How to Build an Ergonomics Program
THE PROBLEM…
Typically, when I ask businesses if they have an ergonomics program they say ‘yes’. “When someone has an issue like a bad back or is uncomfortable with their equipment, we call you, Kirsty.”
Well that’s great but that isn’t a program, it’s a component of the program!
The biggest problem I find is ergonomics is seen as merely a health and safety issue and not part of the annual business strategy! No-one has usually allocated the budget for ergonomics.
Sometimes it comes out of a specific team’s budget; the facilities budget, the HR budget, or the health and safety budget, and if the issue gets some real traction it may go up to the CFO for approval.
It’s very time consuming having to fight for resources when all that employee needs is a bit of education, and perhaps the odd person an alternative product. That person is left hanging for weeks and sometimes months with their discomfort getting worse and worse and their productivity going down the drain. Not only that but they are also probably annoying half the team by complaining about their bad back or sore wrist.
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