Numerous companies and workplaces have embroidered ergonomics that exceed their requirements. The strategy is simple to complex, but is the return worth investing? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] has developed case study companies that have raised questions, ergonomic solutions, and the success of the solution with some impressive results. This article will focus on companies that have changed to address repetitive stress/strain injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive sports injuries, and cumulative traumatic disorders.
- Advanced Filtration Systems Inc. of Illinois is closely following a job that has resulted in many carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] diagnoses among its employees, two of whom require surgery. Their filter inspection process requires employees to use the extended clamping handle and turn the wrist to manually operate and inspect the filter items on the chain conveyor. In addition to the conveyor, the process is completely manual. The process achieves 95% automation by implementing robots and different conveyors. result? No carpal tunnel cases have been reported since the report was changed. In addition, the product defect rate has decreased and employee morale has increased significantly. This change earned the company the award of the OSHA District 5 Office Director and the promotion and recognition of the written media.
- Sun Microsystems of California experienced a large number of repetitive motion injuries [RMI] among employees in the early 1990s. By 1993, the disability claim was approximately 300. Due to claims costs and lost productivity, the company purchased ergonomic equipment and furniture and trained and evaluated workstations for employees who requested them. As a result, despite the significant increase in the number of employees, the number of claims was reduced from 300 to 50 between 1993 and 2002. In 1992, the total cost exceeded $1.5 million, and in 2002 it fell to less than $100,000. In addition, the average cost of closing a disability claim for work-related musculoskeletal conditions increased from $12,000 in <92<92> to $02.
- Duracell, located in Georgia, recognizes that cumulative traumatic disorders [CTDs] can record 35% of injuries within 4 years. To reduce CTD by 50%, the company set up a committee to solve this problem. After extensive research on data and costs, the committee implemented improvements including automation, work height adjustment, workstation redesign, ergonomic furniture and other solutions. By using these methods and maintaining a comprehensive ergonomics program, Duracell reduced CTD accidents by 90% and total accident rates by 81%.
- Siemens VDO Motors of Michigan found that 43% of their 250 office workers complained about CTD on their backs, shoulders, elbows and fingers. By evaluating each workstation, Siemens provides ergonomic support, ergonomics and back safety training and frequent exercise breaks for chairs and computer workstations. After two years of implementation, no CTD-related lost time events occurred. They estimate that they can save 20,000 hours a year and have previously been lost due to doctor visits, rest and pain.
- Kansas Blue Cross Blue Shield reported that 103 lawsuits related to CTD in 1991 exceeded $500,000. The company focused its entire focus on employee health and made nearly 30 changes. Some of these include: purchasing ergonomic furniture and accessories, continuing ergonomic education for employees, installing medical stations, designing and building equipment that is comfortable for workstations when these devices are not available, and exercise or stretching programs. By 2002, the CTD/RSI claim fell from 103 to 52, resulting in a cost reduction from $526,000 to $137,000.
The most active and successful projects are ongoing, involving leadership, hazard analysis and control, follow-up, training, and even collaboration with nurses or physiotherapists to manage early symptoms of RI or CTD. Workstation analysis and education are consistent in terms of ergonomic improvements. Overall, the results were dramatic and had a positive impact on the number of claims reported, productivity and employee morale.
Orignal From: Standards for measuring success: ergonomics and RSI, RMI and CTD
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