives, but specifically designed for MSD prevention. NIOSH, Total Worker Health advocates for both worker protection through hazard identification and elimination and worker health promotion as well. So it takes both and when that one is added to this one, it doesn’t just equal two, it equals three, four and five and gives you a great return on your investment.

2. Ergonomics should be managed as a continuous improvement process.

Characteristic number two, ergonomics should be managed as a continuous improvement process and tied to establish production and management systems. We don’t want to view ergonomics as just something we have to do. We don’t want to have a compliance mindset. We want to have a continuous improvement mindset when it comes to ergonomics process management and or ergonomic hazard identification and improvement.

So tie that to your production management system because that is important in terms of putting ergonomics on equal footing to productivity and quality and other initiatives of your organization that make it profitable and produce a tremendous return on investment.

3. Ergonomics should be given the support and resources it needs to succeed

Characteristic number three, ergonomics should be given the support and resources that it needs to succeed obviously, right? So leadership needs to make sure that human and financial resources are allocated specifically dedicated to ergonomics improvement and the MSD prevention process at your facility. Ergonomic should be considered an investment rather than a cost. So we need to have that mindset that this is an investment with a great value and return for us. So if there are ample opportunity, if there is ample opportunity for ergonomic improvement within your facility and you know that already, then financial resources need to be allocated toward that. A capital budget that’s annual or at least periodic that can go toward improving the ergonomics of your workplace, very important.

And the human, it takes some work and effort as well. It takes a champion and a leader and so human resources are just as important as the financial resources as well. So it’s an investment rather than a cost. It does demonstrate the company’s commitment to a healthier workplace, healthier work styles and a healthier work force.

4. Ergonomics should be managed using technology to drive maximum impact

Characteristic number four, ergonomics should be accomplished with technology that drives maximum impact for your organization. We live in an exciting time right now where technology is making ergonomics in particular, giving us an opportunity to make that easier to accomplish and as more efficiencies are derived from the use of technology. ErgoPlus has been working for the last couple of years on our web based platform that is domain specific software for ergonomics process management. So I would encourage you to check that out. We certainly want you to have that.

We want to equip you with the best technology that is out there for implementing your ergonomic improvement process. The software makes job screens easier. Objective assessments like the NIOSH lifting equation, REBA, RULA, Snook Tables, all those assessments are made easier with online ergonomics software. We also have project prioritization tools that will help you prioritize your efforts in the area of ergonomics and we have a cost justification calculator that will help you cost justify capital expenditures for ergonomic improvements.

Software can streamline administrative tasks and create a single source of truth and the software just gives us clarity about where we are and what needs to be done next. It gives us a step by step approach to the ergonomic improvement process in our facility.

5. Ergonomics should engage everyone in the organization

Characteristic number five, ergonomic should be engaged by the organization both top down as well as bottom up. Management needs to demonstrate its commitment to the ergonomics improvement and MSD prevention process both verbally, in words and also by action in deed.

So we need to follow that up with action. We want our workers to be involved in participating in the ergonomic improvement process. We want to do what we can to heighten ergonomic awareness within the facility. We want their involvement in identifying difficult aspects of jobs and job tasks and also be involved in generating improvement ideas for those difficult high-risk tasks. We want employees to be involved to ensure that they’re more likely to adapt to and embrace the ergonomic improvements that we implement and the ergonomic assist that we install to improve the work environment. And we just want their involvement to help build a positive health and safety culture throughout our organization. Again, top down and bottom up.

Summary: 5 keys to value-creation

So in summary, five key characteristics that are typical of an ergonomic process that creates great value for your organization. Ergonomics should be implemented as a part of a comprehensive approach, should be managed as a continuous improvement process, should be given the support and resources it needs to succeed, should be accomplished with leading edge technology to drive maximum impact and return on investment. And number five, ergonomic should be engaged by the organization, both top down and bottom up.

So that’s a wrap on the content for today. We would like you to check out the ErgoPlus Platform. You can create a free account at this URL, ergo-plus.com/platform. That’s ergo-plus.com/platform. you can create a free account, check out ErgoPlus Industrial, which is leading edge ergonomics and MSD prevention software for your organization.

Our goal is to serve you. Our goal is to help you out in whatever way we can, so please feel free to contact us anytime through the website. There’s a contact form there. We want to help you create a safer, healthier, more productive workplace. Think prevention.

Further reading and resources