DJ Products, Inc.

Con el presidente electo Obama y congreso democrático contrapesó para decretar estándares ergonómicos resistentes dentro del año próximo, hemos estado discutiendo el financiero, la producción y las ventajas del personal de poner un programa en ejecución ergonómico (véase nuestro noviembre. 24 y 26 postes). El ser proactive en crear un clima corporativo salud-enfocado realzará su capacidad de competir en el futuro. Puesta en práctica de un plan ergonómico fuerte y un movimiento a equipo ergonomically-designed se ha demostrado aumentar eficacia de la producción y disminuir costes del healthcare.

El éxito de un plan ergonomía comprensivo es dependiente sobre la ayuda de la gerencia superior, la creación de metas demostrables y de resultados mensurables, y, lo más críticamente posible, la disposición de la educación eficaz del empleado y el entrenamiento juntados con la dirección fuerte del programa.

Educación, entrenamiento y dirección eficaces. El entrenamiento cuidadoso de la educación y del onsite de empleados es crítico al éxito de un nuevo programa ergonomía. La educación sobre las características y los procesos de una nueva iniciativa ergonomía se debe sostener con el entrenamiento del onsite.

Pues los trabajadores se convierten al corriente de nuevas características y practican nuevos procesos, la disposición de la supervisión adecuada del onsite es crítica. Los trabajadores necesitan hora de aprender nuevos habilidades y procedimientos y de cambiar hábitos establecidos desde hace mucho tiempo. La supervisión continua no sólo refuerza llover, pero revela las áreas que requieren el ajuste. Pida a sus empleados entrada. La gente que realiza las tareas mancha áreas problemáticas potenciales en nuevos procedimientos y proporciona a menudo la penetración afilada en soluciones productivas.

En un artículo publicó adentro Revisión de New Hampshire del negocio, La clase de Mike también recomienda el seleccionar de un “campeón” a la punta de lanza una nueva iniciativa ergonomía. Señalar a una persona con descuido claro sobre el programa facilita la puesta en práctica de la iniciativa original y de las revisiones subsecuentes. Crea una cadena del comando clara fácilmente accesible por la gerencia y los trabajadores. Centraliza la difusión de la información y de la colección de datos de la revisión, mejorando calidad del análisis y velocidad.

Un líder de industria reconocido en el diseño y la producción del equipo de dirección material ergonomically-designed, productos de DJ proporciona a calculadora ergonómica útil de la carga en nuestro Web site. Creado para asistir de la seguridad ergonómicas y a profesionales de salud y en diseñar los programas ergonómicos, nuestros libre calculator estimates the amount of horizontal force necessary to move wheeled loads. By inputting vital data about your specific application, including floor condition, terrain, footing, load weight and transport distance, our Ergonomic Load Calculator calculates the specific needs of a given application.

DJ Products’ ergonomic specialists are also available to assist you in evaluating your ergonomic needs. We’re the experts in finding creative solutions to ergonomic issues in the workplace. Give us a call today and let us help you position your business for the future.

Last time we talked about the financial and production benefits of implementing an ergonomics program (see our Nov. 24 post). A recent study on the bottom-line value of ergonomics showed a $4 savings for every dollar invested. Most businesses that purchase ergonomic equipment recoup their investment costs within the first year. The financial benefits alone make ergonomic equipment a shrewd investment in your future. But forward-thinking businesses that investment in ergonomics understand that they are also making a powerful proactive investment in the health, safety and retention of their workforce.

Creation of a successful ergonomics program requires three important elements, Mike Kind wrote recently in the New Hampshire Business Review:

Support of top management. To be successful, an ergonomics initiative must become part of your corporate culture and be thoroughly embraced and supported by top management. The introduction of an ergonomics program can be an excellent step toward creating a wellness-based focus in your organization, notes Kind.

Other wellness-centered activities include offering wellness training classes, scheduling health screenings and flu shots, providing healthier snacks and beverages in vending machines, sponsoring Weight-Watchers groups, offering gym membership discounts. Employers only stand to gain from sponsoring activities that promote a healthy workforce.

Established goals and measurable results. Any new initiative requires a bit of tweaking once it’s off the launch pad. Particularly in the early weeks of a launch, it’s important to conduct regular workplace assessments of a new ergonomics program to ensure that maximum efficiency and productivity are achieved. Close monitoring of employee complaints, injury reports, medical costs, workers’ compensation claims, absenteeism, lost man-hours and production results will provide the hard data needed to assess the success of your program and make any necessary changes.

Kind adds a word of caution: Don’t be surprised if you find an initial increase in incident reports. As employees learn about ergonomic issues, they are more likely to recognize the symptomatic causes of musculoskeletal complaints and report them. As your ergonomics program progresses and becomes an effective component of corporate culture, incidence reports will decrease significantly.

Next time we’ll discuss the importance of effective education, training and leadership in implementing a comprehensive ergonomics program in your workplace.

Every dollar invested in an ergonomics program results in a savings of $4. That’s the astounding finding of a recent study on the cost effectiveness of implementing ergonomics programs in U.S. manufacturing and business settings.

In the past, many companies didn’t initiate ergonomic programs until forced to do so in response to workers’ compensation claims. The expense associated with claims coupled with the responsibility to eliminate hazardous work conditions forced companies to implement solutions to address ergonomics issues. But acting after the fact only prolongs the agony, pointed out Mike Kind, writing for the New Hampshire Business Review. “As claims are filed, an organization’s workers’ compensation premium increases immediately upon renewal. It then takes a three-year history of reductions in claims for the rate to drop.”

Proactively implementing an ergonomics program may not eliminate every future workplace injury, but the use of ergonomically-designed equipment and the introduction of ergonomic practices has been shown time and again to significantly reduce workplace injuries and their associated costs. In most cases, the cost of ergonomics equipment is recouped within the first year.

As an example, Kind cited a highly computerized operation in which more than half of the employees reported musculoskeletal disorders during their first year on the job. Implementation of an aggressive ergonomics program, including new equipment, procedures and training, resulted in an overall 50% decrease in worker complaints.

Proactive implementation of ergonomics initiatives impacts your bottom line immediately and positively.  “In one client research study, it was determined that for every dollar invested in an ergonomics program, $4 in cost savings were achieved,” Kind said. Reduction of worker injury results in significant savings in direct medical costs, insurance and workers’ compensation premiums. Lost work-hours due to doctors’ appointments, physical therapy sessions, sick days and absenteeism decrease. As employee safety and well-being improve, workplace morale increases, bringing with it a healthy work environment, increased productivity and improved customer service.

Creating a successful ergonomics program hinges on three important elements, Kind said:

• Support of top management and inclusion in the corporate culture 
• Establish goals and measure results
• Provide effective education, training and leadership

Next time: Tips for creating a successful ergonomics program