Expressions of Management Commitment
Management commitment is a key and perhaps the most important controlling factor in determining whether any worksite hazard control effort will be successful.
Management commitment is more than just "support." Support is merely talk, but real commitment is expressed by actually backing up that talk with action which takes time and money. Management commitment can be expressed in a variety of ways. The following actions give evidence of effective management commitment:
- Treat ergonomic efforts as furthering the company's strategic goals.
- Expect full cooperation of the total workforce in working together toward realizing ergonomic improvements.
- Assign lead roles to designated persons who are known to "make things happen."
- Give ergonomic efforts priority with other cost reduction, productivity, and quality assurance activities.
- Have the support of the local union or other worker representatives.
- Allow full discussion of the policy and the plans for implementation.
- Set concrete goals that address specific operations and give priority to the jobs posing the greatest risk.
To demonstrate commitment, management should provide the following resources to the workforce:
- Training for the workforce on ergonomic risk factors for MSDs.
- Detailed instruction to those expected to assume lead roles or serve on special groups to handle various tasks.
- Bringing in outside ergonomics experts for consultations about start-up activities and difficult issues.
- Providing release time or other compensatory arrangements during the workday for employees expected to handle tasks with greater ergonomic concerns.
It's important to furnish adequate information to employees affected by the ergonomic activities. Misperceptions about management efforts can be damaging. For instance, if management is perceived by employees as using the program to gain ideas for cutting costs or improving productivity without equal regard for employee safety, the program may not be supported by employees.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-3. Which of the following best illustrates a real commitment to an ergonomics program?
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