722 Ergonomics Program Management

Setting the Stage for Action

Introduction

Fred A. Manuele, author of On the Practice of Safety, considers occupational ergonomics to be "the art and science of designing the work to fit the worker to achieve optimum productivity and cost efficiency, and minimum risk of injury." To best fulfill the goal to achieve these benefits through ergonomics, a sound program should be developed. An effective program will include a written plan, education, training, and effective procedures to identify, analyze, and evaluate work for ergonomic risk factors.

Ergonomics Safety and Health Programs

Aspects of hazard identification, case documentation, assessment of control options, and health care management techniques that are used to address ergonomic problems use the same approaches directed toward other workplace risks of injury or disease. Although many of the technical approaches described in this course are specific to ergonomic risk factors and Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), the core principles are the same as efforts to control other workplace hazards.

Benefits of an Effective Ergonomics Program

Workplaces safe from hazardous conditions have lower costs due to decreased lost time, absenteeism, worker compensation premiums, etc. Ergonomics programs have been shown to be cost effective for similar reasons. In addition, ergonomic improvements may result in increased productivity and higher product quality.

Take a look at your company's OSHA 300 Log. It's likely that 30%-50% of the recordable injuries the company experiences are due to ergonomics-related injuries from pulling, pushing, lifting, lowering and/or twisting. If you develop a program that dedicates a couple of employees on the safety committee or safety staff to analyzing and evaluating ergonomic risk factors in the workplace, and if the employer follows through with recommendations, the direct and indirect accident costs may be dramatically lowered.

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