What are the most effective ways to reduce ergonomic injuries in your plant?

1 Assess the risks

The first step to reducing ergonomic injuries is to identify the sources of potential hazards in your plant. You can use tools such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Ergonomics Program Management Guidelines or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Ergonomic Checklist to evaluate the physical, environmental, and organizational factors that may contribute to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, or tendonitis. You can also involve your workers in the risk assessment process, as they are the ones who know their jobs best and can provide valuable feedback.

2 Implement engineering controls

The next step is to modify the design, layout, or equipment of your plant to eliminate or reduce the exposure to ergonomic hazards. Engineering controls can include adjusting the height, reach, or angle of workstations, providing adjustable chairs or stools, installing lifts, conveyors, or hoists to handle heavy or awkward loads, replacing manual tools with power tools, or adding anti-fatigue mats, lighting, or ventilation. Engineering controls are usually the most effective and reliable way to prevent ergonomic injuries, as they address the root causes of the problem.

3 Provide administrative controls

Another way to reduce ergonomic injuries is to change the way work is organized or performed in your plant. Administrative controls can include rotating workers among different tasks, limiting the duration or frequency of exposure to ergonomic hazards, scheduling frequent breaks or rest periods, providing training or coaching on proper posture, technique, or equipment use, or establishing policies or procedures to report and address ergonomic issues. Administrative controls are usually less costly and easier to implement than engineering controls, but they may not be as effective or consistent.

4 Supply personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense against ergonomic injuries. PPE can include gloves, wrist braces, knee pads, or back belts that can protect or support the workers' body parts that are prone to ergonomic stress. However, PPE should not be used as a substitute for engineering or administrative controls, as they do not eliminate or reduce the ergonomic hazards themselves. PPE should only be used as a complement to other controls, and only after a thorough risk assessment and consultation with the workers.

6 Review and improve

The final step to reducing ergonomic injuries is to continuously monitor and improve your ergonomic program. You can use indicators such as injury rates, absenteeism, turnover, productivity, quality, or worker satisfaction to measure the impact and outcomes of your ergonomic interventions. You can also conduct regular audits, inspections, or surveys to check the compliance and performance of your controls. Based on the results, you can make adjustments, modifications, or improvements to your program, and communicate the changes and achievements to your workers.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?