T1S8 Power Session Ergonomics

Power Session:Ergonomics: Maximize The Benefits Of Your Material Handling Process: 

Power Session: Ergonomics: Maximize The Benefits Of Your Material Handling Process Track 1 Session 8

Slide2: 

David Brodie The Ergonomics Center of NC

Learn:Ergonomics: 

SYSTEMATIC MULTIDISCIPLARY PROCESS Definition: Learn: Ergonomics The field of study concerned with finding ways to keep people safe, comfortable and productive while they perform tasks at work and home.

Learn:Ergonomics: 

Learn: Ergonomics Fitting the task to the person

Learn:Ergonomics: 

Learn: Ergonomics Making the workplace user-friendly Balance the worker’s characteristics, capabilities and limitations with the task

Learn:Regulations: 

Learn: Regulations OSHA’s Plan Develop industry- and task-specific guidelines Enforce based on successful legal strategy and past cases Provide compliance assistance tools including specialized training Increase efforts to help Hispanic and other immigrant workers Develop partnerships Recognize successful ergonomics injury reduction efforts Create a national advisory committee guide ergonomics research

Learn:Regulations: 

Learn: Regulations General Duty Clause “Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” - Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Section 5(a)(1)

Learn:Regulations: 

Learn: Regulations Recent Citations Security Metal Products Corp. is a metal fabricating corporation that manufactures custom door frames Alpha Health Services is a health care services provider that operates several nursing homes

Learn:Controls: 

Learn: Controls Commitment to success Team ergonomics Emphasize the “active” in reactive Find the best solutions Know your role Opportunities to succeed

Learn:Ergonomics: 

Productivity Safety Quality Learn: Ergonomics Creating a delicate balance

Trends:Identify Problems: 

Trends: Identify Problems Problem Trends… High turnover Absenteeism Low morale Lost time Restricted duty

Trends:Identify Problems: 

Trends: Identify Problems Problem trends (cont.) Inefficiency (staffing, product flow) Damage to product, equipment, facility Re-handling of product Bottlenecks

Costs:Injury-Based: 

Costs: Injury-Based Sources of Information OSHA 300 Logs Worker’s Compensation Claims Group Insurance Reports Medical Care Provider (Daily Logs) Discomfort Surveys Musculoskeletal disorders Strains and Sprains Low back, shoulder, hand/wrist “Accidental Injuries”

Costs:Injury Rates: 

*Source: NC Industrial Commission (2000) Costs: Injury Rates

Costs:Economic Impact: 

Costs: Economic Impact *Source: NC Industrial Commission

Costs:Low Back Injuries: 

Costs: Low Back Injuries *Source: NC Industrial Commission

On the Plant Floor…: 

On the Plant Floor… Physical Stressors Force Posture Repetition Fatigue (metabolic loading) Biomechanics

Benefits of Ergonomics: 

Benefits of Ergonomics Enhance the flexibility of operations Decrease compensation costs Increase productivity Improve quality Reduce risk Reduce injuries Boost morale

Action Plan:Facilities: 

Action Plan: Facilities Ergonomics Process Commitment to success Team ergonomics Emphasize the “active” in reactive Find the best solutions Know your role Opportunities to succeed

Action Plan:Facilities: 

Action Plan: Facilities Training Managers, Supervisors and Employees Ergonomics Workplace stressors Early reporting of injuries Engineers Ergonomics design Equipment: specifications for purchasing and setup

Action Plan:Facilities: 

Action Plan: Facilities Evaluate Trends – Review records to determine performance relating to: Workplace injuries Production Quality Indirect costs Jobs – Establish a process to measure: Risk associated with ergonomics' stressors Ergonomics impact of potential solutions

Action Plan:OEMs: 

Action Plan: OEMs Training Designers Ergonomics-related design criteria (e.g., force capabilities) Anthropometry Sales force Ergonomics Basic job analysis – define the client’s problem Benefits of product design – opportunities to address ergonomics' concerns

Action Plan:OEMs: 

Action Plan: OEMs Design Enhance the value of products by incorporating ergonomics in design Consider forces, postures and repetitions required to operate equipment Ensure user-friendly controls and displays

Action Plan:OEMs: 

Action Plan: OEMs Marketing Emphasize the human element Emphasize the attention to ergonomics Illustrate all the benefits of the product

Questions?: 

Questions?