Should You Involve Team Members in the Ergonomics Process? (Seven Ergonomics Experts Weigh In)

Ergonomics Expert
Ron Porter, PT, CEAS III

Should team members be involved in the ergonomics process?

Most definitely. If the end users of the ergonomics modifications are not involved in the process their buy-in will be limited.  Some of the best ergonomics recommendations come from the shop floor employees. Studies show that you have limited success with the goals of your ergonomics program when you do not give the employee/end user the opportunity to have some “choice” in equipment changes and how they perform their job tasks.

What is one way to engage team members in the ergonomics process?  

We do a lot of personalized employee awareness training on working in their Power Zone and the principles of being a Workplace Athlete.  After increasing their understanding that a lot of success in ergonomics is worker behavior, we follow up with them with questions on what ideas they have for job modifications that would decrease their fatigue and increase their productivity.

Ergonomics Expert
Jill Kelby, PT, CEA

Should team members be involved in the ergonomics process?

In a word, YES!  Involving shop floor employees is very important to the success of your ergonomics process.  It is well known that if employees are given the opportunity to participate in making decisions that affect their job, they become more actively involved in the work that they do.  Getting employees engaged in their job provides four main benefits:

1. Employees become more focused on their work and take note of how and why they do what they do.  They become are more alert, active and prepared to share their thoughts on how the job could be done differently to improve the safety and flow of the job.
2. Participation motivates employees to contribute to the process.  A motivated employee will increase their commitment to the organization; and therefore, the goals that the organization sets around health and safety.
3. Participation lowers resistance to change.  We all know forced change rarely works well.  The best results happen when employees are involved in the processes that affect their job.
4. Participation answers the WIIFM principle (what’s in it for me?).  If we expect employees to demonstrate and execute the new behaviors and actions expected of them, then they must understand why.  By being involved the employees have firsthand knowledge of why the change is necessary in the first place.
5. Participation in decision making helps employees to take ownership and accountability for the process.  The ergonomics process provides employees opportunities for career development and training by learning about ergonomics.  In the end this allows them to do what they do best (the work) and the result is greater job satisfaction.

What is one way to engage team members in the ergonomics process?

The first step in the ergonomics process is to assess the job.  Use this step as the first step in engaging the employees in the process.  To get you started here are three open ended questions to ask your employees:

1. What works well?
2. What doesn’t work well?
3. What ideas do you have to solving those issues?

Then take that input and invite one or more of the employees to the ergonomics team to continue in the ergonomics process.

Ergonomics Expert
Paul Krewson, PT

Should team members be involved in the ergonomics process?

Absolutely! They are part of the solution which we call “Healthy Work Solutions.”

Workers will be more receptive to change if they feel they have a part in the decision making process.  They are the ones that do the work and we often find that they have great ideas for improving their work areas. Great ergonomics uses input from across the board.

What is one way to engage team members in the ergonomics process?

Using employee surveys.  For example, use an employee discomfort survey to find out what body parts are being fatigued and in which departments.  Develop an “Ergo Team” that consists of management, supervisors and lead workers to meet on a regular basis to go over concerns.

Ergonomics Expert
Deborah Read, MOTR/L

Should team members be involved in the ergonomics process?

YES!!!
What are some of the pros and cons?

PROS

• Employee participation in ergonomics is recognized globally as a best practice
• Including employees bridges gaps and improves relations between management and front line staff (if there is a two-way communication loop)
• Including employees reveals opportunities for continuous improvement that management is often unaware of
• Including employees leads to better solutions because they know their jobs intimately

CONS

• Including employees can reveal “problems” that management may be overwhelmed with if management does not have a continuous improvement mindset and a method of triaging what to tackle first, second, and third
• Including employees can reveal varied opinions that make it slower and harder to make a decision if these opinions are not tracked to find a trend or majority
• Management will have to develop a compassionate way to communicate so as not to stifle the flow of improvement ideas

What is one way to engage team members in the ergonomics process?

First thing’s first…. initial ergonomics training provided vertically throughout an organization.  This helps to create a common language and an understanding of the personal and business benefits of implementing ergonomic solutions.

After that, here are just some of many additional employee-involvement tactics:

• Ongoing Ergonomics Training for everyone, especially the “front line” employees and supervisors
• More Advanced Training for Safety or Ergonomic Committees, Focus groups, or Task force groups
• Employee Assistance with worksite analysis
• Sharing best practices
• Within-Site or Between-Site ergonomic solutions competitions (aka Ergo Cup Challenges)

Ergonomics Expert
Misty Chapman, PT

Should team members be involved in the ergonomics process?

Participation of employees is a key element of a successful Injury Prevention Program and is key to understanding how to best improve safety. If employees are welcomed onto the planning team, they will feel they are being represented and have a voice and will be much more likely to “buy in” to the program or “what you’re selling.” Employees need to be involved with areas such as training, procedure development, decision making, and equipment selection.  It is vital to a collaborative team effort that employees believe you trust them within the company’s operations.

What is one way to engage team members in the ergonomics process?

If employees are working alongside with management to make decisions related to improved work practices, they will feel more involved and take more personal ownership of the program. One key area for employee’s we work with, is the selection of equipment that will be installed on a particular line. Employees want to be involved with the selection of equipment to ensure the “end product” that they will be using, is user friendly, practical, and is acceptable for day to day operations. With Engineers driving the design efforts, oftentimes employees feel their voices are overshadowed.

Employee recognition is important to show the company’s appreciation. Some of our clients recognize employee’s efforts by:

• Employees are recognized monthly, quarterly and yearly with monetary awards as well as other prizes. Two outstanding ideas of the month and two of the best safety suggestions are chosen each month. The winners receive monetary awards. Also, everyone who implements a suggestion gets a t-shirt and another item, such as a jacket, sweatshirt or gym bag.
• At quarterly luncheons employees who participated in the program receive winning plaques and awards. Three merit awards are given for suggestions not chosen as “Ideas of the Month” but which were also noteworthy efforts. The employees’ managers or supervisors present the awards. Formulate an employee involvement program that will engage and inspire all employees.

Both management and employees need to work together to have an understanding of the company’s objectives.

Ergonomics Expert
Steve Meagher, PT, CEAS

Should team members be involved in the ergonomics process?

It is imperative to have the people actually doing the work be involved in the ergonomics program. The way things are designed and done can be very different. By having the floor workers invoked, the program has a better chance of success.

Ergonomics Expert
Mark Middlesworth, MS, ATC/L, CEES

Should team members be involved in the ergonomics process?

My high school football coach was a great leader. Coach Law (I still call him “Coach” out of my deep respect for him) was a master at his craft of coaching and leading our team. Do you know what made him one of the greatest high school coaches of all time in the state of Indiana…?

He respected and involved each team member in developing winning strategies and tactics against our opponents. Coach taught us well and would then constantly ask team members for our opinion and suggestions throughout preparation and during each game. He would say, “You’re the one out there in the trenches, what weaknesses do you see in the opponent? What do you think is the best way we can attack these guys? Can you take your guy down, or should we run in the other direction? What can we do differently that can help us move the ball forward? Do you think “this” game plan will work?

Because we were always respected and engaged as a “team”, my team mates and I would have run through a brick wall for our coach and each other. We were in it together, and that turned us into a championship team.
So, do I think we should involve team members in the ergonomics improvement process? I don’t believe there’s anything more important.

Absolutely YES!

What is one way to engage team members in the ergonomics process?

Genuinely respect team member job knowledge. Leadership matters, and great leaders communicate and demonstrate that they value team members and their expertise. Well trained team members that have first-hand knowledge of the demands and risk factors of their job should certainly play an integral role in developing winning strategies to reduce injury risk and improve work performance. Team member involvement is the difference between a winning and losing ergonomics process, and involvement requires respect.

So maybe we should consider asking our team members some questions like, “You’re the one out there in the trenches, what are the most difficult aspects of the job for you? How do you think we should attack this opponent? What do you think we could do to reduce the high stress demands of the job? What can we do differently that can help us move the ball forward? Do you think “this” ergonomics improvement plan will work? Respecting and involving your team members in the ergonomics improvement process will lead to great results and a winning effort. If you’re in this together, your team will reap the rewards of improved health and better performance.

They may not run through any brick walls, but engaging your team members in the ergonomics process will give your team and company a tremendous competitive advantage!