Editor’s note: This is an installment of the Human Performance & Ergonomics Training series.
What are you really trying to accomplish with your ergonomics process?
There are many possible answers to this question. Here are a few of them:
- Reducing exposure to ergonomic risk factors
- Preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
- Reducing worker’s compensation costs
- Improving productivity
- Improving product quality
- Increasing employee engagement
- Protecting and promoting the health of your workforce
All of these answers make logical sense. It is likely that the goals you’ve set out for your ergonomics process include one or more of them.
These are not wrong answers, but I would like to assert that a more productive and comprehensive way of approaching this process is to set a goal of maximizing human performance.
Maximum human performance is achieved at the intersection of good workplace design and a healthy, fit and engaged workforce.
An ergonomically efficient workstation with an unhealthy and unmotivated worker using poor work practices is not your goal. A healthy, motivated worker that is forced to work outside her body’s capabilities and limitations is not your goal. Your goal has to be a well-designed and efficient workstation within the capabilities and limitations of a healthy, fit and engaged worker.
By achieving maximum human performance, you will also be achieving all of the goals stated above. The right training will help you get there.
So far in our series on Human Performance and Ergonomics Training, we’ve covered the high-level elements needed for success and the learning objectives and best practices of training.
This article will focus on the types of training content needed to achieve an effective workplace improvement process and a healthy, fit and engaged workforce.
Education and Training Content
I hope I’ve been able to convince that your goal should be maximum human performance.
Earlier I said that, “Maximum human performance is achieved at the intersection of good workplace design and a healthy, fit and engaged workforce.”
So what we need is …
- a process to improve workplace design (the ergonomics improvement process) and
- a healthy, fit and engaged workforce
Your education and training content should reflect these two fundamental needs of a process to improve human performance.
You will need ergonomics training content for an effective ergonomics improvement process and you will need MSD prevention and wellness training content for a healthy, fit and engaged workforce. Following is a list of training content ideas to get you started on the right track.
Ergonomics Training Content
Ergonomics training should equip your workforce to effectively execute the ergonomics improvement process.
Training content should include:
- How to develop a prioritized list of jobs for evaluation.
- How to conduct an objective ergonomic analysis.
- How to develop an ergonomic opportunity list.
- How to use ergonomic design guidelines to determine the best solution with a team approach.
- How to obtain final approval and implement the right ergonomic improvement.
- How to evaluate the ergonomic improvement for effectiveness.
Keep in mind the roles and responsibilities of each training group (leadership, engineers, ergonomics team members, employees, supervisors, etc.) and tailor the content specifically for that group. The content needs to enable each group to meet their roles and responsibilities for the process.
Further reading:
- Workplace Ergonomics 101
- A Guide to MSD Prevention Roles and Responsibilities
- How to Build an Ergonomics Team that Gets Results
MSD Prevention and Wellness Content
A healthy, fit and engaged workforce will not happen overnight, but it is possible. No, not all of your industrial athletes will have the physical performance of an Olympic Athlete. What you are striving to accomplish is an improvement over their current performance. You’re trying to reduce their individual risk factors for developing an MSD and other chronic health conditions.
Training content should include:
- Benefits of the ergonomics and MSD prevention process
- Basic MSD prevention principles
- The core elements of the prevention process
- MSD prevention roles and responsibilities
- How to identify and report early signs (fatigue and discomfort) of MSDs
- How to report workstation improvement ideas
- How to use the injury prevention tools available to them
- How to use proper work techniques
- How to create and maintain a personal wellness plan
- How to eat properly and keep their body fit for work
- How to get enough rest and fully recover
Further reading:
- Why Ergonomics and Wellness Are a Powerful Match
- Five Reasons Why an Athletic Trainer Deserves a Sport on Your OHS Team
Conclusion
To achieve maximum human performance at your facility, you will need an effective ergonomics improvement process and a strategy to improve employee health, fitness and engagement.
Your training content should include reflect these goals.
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