© copyright 2003 n s aubur engineer outreach program development david c. alexander, pe, cpe...

© Copyright 2003 nS

auburENGINEERwww.ergopage.com

Outreach Program

Development

Outreach Program

Development

David C. Alexander, PE, CPE

President

Auburn Engineers, Inc.

Auburn, AL

334-826-8600

www.ergopage.com

David C. Alexander, PE, CPE

President

Auburn Engineers, Inc.

Auburn, AL

334-826-8600

www.ergopage.com



Outreach Program Development

Implement effective ergonomics programs at bases and installations, worldwide.

It’s important to do.

It’s possible to do.

It’s economic to do.



Ergonomic Practice(Technical skills)

Job analysis

Solving problems

Preventing problems

Outreach Program Development Is a Management Issue

Ergonomics Programs(Managerial skills)

Planning

Coordination

Evaluation



How Do You Facilitate Dozens of Site Ergonomics Programs?

• Many locations

• Geographically dispersed

• Widely varying support

• Varied skills and experience

• Different missions and assignments

• Different priorities for safety, health & ergonomics

• Meager measurement systems

• Turnover of personnel and leadership

• Limited resources - Funding and personnel

• No regulations or legal mandate



Take a Page From the Private Sector Playbook




Understand Your Goals• Readiness of personnel to perform mission

• Reduce injuries to personnel

• Reduce costs of operations




• Understand Your Goals

• Understand the Overall Process to Control Ergonomic Injuries and Illnesses

Breakthroughs to Reduce Level

Sustain

Excessive and Unstable

(Out of Control)

Gain Control

Target

2-3 Years

Injuries & Costs




• Understand Your Goals

• Understand the Process

• Develop a Maturity Ladder– Progressive steps

– Well defined

– Visible progress



From a Business Client Who Build an

Ergonomics Maturity Ladder

Objective: • Develop and implement a systematic, one-company

approach for ergonomics,

• building on current business ergonomics initiatives,

• which maximizes our limited resources, and

• accelerates our rate of improvement.



An Ergonomics Maturity Ladder

A Way Of Life - Use skills on- and off-the-job. Program is well-developed and continues to grow. Would be difficult to eradicate.

The Way We Work - Ergonomics is common at work and involves less correction and more prevention. Outside audits are welcome. Program is sustainable.

Mature - Well developed program. Few injuries; cost reductions exceed program costs. Often has champion.

Evolving - Doing more than required. Injuries under control; initial cost savings.

Compliant - Minimum expectations met. Injuries continue but less common.

Non-Compliant - Minimum expectations unmet. High costs. “Out of control”.



Program Elements

Surveillance

Corrective Actions

Prevention

Medical Management

Training & Education

Project Evaluation

Program Evaluation



ELEMENT

Surveillance

Corrective Actions

Prevention

Medical Management


Project Evaluation

Program Evaluation

Climbing the Ergonomics Maturity LadderFrom “Ergo-What” to “A Way of Life”

• Survey for risk factors• Discomfort

surveys

• Review trends• Survey for

hazards

• All Injuries Reported• LWD Cases

Investigated

• Injuries inconsistently reported

SurveillanceSurveillance

Ergo-What A Way of Life

Immature Mature



ELEMENTSurveillance

Corrective Actions

Prevention

Medical Management


Project Evaluation

Program Evaluation


• Resolved “on the spot”• Resolved by

natural team

• Use of ergo teams• Database of

solutions

• Simple assessment tools• Identify root cause

of serious injuries• Use expert

• Inconsistent investigation• Occasional

problem solving

Corrective Actions

Corrective Actions


Immature Mature



ELEMENTSurveillance

Corrective Actions

Prevention

Medical Management


Project Evaluation

Program Evaluation


• Job analysis for all new jobs & equipment• Engineers fully

trained• Ergonomics

expected

• Have purchasing guidelines• Experts

typically involved in new designs

• Existing problems not repeated• Most obvious

hazards controlled

• No preventive problem solving

PreventionPrevention


Immature Mature



ELEMENTSurveillance

Corrective Actions

Prevention

Medical

Management


Project Evaluation

Program Evaluation


• Real time case management• Few lost time

cases

• Active RTW program• Medical is part

of ergo team• Correct coding

• All injuries reported• Consistent medical

protocols used

• Little recognition of ergonomics injuries

Medical Management

Medical Management


Immature Mature



ELEMENTSurveillance

Corrective Actions

Prevention

Medical Management

Training &

Education

Project Evaluation

Program Evaluation


• All professionals trained• Engineers• Medical• Managers• Etc.

• Wide-spread problem solving training

• Ergo teams trained• Wide-spread

awareness training

• Training for all S&H professionals• Compliance

requirements well understood

• Inconsistent training for ergonomics




Immature Mature



ELEMENTSurveillance

Corrective Actions

Prevention

Medical Management


Project Evaluation

Program Evaluation


• Track results• Share

interventions with others

• Review all projects• Cost benefit

evaluations

• Use before & after evaluations• Follow ups after

implementation

• Few projects completed• Evaluation not

expected

Project Evaluation

Project Evaluation


Immature Mature



ELEMENTSurveillance

Corrective Actions

Prevention

Medical Management


Project Evaluation

Program

Evaluation


• VPP-type evaluation• Others invited

to review• Use systems

safety approach

• Injuries and dollars monitored• Program

audited annually

• Checklist of compliance actions monitored• Injury data

monitored

• Few No program, no evaluation

Program Evaluation

Program Evaluation


Immature Mature




• Understand Your Goals• Understand the Process• Develop a Maturity Ladder• Make the steps relatively easy to build on• Provide specific elements for program maturity• Make the steps cumulative in their effectiveness




• Understand Your Goals• Understand the Process• Develop a Maturity Ladder• Make the steps relatively easy to build on• Provide specific elements for program maturity• Make the steps cumulative in their effectiveness• Assess status at local sites– By audit – By self-assessment

• Require minimum compliance levels




• Understand Your Goals• Understand the Process• Develop a Maturity Ladder• Make the steps relatively easy to build on• Provide specific elements for program maturity• Make the steps cumulative in their effectiveness• Assess status at local sites– By audit – By self-assessment

• Require minimum compliance levels• Recognize and reward progress• Resources go to develop expertise (the leaders not

the laggers)



Additional Good Practices for Large Organizations

• Share information on program plans, etc.

• Share solutions - widely

• Use common platforms for problem solving, analysis, health care (develop it one time!)

• Use common tools (types of analysis, design guidelines, analysis tools); possibly web-based

• Internet linked to share information and archive information

• Have mixed group training - mix it up within your organizations

• Frequent meetings for review and support (regional, group, phone)

• Web linked problem solving data bases (share special analyses and solutions; share status of projects)

• Use each other to create energy, share energy (this will be a tough assignment, and you will need support for it)

• Divide and conquer - split up the work and share the benefits

• Tackle some easy parts first - create confidence and build energy



Value and Costs of Ergonomics Programs

ValueLow High

A Way Of LifeA Way Of Life

The Way We WorkThe Way We Work

MatureMature

EvolvingEvolving

CompliantCompliant

Non-CompliantNon-Compliant



Some Final Thoughts

What is ergonomics?

It’s people at work . . .

. . . working safely and effectively!

Does ergonomics have value?

Yes. It can control injuries and costs. It can also enhance performance.



Outreach Program Development

Implement effective ergonomics programs at bases and installations, worldwide.

It’s important to do.

It’s possible to do.

It’s economic to do.

© copyright 2003 n s aubur engineer outreach program development david c. alexander, pe, cpe...

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