Evaluating ergonomic changes for effectiveness
Eliminating awkward postures and repetitive motions may take some trial and error. Expect to try out a few options before making final changes. The first solution may not be the best, and there may be room for further improvement.
Begin by making a list of tasks and ranking them by priority based on overall risk such as potential to cause injury and frequency or duration of the problematic task. For each task, write down several potential improvements, such as reducing the frequency or duration of the task. A single change might reduce or eliminate multiple factors, or several changes might be needed to address a single factor.
After listing possible improvements, evaluate each option by asking whether the change will:
- Reduce or eliminate the risk factors and reasons for them?
- Create new or different risk factors?
- Increase or decrease productivity and efficiency?
- Handle the required volume and pace of work?
- Be affordable (is another option less expensive)?
- Positively affect worker morale?
- Take a long time to implement?
- Require substantial training (is a simpler option available)?
Finally, select a few options for testing and set up a trial period using the new tools, equipment, or procedures. Give workers time to adjust before evaluating the effectiveness. A new tool or procedure can feel awkward at first, and may require using new muscle groups or different body parts, which means that workers may initially feel tired or sore. Allowing an adjustment period may prevent you from rejecting an otherwise beneficial improvement.
After the adjustment period, evaluate each change by considering whether it:
- Had enough time to work (are workers used to the changes)?
- Reduced or eliminated fatigue, discomfort, symptoms, or injuries?
- Added any new contributing factors or other problems?
- Matched the production requirements of the job?
- Was fully implemented in a reasonable amount of time?
- Had a positive effect on absenteeism and turnover rates?
- Was supported with the training needed to make it effective?
One important but often neglected evaluation step is to go back and observe the job as you did during the initial evaluation. If necessary, try a new option and begin the evaluation process again. Once the risk factors are eliminated to the extent possible, move on to the next job on your priority list. The goal is to remove conditions that could lead to injuries, which should also increase productivity, save money, and improve job satisfaction.