National Applied Ergonomics National Applied Ergonomics ConferenceConference

March 2005March 2005

Hyatt Regency SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA

The Value of Implementing aThe Value of Implementing a

Functional Approach to Functional Approach to

ErgonomicsErgonomics

……tales from the trenchestales from the trenches

Presented byPresented by

Marianne Dodd, OTR, MA, CRCMarianne Dodd, OTR, MA, CRCErgonomics CoordinatorErgonomics CoordinatorUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

Occupational Safety and Environmental HealthOccupational Safety and Environmental Health

The Functional Approach looks atways to optimize the employee’sability to perform work tasks byintegrating and analyzing all integrating and analyzing all available available informationinformation

Effectiveness of this approachEffectiveness of this approach (explain)(explain)

DeptsDepts and units express appreciation for this type of service and units express appreciation for this type of service to them at no costto them at no cost

Reduction of complaints from EmployeesReduction of complaints from Employees

80/20 Rule 80/20 Rule

Employees retained at workEmployees retained at work

Increased Employee comfort, morale, and job satisfactionIncreased Employee comfort, morale, and job satisfaction

Increasing interest from other areas to participate and Increasing interest from other areas to participate and collaborate with uscollaborate with us

A kinder approach to ergonomics is great promotion for A kinder approach to ergonomics is great promotion for OSEHOSEH

☼☼ 98% of our customers are satisfied and tell us they are more 98% of our customers are satisfied and tell us they are more comfortable.comfortable.

Interior DesignInterior DesignAcademic UnitsAcademic UnitsPurchasingPurchasingConstruction Services Construction Services Engineering and DesignEngineering and DesignPlant Operations Plant Operations

----------Requests for trainRequests for train--thethe--trainer initiativestrainer initiatives

Increase in requests for group trainingIncrease in requests for group training----------

Increasing requests for product trials (esp. chairs)Increasing requests for product trials (esp. chairs)

Good relationships with vendorsGood relationships with vendors

Growing Collaboration withGrowing Collaboration with……

What We (All) KnowWhat We (All) Know……

Ergonomics is both Science and ArtErgonomics is both Science and Art

ScienceScience ……………………..Objective Measurements ..Objective Measurements

ArtArt ……………………………….Creativity and Intuition.Creativity and Intuition

Ongoing ChallengesOngoing Challenges at many levels at many levels

Idealism Idealism vsvs RealityReality

Ergonomist as “Neutral” and Knowledgeable Resource to People and the Organization

(Process not a Program)

Experience/expertise of ergonomics specialist often helps to know what will work

Using people-oriented staff who are perceived as advocates helps gain trust – advocate for the “process”

Defining problems by listening to people without judgment gets you to workable solutions (win-win)

Integrating information from all players leads to more questions that lead to faster “win-win” solutions

80/20 Rule

continuedcontinued……Leadership’s support and encouragement w/some level of

autonomy is critical

Allow time for the process, but not always necessary–there are quick and/or temporary fixes (i.e. doc holders)

Truthfulness in discussions and genuine acceptance of others’thinking along w/firm commitment to solving a problem allows everyone to join in the discussion without threat

Seeing a problem from all sides allows for great collaboration and solutions

Humor helps Sincerity helps Ask for feedback

Being “neutral” takes work and focus – the biggest of challenges is to remain neutral.

How Do We Do It?How Do We Do It?

Same as you Same as you ……

AssessAssessEducate Educate SupportSupport

…….methods may vary.methods may vary

OSEH Ergo GoalsOSEH Ergo Goals

#1#1 To To Ensure Safety of EmployeesEnsure Safety of Employees through Prevention through Prevention Practices through training, assessments, modifications to Practices through training, assessments, modifications to environment and employee behaviorsenvironment and employee behaviors

#2#2 To To Demonstrate Benefits of PreventionDemonstrate Benefits of Prevention (cost (cost reduction, safe and healthy/ workplaces, quality service reduction, safe and healthy/ workplaces, quality service to to deptsdepts at the at the UoMUoM

#3#3 To To Define and Acknowledge Needs Define and Acknowledge Needs andand ReduceReduceRiskRisk

#4#4 To To Provide a Provide a ““NeutralNeutral”” ResourceResource to Employees and to Employees and Organization at no costOrganization at no cost

The Evaluation Process …

Interview

Observe

Assess Physical Environment

(ask questions as you go along)

Look for Risk FactorsLook for Risk Factors

Awkward and Sustained PosturesAwkward and Sustained Postures

Forceful ExertionForceful Exertion

Contact StressContact Stress

Repetitive MotionRepetitive Motion

Environment (noise, temperature, vibration)Environment (noise, temperature, vibration)

Frequency and DurationFrequency and Duration

ManagersManagers SupSupervisorservisors EmployeesEmployees

CCommitment from Leadershipommitment from LeadershipMMoneyoneyIImproper or mproper or DefectiveToolsDefectiveTools and Equipmentand EquipmentRResistance by Management to Make Changesesistance by Management to Make ChangesRResistance by Employees to Change Behaviorsesistance by Employees to Change BehaviorsLLack of Knowledge and/or Confidence of ack of Knowledge and/or Confidence of Supervisors on How To Help StaffSupervisors on How To Help StaffLLack of Time and Staff Resourcesack of Time and Staff Resources

What are some of your challengesWhat are some of your challenges??

Challenges Challenges …………

SpaceSpace

ProductivityProductivity

Lack of Knowledge and Lack of Knowledge and Understanding about ErgonomicsUnderstanding about Ergonomics

FurnitureFurnitureNew New

FurnitureFurniture

Left Left OversOvers

Incremental Incremental Time on Time on

TaskTask

Annual Value of Annual Value of Incremental Time on TaskTime on Task

Annual SalaryAnnual Salary

$20,000$20,000 $30,000$30,000 $40,000$40,000 $50,000$50,000 $60,000$60,000 $70,000$70,000

5 minutes5 minutes 260260 391391 521521 651651 781781 911911

10 minutes10 minutes 521521 521521 1,0421,042 1,0421,042 1,5631,563 1,8231,823

15 minutes15 minutes 781781 1,1721,172 1,5631,563 1,9531,953 2,3442,344 2,7342,734

20 minutes20 minutes 1,0421,042 1,5631,563 2,0832,083 2,6042,604 3,1253,125 3,6463,646

30 minutes30 minutes 1,5631,563 $2,344$2,344 3,1253,125 3,9063,906 4,6884,688 5,4695,469

45 minutes45 minutes 2,3442,344 3,5163,516 4,6884,688 5,8595,859 7,0317,031 8,2038,203

60 minutes60 minutes 3,1253,125 4,6884,688 6,2506,250 7,8137,813 9,3759,375 10,93810,938

90 minutes90 minutes 4,6884,688 7,0317,031 9,3759,375 11,71911,719 14,06314,063 16,40616,406

Slide 20

m1 mberkey, 3/7/2005

Cost ($100)Cost ($100)

Functional Approach HowFunctional Approach How--ToTo’’ss

1. Identify, Acknowledge and Validate Stated Issues2. Ask for Input – “Lego the Ego”3. Seek Clarity 4. Use Intuition5. Use Photos and/or Videotape6. Discuss - Don’t Dictate (Respect the employee7. Provide Written Reports 8. Offer Product Trials 9. Make it so simple they cannot NOT make changes10. Be genuine 11. Make your mother proud – apply The Golden Rule

NOTE: It is Ergonomics - not Egonomics

Cost ($250)Cost ($250)

Defining the Real ProblemDefining the Real Problem

Treating the Employee in the Treating the Employee in the ““larger larger than work lifethan work life”” context is valuable. Can context is valuable. Can get to issues of fatigue, stress, and other get to issues of fatigue, stress, and other causes for physical discomfort which causes for physical discomfort which could be a significant part of the problem could be a significant part of the problem –– not the workplace itself. not the workplace itself. (example)(example)

What are the Job Requirements?What are the Job Requirements?How does the Employee actually Perform the Work?How does the Employee actually Perform the Work?What does the Employee need to Do the Job?What does the Employee need to Do the Job?

EfficiencyEfficiency

OOrganizationrganization

DonDon’’t Be Offended when people dont Be Offended when people don’’t take t take you seriously!you seriously!

Bye Bye ByeBye

Questions?Questions?