{"id":382,"date":"2015-12-07T15:50:41","date_gmt":"2015-12-07T15:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cardinus.com\/us\/?p=382"},"modified":"2022-08-05T10:47:28","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T14:47:28","slug":"payback-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cardinus.com\/us\/insights\/ergonomics\/payback-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Payback Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can predict how soon a good\u00a0ergonomics program will pay for itself.\u00a0As Keith Osborne explains, after that it\u2019s all profit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You know that the impact ergonomics\u00a0has on production, quality and human\u00a0performance can be a competitive\u00a0advantage for your business not only\u00a0in productivity increases but retaining\u00a0the talent to take your organization\u00a0to the next level.<\/p>\n

You know ergonomics can help your people\u00a0work safer and be more productive. You have\u00a0attended workshops and conferences where\u00a0presenters have all shown you what can be\u00a0done with a good program. Now you need\u00a0to be able to prove this to your organization\u00a0and get them into a proactive mode instead\u00a0of chasing trends.<\/p>\n

The neat thing is a really good ergonomics\u00a0process doesn\u2019t have to be as complicated as\u00a0launching a probe to Pluto, but getting it going\u00a0and sustaining it can be a little dicey if all the\u00a0pieces don\u2019t fit together. For your ergonomics\u00a0process to achieve sustainable results it should\u00a0be efficient, streamlined and once established,\u00a0proactive to impact design and function while\u00a0mitigating injury potential before either become\u00a0negatives to the organization.<\/p>\n

An effective ergonomics process requires\u00a0multiple levels of efficiencies to be effective. It requires an approach combining the\u00a0efforts from various departments within\u00a0the organization, not just the efforts of\u00a0the ergonomist. Management, engineers,\u00a0employees, and others all have a stake in\u00a0building a process that is both effective and\u00a0proactive in its approach to not only driving\u00a0down injuries but driving up productivity\u00a0and efficiencies throughout the company.\u00a0Identifying the stakeholder is crucial but also\u00a0identifying the tools needed to develop and run\u00a0the process too.<\/p>\n

For an ergonomics process to be successful,\u00a0the company\u2019s management must be fully\u00a0committed to integrating ergonomics into the\u00a0workings of the organization. Management\u00a0must also understand that ergonomics in itself\u00a0is a process just like safety, maintenance, and\u00a0production and must be afforded the same\u00a0attention and overseeing.<\/p>\n

Employees must see this as a means to improve\u00a0their work processes and a way to enhance\u00a0their abilities to work smarter not harder. It is a\u00a0means to have a voice in the other processes\u00a0mentioned by continually improving their work\u00a0through self-assessment and collaborative\u00a0corrective actions that benefit not only the\u00a0organization but also the individual employee. Tools used to allow employees to self-assess\u00a0must be easy to use, understandable to all, and\u00a0not be a burden because they take a long time\u00a0to complete.<\/p>\n

Along with effective tools there should be\u00a0integrated training as well as training that\u00a0all supervisors and managers can employ to\u00a0improve the organization\u2019s knowledge base. This knowledge will become the cornerstone\u00a0for organizational improvements which will not\u00a0only impact productivity, but also help drive\u00a0down high risk numbers, injury rates\u00a0and workers\u2019 compensation costs.<\/p>\n

Effective online assessment tools are a valuable\u00a0process multiplier for any ergonomics initiative, whether you are building an industrial, office,\u00a0or combined one. The best ones have built-in\u00a0metrics to allow for instant feedback on how\u00a0the process is progressing. They identify and\u00a0categorize employees into low, medium, and\u00a0high risk allowing the ergonomist to be more\u00a0proactive in their approach so they can begin\u00a0to mitigate the risks for these employees before\u00a0they become a lost time injury.<\/p>\n

\"Ergonomics<\/a><\/p>\n

They also have integrated tips and training\u00a0to give employees instant feedback so the\u00a0self-correction process can begin. This is vital to\u00a0assisting the ergonomist in being able to work\u00a0with those who are of the highest risk\u00a0or those who simply cannot correct some\u00a0of the issues shown in the assessment.<\/p>\n

Human resources, facilities, safety, and\u00a0engineering departments all have a stake as\u00a0well. HR can use the process to help with return\u00a0to work and alternative work arrangements by\u00a0engaging the ergonomist.<\/p>\n

A great process is also a fantastic selling tool for\u00a0talent managers within HR to tout what\u00a0the company can do for the individual\u00a0employee once they come on board.<\/p>\n

Facilities, in working with the recommendations\u00a0of the ergonomist, can help design and\u00a0reconfigure workspaces to better accommodate\u00a0the needs of the employees they support. They\u00a0can install equipment that is not only functional\u00a0and efficient but adjustable to accommodate\u00a0several different body postures and a range\u00a0of body types which promotes better\u00a0postures and lower discomfort levels.<\/p>\n

Safety and engineering have a stake to\u00a0ensure that ergonomics is addressed early in\u00a0a design process. This means making sure the\u00a0recommendations are both safe but value\u00a0added to the entire project. Ergonomics is\u00a0about process improvement throughout\u00a0the organization and should enhance, never\u00a0sacrifice either of these two disciplines.<\/p>\n

An effective process also develops and\u00a0maintains metrics. This data is the cornerstone\u00a0of the process because it is what will drive\u00a0continuous improvement, future funding,\u00a0and expansion to all areas of the company\u00a0as management see how ergonomics can\u00a0positively impact performance and morale.<\/p>\n

Much of this data will come from recognized\u00a0leading and lagging indicators. What is a lagging\u00a0indicator you ask?\u00a0It is basically historical data\u00a0where you will find injury trends, compensation\u00a0costs, sick days and productivity trends to\u00a0see where the organization has been. This is\u00a0valuable data to begin seeing where some of\u00a0the initial efforts will need to be focused to\u00a0make the biggest impacts. Below are some of\u00a0those indicators:<\/p>\n