Who Should Participate?
Ergonomic problems typically require a response that cuts across a number of organizational units.
Hazard identification through job task analyses and review of injury records or symptom surveys, as well as the development and implementation of control measures, can require input from:
- safety and hygiene personnel,
- health care providers,
- human resource personnel,
- engineering personnel,
- maintenance personnel, and
- ergonomics specialists.
In addition, worker and management representatives are considered essential players in any ergonomics program effort.
In small businesses, two or more of the functions noted on this list may be merged into one unit, or one person may handle several of the listed duties. Regardless of the size of the organization, persons identified with these responsibilities are crucial to an ergonomics program. Purchasing personnel in particular should be included, since the issues raised can dictate new or revised specifications on new equipment orders.
How best to fit these different players into the program could depend on the company's existing occupational safety and health program practices. Integrating ergonomics into the company's current occupational safety and health activities while giving it special emphasis may have the most appeal.
Conclusion
Taking a proactive approach to ergonomics is so important to the success of the program. Maximizing employee involvement is one of the keys to a successful proactive ergonomics program. When employees identify and help devise solutions, they gain a degree of ownership. We value what we own. Ownership increases the probability that "EC" (ergonomically correct) behaviors are performed when employees are not being directly supervised.
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1-5. What is a benefit of employee involvement in devising solutions to ergonomic problems?
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