We all know that good ergonomics is important from an individual’s point of view, but many company leaders don’t realize the enormous return on investment a good ergonomics program can bring them. Below are some of the key benefits you can expect when implementing an ergonomics program at your company.
Benefits of Ergonomics Programs
Reduced Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) such as repetitive stress injuries (RSIs), tendinitis, back injuries, and carpal tunnel syndrome can take a toll on workers. They are the most common cause of disability and can result in significant direct and indirect costs from lost productivity, turnover, and absenteeism. Workers’ compensation expenses and time lost due to doctor’s visits, medical leave, or reduced schedules add up quickly. According to the most recent Workplace Safety Index from Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, workplace injuries cost US businesses over fifty-eight billion dollars in direct medical expenses and restricted- and lost-time costs in 2021.
Many MSDs are preventable with good ergonomics, and investing in ergonomics is smart business. The National Safety Council states “MSD risk reduction is a smart investment. Every dollar spent on prevention generates twice the return or more.”
Reduced Errors and Increased Productivity
When workers are not distracted by pain or discomfort, they can better focus on their work. Research shows that tasks with a higher risk of MSDs have over three times the number of quality errors, and that there is a strong positive correlation between good ergonomics and worker productivity. As we will discuss below, ergonomic assessments can help reduce the risk of MSDs for specific tasks and thus reduce errors and increase productivity.
Employee Engagement and Retention
Employees who feel that their employer cares about their well-being tend to stay with that company longer. Research shows that ergonomic factors can predict employee job satisfaction and intent to leave.
Positive Company Image
Investors more highly regard companies who invest in their employees’ well-being. One study showed that the stock values of companies who were recognized with the C. Everett Koop National Health Award for their commitment to employee health and well-being increased by 325% over the 14-year period tracked compared with the market average appreciation of 105% (based on the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index). Investors saw these companies as more socially responsible compared with other firms.
Implementing an Effective Ergonomics Program
Now that we’ve explored the benefits of a good ergonomics program, how do you implement one? Before ordering a lot of expensive ergonomic equipment, it’s important to take stock of your current ergonomic situation.
Encourage Employee Participation
Employee participation is key to a successful ergonomics program. Establishing an ergonomics task force that includes workers from every area of the company can shed light on current pain points and direct where to invest resources for the best return. Likewise, soliciting ideas from employees can lead to creative solutions, such as rearrangement of laboratories and other work areas to reduce lifting, reaching, and twisting.
Perform Ergonomic Assessments
Most people imagine an ergonomic assessment to be a qualitative evaluation; however, there are also various tools available from NIOSH (e.g., Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation), ACGIH (e.g., Hand Activity TLV), and others (e.g., Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)) that can provide quantitative scores before and after ergonomic interventions to show their effectiveness. Assessments should not only look at an employee’s computer workstation setup, but also any other work areas such as the employee’s lab bench. It is especially important to review tasks that require repetitive motions or awkward postures, such as pipetting, working at a biosafety cabinet, looking through a microscope, or assembling parts.
Provide Appropriate Ergonomic Tools
Just as one size doesn’t fit all, one ergonomic solution does not fit all. For example, someone who wears bifocals may need their monitor positioned lower than someone without glasses to prevent neck strain from needing to look through the bottom half of their glasses. Likewise, a shorter worker may need a higher chair and a footrest while a taller worker may need to remove the armrests of their chair because they are too high and cause the worker’s shoulders to rise and hunch, resulting in neck and shoulder strain. Ergonomic tools should always be fit to the individual.
Provide Training
What good is that new ergonomics tool if it’s not used properly? Many workers may not know how to set up that shiny new sit-stand workstation, adjust their chairs, or change their monitor height or tilt. One of the most important parts of implementing an ergonomics program is to train workers on the tools provided to them. Training gives workers the know-how and confidence to use the tools available to them to adjust their work area to their needs (instead of adjusting themselves to their work area).
Encourage Taking Breaks and Task Rotation
In the fast-paced world of biotech, “break” can sometimes be a four-letter word. Management often assumes that taking breaks reduces productivity, but study after study shows breaks actually lead to increased productivity. Workers who can reset and adjust their posture frequently have been shown to have fewer MSDs and have increased productivity and focus. Encourage workers to:
- Take a 30- to 60-second microbreak every 20 minutes
- Take a few minutes every hour to adjust posture and stretch
For workers who engage in repetitive tasks, it can be helpful for them to rotate them to prevent RSIs. For example, a laboratory worker may want to spend 30 minutes pipetting, followed by a short break and then 30 minutes of computer work, returning to pipetting after another short break. Rotating tasks ensures that a worker does not spend an extended amount of time on the same repetitive motion, which can put them at higher risk for RSIs.
The Bottom Line
Ergonomics programs not only benefit workers, but they are also good for the company’s bottom line. Good ergonomics makes good business sense. Ergonomics programs save companies money and help them retain workers, all while ensuring that those workers are healthier and more engaged. What’s not to like about that?
For additional information about the benefits of an ergonomics program, or for assistance developing and implementing one at your facility, please contact us.
This blog was written by Karen Yurek, a Principal Consulting Safety Officer who has been at Safety Partners for 12 years and is extremely passionate about keeping people safe and healthy. Karen holds an Advanced Occupational Ergonomics Certificate from Colorado State University in addition to a master’s in management from Harvard Extension School and a BS in biochemistry/biophysics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
