By Travis Halsted, Loss Control Consultant

As companies strive to reach customer deadlines, growing production numbers, and do so with the smallest amount of overhead, it is understandable that some of the new ergonomic tools and resources have gone unutilized. While understandable, it is essential to understand how not having those tools in place not only affect your employees in a negative manner, but could also have a large impact on your daily operations.

Upon a review of MTMIC’s current loss run, it shows that of the top 50 lost time injuries, strains account for 46% of them (23 of 50). When looking at the same top 50 lost time injuries, strains accounted for 38% of the total dollars spent on those injuries. That is a sum of $8.6 million dollars. Of the 23 strain injuries, 39% are from the lower back (9 of 23). The sum of those 9 lower back injuries accounts for 50% of the total dollars spent on strains within that top 50 lost time injuries list. That is a staggering 4.0 million dollars spent on just 9 lower back claims.

From those numbers most companies can agree that the need to develop and implement ergonomic measures is a must. So the question is then, why aren’t more companies taking an active stance on ergonomic measures. There are many answers, but probably one of the most often heard answer is that they do not know how. As the field of ergonomics grows and advances, that answer is one that is completely understandable to hear. At MTMIC we currently have all of the Loss Control team thoroughly trained in completing Ergonomic Surveys. Individually, or as a team, we can assist you with ideas, concerns, and questions. One of the most helpful ways that we can assist you is to complete an ergonomic survey.

These surveys can range from office settings to the industrial setting, from a particular work area to a particular employee or process. The ergonomics survey is a noninvasive process that involves the use of the following; photography, videography, employee interview, predetermined measurements, and basic observation to identify any possible root causes. From these root causes, long term remedies can be developed and implemented. Such remedies can include any or all of the following.

Administrative Controls:

Administrative controls can be described as behind the scene types of controls. These can range from developing new properwork techniques, new employee conditioning periods, and monitoring and auditing the practices put in place. Enforcement of the policies, procedures, and engineering controls is also a part ofthe administrative controls.

Engineering Controls:

Engineering controls are often the visual changes for ergonomics. This can include workstation design, equipment controls, designed of new tolls and handle changes. Such examples include, lift tables, powered tools, larger handles, rollers, and adjustable work tables or platforms.

Employee Recommendations:

As we all know, the best information to obtain is the information from the person working within the scope of the ergonomic survey. Employees provide a look into the aches, pains, likes and dislikes of the particular item. As they work in that environment daily, there is a good chance that they have already thought of an engineering control and are looking for someone to explain it to. Furthermore, by seeing your commitment to their safety, there is a greater chance that they would be willing to be open about future possibilities in the ergonomic field and/or safety related field.

During a great deal of my visits, customers will say that they do not know if they can afford to make some of the ergonomic changes. I have two answers to that statement. First and foremost, when an ergonomics survey is completed, there are several ways to improve a particular item. While some may cost more than others, there are several cost effective steps that can be taken. Secondly, after discussing some of the numbers I have provided above with them, and the potential damage to their daily operations that strains can cause, I ask them how can they not afford to make the changes.

If you are interested in speaking about an ergonomics survey within your facility, please contact your loss control consultant. They will be able to discuss further the steps to completing these types of surveys and how helpful they truly are.