Workplace Ergonomics
Ergonomics Response Paper
An organization might be tempted to ignore the data regarding the advantages conveyed to employee health through improving workplace ergonomics. But this would be, to use a cliche, 'pennywise but pound-foolish.' In other words, by saving money in the short run and skimping on the cost of improving workplace architecture and teaching employees how to avoid common repetitive strain conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, the company would likely only have to pay more money later on in the future. The loss of productivity and the need to comply with likely future legislation would offset any short-term gains.
First of all, having a more comfortable working environment that is safer for the employee's long-term health increases productivity, as employees are more likely to come to work on time, takes less sick days, use less of their health insurance benefits, and to be more productive at their desks. True, the data about improving posture and positioning might not be conclusive enough to establish sweeping legislation at present, but the data seems to indicate that there are certain reasonable steps an employee can take to reduce his or her risk of repetitive strain injuries, and reasonable cost-effective measures an organization can take to create a more wholesome and comfortable environment. For a company to replace old chairs with ergonomically safe seating might even be cost-effective, for when and if legislation is passed governing such seating, then the workspace is more likely to be in compliance with such laws, and not necessitate further costly modifications.
Regarding the issue of potential legislation, even if the data is not conclusive now, this does not mean that ergonomics laws will not be passed in the near future. Nor should an organization wait for either legally or scientifically conclusive data, from its own self-interested perspective. Although it may not support increased government interference in business life, it can still use what data exists in-house for the benefits of its workers and its own bottom line.
The literature review was finally released in a document called "Scientific Support Documentation for the Revised 1991 NIOSH Lifting Equation: Technical Contract Reports, May 8, 1991." (Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation) This is an update and contains information on the physiological, biomechanical, psychophysical, and epidemiological aspects of manual lifting. This led to the recommendation by the ad hoc committee of the criteria for defining the lifting
Workplace Safety Employee health and safety management Most U.S. firms are offering disease management and health promotion programs to employees to address the increasing health care costs through improving employee lifestyle and overall health. Nevertheless, the U.S. has not been efficient in providing employees with integrated comprehensive health programs. Comprehensive programs of promoting employee health might encompass a series of strategies including supportive environments, health education, accessing support services, employee integration into
In the contemporary business environment, businesses are learned to satisfy their customers, however, they are also required to satisfy their employees. For instance, the Fedex has discovered that there is a statistical correlation between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction. A decline in employee satisfaction leads to a decline in customer satisfaction. It has also been discovered across different industries that employee satisfaction assists in increasing customer satisfaction as well as
The relevant topics include mental workload, cognition, decision-making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work stress, training, cultural differences, attitudes, pleasure and motivation. Organisational ergonomics: Concerned with the optimisation of socio-technical systems, including their organisational structures, policies, and processes. The relevant topics include communication, staff resource management, work design, design of working times, teamwork, participatory design, community ergonomics, co-operative work, new work paradigms, organisational culture, virtual organisations and quality management.
Unlike our predecessors in the mines and mills and factories - and even offices - we today expect our workplaces to be safe. We consider this a birthright - that our employers should design and monitor the workplace in such a way that we are allowed to do our job without any undue risk for ourselves. And yet, of course, this is not a birthright but rather a legal protection
NEBOSH Unit D According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the cost of workplace injuries and disease is in excess of $20 billion dollars per year. Obviously, these figures are alarming and would suggest that Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) should be a top priority for management. However, a survey from 2011 revealed that many companies have no written OHS policy and nearly half have no formalized occupational health and
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